Giant Blue Catfish on Light Tackle

[risentidefishing]

Got out early at Lower Otay on Wednesday. Crowds were light and I picked up a few bass early AM on finesse swimbaits over the top of the grass. Once the sun came up things slowed down shallow so I went looking for Shad schools out deep. Picked up a couple more 1-2lb bass down in the 40ft range before I hooked up with something that was definitely not a bass! Only had 8lb test so I did my best to keep the fish out of the rockpile and slowly work it out to deeper water. Had trouble moving the fish with my ML drop shot rod but after close to 30mins I was finally able to get it up to the surface and into the net. Waved down some fisherman to take a few pics before sending her back to depths. Didn’t have a scale heavy enough but she was FAT and had to be close to 50lbs, a new PB freshwater fish for me. A battle I won’t soon forget!! [

[camobass]

Epic!

[VinnyBass]

Great catch and a great video of a fight with a fish you remember for a long time.
That was one big cat!!!!

[Tnwoody]

Well done on that light tackle, you should be proud. There is some biguns in Otay. A friend got a 90 lb cat there a few years ago. Enjoy.

[Moose]

Great job! That’s a hell of a catch!

Now imagine getting a 90lbr on FOUR lb test like happened there about a decade or so!

[professionull]

They bite like a bass and sort of fight like one at first, but when you can't bring them up off the bottom and streak back and forth with your line you know it's not that gigantor bass you were hoping to land

Did the same thing at El Cap in the winter last year on 12lb and it twanged off rocks left and right (we had a moment when my belly touched its fin);

[Dannicus]

Got out early at Lower Otay on Wednesday. Crowds were light and I picked up a few bass early AM on finesse swimbaits over the top of the grass. Once the sun came up things slowed down shallow so I went looking for Shad schools out deep. Picked up a couple more 1-2lb bass down in the 40ft range before I hooked up with something that was definitely not a bass! Only had 8lb test so I did my best to keep the fish out of the rockpile and slowly work it out to deeper water. Had trouble moving the fish with my ML drop shot rod but after close to 30mins I was finally able to get it up to the surface and into the net. Waved down some fisherman to take a few pics before sending her back to depths. Didn’t have a scale heavy enough but she was FAT and had to be close to 50lbs, a new PB freshwater fish for me. A battle I won’t soon forget!! [

Really awesome! I've been hooking up with catfish recently while bass fishing. That would be an epic fight for certain. I could only imagine that fight in a float tube!

Well done mate!

[Pourboy]

Great job out there! Love those big hard fighting kitties! Cheers!

[KillinTime]

You were so happy to have your net that day! Nice work!

[Carpkiller]

Dang. Nice going!
Every time I think maybe it's a big cat.....

Carp again.