Ricardo Serrano has fished the Pecos River in Carlsbad for nearly 30 years and has never seen a heavy channel catfish until his stepson caught one on June 25.
He called the 16-pound catfish caught by 15-year-old Bradlee Granger of Carlsbad a “river monster.”
Serrano said Granger is an avid hunter and fisherman and the fish was caught with bacon and garlic near Friendship Park. At first, the fish looked normal to the duo; however, a closer look revealed something else.
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“It looked so surreal,” Serrano said. “I was shocked to see how big that cat(fish) was really.”
What is a channel fish?
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish said New Mexico waters support three kinds of catfish: channel, flathead and blue.
Catfish come alive for fishermen at night. During the day, catfish seek out dark, deep pools with submerged logs, rocks or other debris, according to a Game and Fish website.
Game and Fish noted channel catfish are widely distributed around New Mexico and have adapted to life in reservoirs.
“Young channel catfish are silvery blue-gray with a black spot and a forked tail,” per the Game and Fish website.
Channel catfish reach maturity at nearly 12 inches and the color changes and spots diminish, read the Game and Fish website.
“Although channel cats prefer clear, slow-moving water, they’re highly tolerant of turbid water,” according to Game and Fish.
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Channel catfish grow to over 30 inches, though 12-inch to 16-inch catfish are caught more in New Mexico.
Serrano said he and Granger threw the fish in the river after taking some pictures.
Was Granger’s catch a state record?
Darren Vaughn, Game and Fish spokesperson, could not confirm if Serrano’s and Granger’s catch was a state record.
Former Carlsbad High School baseball coach Thomas Forni caught a record spotted bass in 2019 along the Pecos River in Carlsbad, according to the Game and Fish website.
That fish weighed nearly six pounds and was nearly 22 inches long, per Game and Fish.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Carlsbad teenager catches 16-pound ‘river monster’ in Pecos River
