Two fishermen have successfully reeled in a massive eight-foot-long catfish after an intense three-hour battle in Brazil. Ironildo Corrêa da Silva and Cirley Oliveira da Cunha, long-time fishing buddies of over 20 years, decided to venture into Bolivia for a fishing expedition in a remote location near the Bolivian village of El Sena. The spot was relatively unknown, with Ironildo having visited only a handful of times in the past two decades. Aware of the presence of large spotted catfish in the area, the fishermen anticipated a rewarding catch at the mouth of the river.
Their anticipation turned into reality on the morning of May 25 when they hooked a massive Piraiba catfish in the Manupare River. Recognizing the fish’s immense size, Ironildo and Cirley knew they couldn’t rely on their own strength to reel it in, so they resorted to using the boat’s engine and reversing to counter the fish’s resistance. For a grueling three hours, the fishermen took turns handling the fishing rod, battling the tremendous strength of the catfish. Eventually, the exhausted fish began to tire, allowing them to tow it alongside the boat. Seizing the opportunity, Ironildo jumped into the water, swiftly cradled the catfish, and secured it in the boat within a matter of minutes.
Although Ironildo had caught Piraiba catfish in the past, he had never encountered one as enormous as this. Their catch, weighing a staggering 182 kilograms (401 pounds/28.7 stone) and measuring 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) in length, was taken to a nearby fishmonger to be measured and weighed. The proud fishermen shared images of their impressive catch on social media, which quickly went viral within angling groups, garnering widespread attention and admiration.
However, not everyone celebrated their feat. Some individuals expressed their disappointment, stating that such a trophy fish should have been released back into the river. They argued that the fish, being old, would have tough meat and an excessively fatty composition. These critics believed the fish should have been released, allowing another angler to experience the joy of catching it.
Nonetheless, Ironildo and Cirley were grateful for the attention their post received, realizing that it was now their turn to showcase their fishing prowess after watching videos of other anglers catching giant fish. Their remarkable achievement serves as a testament to the thrill and challenges of angling, leaving a lasting memory of their epic battle with the colossal catfish.
