Overview

• On August 4 at the Vranov Reservoir south of Prague, Jakub Vágner landed a Wels catfish measuring 2.68 metres (8.8 feet), surpassing his previous Czech record by about four centimetres.
• The angler endured an exhausting 50-minute battle, at one point calling a friend for help to steady the rod as the fish thrashed.
• Reports from News18 and The Straits Times indicate the fish bit Vágner’s hand and nearly dragged him underwater during unhooking, highlighting the dangers of tackling trophy catfish.
• After photographing the record catch, Vágner released the fish back into the reservoir, reflecting his commitment to catch-and-release conservation.
• As Europe’s largest freshwater species, Wels catfish can exceed 200 kilograms, making this capture a formidable achievement in sportfishing.