Man catches 53.35-pound catfish in Michigan's St. Joe River - Detroit Free Press

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An Indiana fisherman reeled in a state-record-breaking fish in the early hours of May 29.

Lloyd Tanner, of Hobart, caught the 53.35-pound flathead catfish in the St. Joe River in Berrien County, according to a Michigan Department of Natural Resources news release. Tanner was baitcasting with cut bait.

The previous record flathead catfish was a 52-pound fish caught in Barron Lake in Cass County in 2014, according to the DNR. 

The record-breaking fish was verified by the Department of Natural Resources, according to the release. To qualify as a record-breaking fish, it must exceed the previous state-record weight and be verified by a department biologist.

Tanner said he comes specifically to Michigan because of the huge fish that can be found there.

"I've been fishing Michigan for almost 30 years," Tanner said. "What draws me to Michigan is fishing for big catfish."

Tanner said that he usually comes here every weekend to fish with friends in the Michigan Catfish Anglers Trail, or MCATS, an amateur fishing club.

"We have several fun tournaments that anyone who enjoys fishing for catfish can come out and fish," he said. 

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A complete list of record-breaking fish can be found at Michigan.gov/StateRecordFish.

Contact Navya Gupta: ngupta@freepress.com

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