Tennessee man breaks own catfish record by landing a 122-pounder out of Cumberland River
Mike Organ
A 122-pound, 3-ounce blue catfish caught on the Cumberland River in Stewart County on June 28 has been confirmed as a state record.
The big cat, which measured 57.5 inches in length with a girth of 42.5 inches, was landed by Micka Burkhart of Big Rock on June 28, 2022. He used a white bass head as bait on a 40-pound test line and made the catch around noon.
Burkhart beat his own state record of 118 pounds caught in September 2022 on Barkley Reservoir.
Burkhart also caught 72 and 69 pounders on the same day he caught the latest record.
"Well I ended the day with a 72, 69, oh and also a 122.3 pounder, which is going to be the new Tennessee state record fish," Burkhart posted on his Facebook page. "I can't thank God enough for the life he has given me and the blessing he still continues to bless me with. Such an awesome day. Huge thanks to everyone that helped with this."
Burkhart released both trophy catches.
The record before Burkhart's first catch was 112 pound caught in the Cumberland River in 1998 by Robert E. Lewis.
MICKA BURKHART SNAGS STATE RECORD:Tennessee man catches state record-breaking 118-pound catfish
The blue catfish is one of the biggest species of catfish in America, according to the American Catfishing Association. It is bluish-gray in color with a white belly.
An average catfish measures 10 to 40 inches in length and weighs 4.5 pounds. They can live to be 20 years old.
LOCAL MAN CATCHES TWO BIG CATS:Tennessee fisherman lands another big catfish after catching two in the spring
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.