3 foot catfish?

Diver1111 · 08-29-2010, 08:51 PM

While diving off Welch I encountered what I think was a catfish-easily 36 to 40" long. Sitting in a bowl-shaped depression just staring at me. I approached and he didn't flinch. Brown, and blended in with the bottom color-wise but he was easy to see. Large head maybe 10" across, body tapering to a tail that was about 4" in diameter-this 4" diameter was about one foot from the tail. His jaw (and body) were on the bottom vs. swimming so I couldn't see if there were any whiskers. I saw him at a depth of 71 feet.

Do catfish-if that's what it was-get that big? This was the biggest fish length and girth-wise I have ever seen in Winni. I've seen 4 foot carp and 7 foot eels in the CT River but nothing like this in Winni.

Curious.
Thanks.

trfour · 08-29-2010, 09:19 PM

Largest Cats here on Lake Winnipesaukee!

Yes, catfish get very large!

Here's at least a four footer.

Terry
____________________________________

Here's a puppy.

Jonas Pilot · 08-29-2010, 09:49 PM

I wonder if it was a burbot. Other common names; cusk, ling, lawyer, eelpout and freshwater cod.

for pic,
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CBgQ9QEwAA

ApS · 08-30-2010, 02:11 AM

1) A tenant at my Florida lakefront location told me of his releasing a "lawyer" about 4' long. I thought back then, that it was another "trash" fish, 'til I connected burbot (cusk) with it.

Days later, I saw a floating ~3-pound bass moving oddly under the dock in the murky water, and walked over to take a look at it. All motion ceased when I peered over and in the next moment, all I saw was a huge dark-brown head gulp down the remainder of the bass and swim off.

2) Environmentally-sensitive fishermen might want to look at this page:
http://www.in-fisherman.com/other-fish/burbot

In addition to a large alligator gar photo, there are a few interesting fishman articles. One article concerns the performance of a "sorta" laparoscopy on your fresh-caught fish to release it unharmed from a hook.

(New to me, anyway).

topwater · 08-30-2010, 06:41 AM

Hauns, chances are what you saw was a CUSK. It is a bottom dweller and does like deep water. People fish for them exclusively in the winter because they make a great chowder. They use a 1lb weight with dead bait, and put them on the bottom. During the winter, if you have ever seen a row of ice mounds on the lake with a stick in them , they are cusk lines, and I believe you are allowed 6 of them, thats why you see them all in a row. Hope this helps.
However, I did see a ambulance once being brought out to a island on a barge. following closely behind the barge was a pack of large cusks, so they might be called lawyers too. Not really sure on that one.

hilltopper · 08-30-2010, 08:04 AM

The state record cusk, caught in Winni in March of 2007, was 34.5" long and weighed in at 12 lbs. 3.52 oz. You're saying the one you saw was 36" to 40" long so I gotta ask...GPS coordinates?

Diver1111 · 08-30-2010, 08:56 AM

Based on the photos, no way this was a cusk. Head was massive, like a catfish, and everything tapered from there to the tail. I know catfish get huge (ever seen them "noodle"?) but I was wondering if they get that big in Winni.

The largest circumference of this thing was at the head. As I said, maybe 10" across.

Found off East/NE Welch looking at the Ossipees.

Jonas Pilot · 08-30-2010, 09:46 AM

The largest cat fish, a white, ever caught in NH was 23" long. The largest burbot on record was 34.5" in length. It's highly unlikely you would find a cat fish in water 71 feet deep. This is a burbot. It was around 20" long.

Mink Islander · 08-31-2010, 07:23 AM

I caught an 8 pounder a couple of years ago (unfortunately the week PRIOR to the Rotary Fishing Derby). Huge head -- I had to chisel the hole open further to get it through the ice.

Grant · 08-31-2010, 09:17 AM

I agree that it could've been a cusk. Senter Cove Guy and I saw two good sized cusk on the speedboat wreck you pointed us to in early June. They, too, didn't scare easily, and hung around quite close while we explored the wreck for a good 30-40 minutes. They are deeper/colder fish, and get pretty big. The wide, flat head could be mistaken for a cat.

ripley · 10-18-2010, 12:21 AM

This the largest catfish you ever see ,even if you live another 199 years !!

633 pounds !

08-29-2010, 08:51 PM	#1
Diver1111 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Exeter NH Posts: 603 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,032 Times in 227 Posts	3 foot catfish? While diving off Welch I encountered what I think was a catfish-easily 36 to 40" long. Sitting in a bowl-shaped depression just staring at me. I approached and he didn't flinch. Brown, and blended in with the bottom color-wise but he was easy to see. Large head maybe 10" across, body tapering to a tail that was about 4" in diameter-this 4" diameter was about one foot from the tail. His jaw (and body) were on the bottom vs. swimming so I couldn't see if there were any whiskers. I saw him at a depth of 71 feet. Do catfish-if that's what it was-get that big? This was the biggest fish length and girth-wise I have ever seen in Winni. I've seen 4 foot carp and 7 foot eels in the CT River but nothing like this in Winni. Curious. Thanks.

