As the fight dragged on, the initial adrenaline rush subsided and his body felt fatigued, and his body temperature dropped. However, Ditch Ballard never gave up, and after several minutes of struggle, the giant catfish emerged. He summed up its powerful jaws, a battle full of drama and wonder.
After putting on cold gloves and gathering strength, Ditch Ballard finally successfully harvested his “monster” catch. He describes it as the biggest battle of his fishing career, and after the final runs, he smiles happily at his well-deserved reward.
Although it weighs up to 100kg, this catfish is still not the largest catfish ever caught. That record belongs to angler Attila Zsedely, who caught a nearly 135kg catfish from the Po River in Italy in 2010.
After the fiery battle, Ditch Ballard released the catfish back into the water, leaving it free to continue in its natural environment.