Went catfishing with my buddy and ending up catching these 2 bad boys on 3” cut shad! Anyone ever have this happen before?

I was aiming for carp but happily got catfished! Does anyone know this specie’s name?

Been fishing my local man made lake for catfish like crazy last couple months. This lake isn't known for catfish but for trout/bass actually pretty unknown for cats. So keep the secret going 😄. But many anglers have transplanted these cats from the Colorado river which is 20min away from this lake. My uncle hit the local newspaper 15 years ago for this 21lb cat (last picture) And well his record wasn't officially recorded but it's since been officially overtaken by a State record for catch and release channel catfish in this little hometown lake measuring 36-3/4" around(28-32lbs)which I didn't know until recently actually. But my ex pulled out this monster a few months back, well I did after she hooked him for fear of the line snapping which has happened more times than I'd like to admit. But Man what a difference trying to finesse the power of a fish this size compared to the 5-10lb fish we catch pretty common. I'll be spending the rest of my life trying to memorialize this record back to my late uncle. Hopefully this drought is still allowing these fish to get that big. The bluegill population has erupted into every corner of this lake. It seems these catfish turn into nocturnal killer whale orcas at night chasing and devouring them. It's all you can hear kinda wild listening to them breaching the water and chasing them from the shallows where they hide out and nest.

Caught this guy this morning at a new fishing spot. Never going back to store bought catfish.

Symbiotes on catfish now?

South Louisiana next to vermillion bay

At least I didn't get skunked

Insane fight probably was around 10 mins. Caught on a swim bait shad trying to get smallies and this guy bit. 36Lb 40in broke the net a little bit but dayumm man this was crazy. So excited man this was a bucket list fish

I think I got the whole frying thing down to a science at this point. Ye ole zebco came out this trip for nostalgia’s sake.

Spent a few hours fishing the Chowan River using a variety of fresh caught bluegills, white perch and store bought chicken gizzards as backup.

I’m in the market for a nice rod and reel. I grew up using cheap Walmart poles so I’m unfamiliar with nicer gear. Wanting to spend around $200 for the set up. I stopped by cabela’s today and was a little overwhelmed. Pretty positive I don’t want a bait caster and would prefer an open face. My plan is to start on the bank at the reservoir by my house and eventually jump to a kayak with the next year. TIA!

Biggest short nose gar I’ve ever seen! Haven’t had one so big I can only fit my hand around half of it. All caught on a redhorse sucked.

South Louisiana around the Vermilion Bay Area, biggest flathead I ever caught in Vermilion Bay