08-29-2010, 09:19 PM	#2
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	I Think That Our M/S Mount Washington Has The... Largest Cats here on Lake Winnipesaukee! Yes, catfish get very large! Here's at least a four footer. Terry ____________________________________ Here's a puppy. Attached Images __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html Last edited by trfour; 08-30-2010 at 08:08 AM. Reason: Add-a-line

08-30-2010, 08:56 AM	#7
Diver1111 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Exeter NH Posts: 603 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,032 Times in 227 Posts	Not a cusk Based on the photos, no way this was a cusk. Head was massive, like a catfish, and everything tapered from there to the tail. I know catfish get huge (ever seen them "noodle"?) but I was wondering if they get that big in Winni. The largest circumference of this thing was at the head. As I said, maybe 10" across. Found off East/NE Welch looking at the Ossipees.

08-30-2010, 09:46 AM	#8
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	The largest cat fish, a white, ever caught in NH was 23" long. The largest burbot on record was 34.5" in length. It's highly unlikely you would find a cat fish in water 71 feet deep. This is a burbot. It was around 20" long. Attached Images

08-31-2010, 07:23 AM	#9
Mink Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 753 Thanks: 59 Thanked 271 Times in 129 Posts	Cusk for sure! I caught an 8 pounder a couple of years ago (unfortunately the week PRIOR to the Rotary Fishing Derby). Huge head -- I had to chisel the hole open further to get it through the ice.

08-29-2010, 09:49 PM	#3
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	I wonder if it was a burbot. Other common names; cusk, ling, lawyer, eelpout and freshwater cod. for pic, http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CBgQ9QEwAA

08-30-2010, 02:11 AM	#4
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,937 Thanks: 2,205 Thanked 776 Times in 553 Posts	1) A tenant at my Florida lakefront location told me of his releasing a "lawyer" about 4' long. I thought back then, that it was another "trash" fish, 'til I connected burbot (cusk) with it. Days later, I saw a floating ~3-pound bass moving oddly under the dock in the murky water, and walked over to take a look at it. All motion ceased when I peered over and in the next moment, all I saw was a huge dark-brown head gulp down the remainder of the bass and swim off. 2) Environmentally-sensitive fishermen might want to look at this page: http://www.in-fisherman.com/other-fish/burbot In addition to a large alligator gar photo, there are a few interesting fishman articles. One article concerns the performance of a "sorta" laparoscopy on your fresh-caught fish to release it unharmed from a hook. (New to me, anyway).

08-30-2010, 06:41 AM	#5
topwater Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 302 Thanks: 85 Thanked 116 Times in 48 Posts	Hauns, chances are what you saw was a CUSK. It is a bottom dweller and does like deep water. People fish for them exclusively in the winter because they make a great chowder. They use a 1lb weight with dead bait, and put them on the bottom. During the winter, if you have ever seen a row of ice mounds on the lake with a stick in them , they are cusk lines, and I believe you are allowed 6 of them, thats why you see them all in a row. Hope this helps. However, I did see a ambulance once being brought out to a island on a barge. following closely behind the barge was a pack of large cusks, so they might be called lawyers too. Not really sure on that one.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to topwater For This Useful Post:
ApS (08-30-2010), Jonas Pilot (08-30-2010)

08-30-2010, 08:04 AM	#6
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 724 Thanks: 25 Thanked 107 Times in 68 Posts	The state record cusk, caught in Winni in March of 2007, was 34.5" long and weighed in at 12 lbs. 3.52 oz. You're saying the one you saw was 36" to 40" long so I gotta ask...GPS coordinates?

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Jonas Pilot For This Useful Post:
ApS (10-18-2010), secondcurve (08-30-2010)

08-31-2010, 09:17 AM	#10
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,499 Thanks: 374 Thanked 229 Times in 123 Posts	I agree that it could've been a cusk. Senter Cove Guy and I saw two good sized cusk on the speedboat wreck you pointed us to in early June. They, too, didn't scare easily, and hung around quite close while we explored the wreck for a good 30-40 minutes. They are deeper/colder fish, and get pretty big. The wide, flat head could be mistaken for a cat. __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

10-18-2010, 12:21 AM	#11
ripley Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 55 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	This the largest catfish you ever see ,even if you live another 199 years !! 633 pounds !