With a happy ending

Record catch for two 25-year-old giant catfish

Bernd Horvath with the record catch within a short time(Bild: Franz Weber)

After a photo, the fish, weighing 80 and 60 kilos respectively, were released back into the Oberdorf-Rotenturm pond (Burgenland). 

There was a real "Petri Heil" last Friday for hobby fisherman Bernd Horvath from Kohfidisch. The man from southern Burgenland, who spends a lot of time at the Oberdorf-Rotenturm fishing pond and has "enormous stamina", landed two catfish with lengths of 2.37 and 2.08 meters with great effort. Estimated weight: 80 and 60 kilograms respectively. 

Animals around 25 years old
After a photo session and some shop talk with fellow fishermen, the two magnificent creatures were released back into the pond. Both are probably around 25 years old. No one had ever succeeded in pulling a larger fish out of the water.

Sensational success
Pond owner Martha Dirnbeck enthused: "For me, Mr. Horvath's success is sensational. Two such big catfish in such a short time! Some fishermen sit at the pond for many nights and wait in vain." Interesting fact for hobby anglers: in addition to catfish, which Horvath mainly goes after, there is also a large carp population in these waters.