By David Graham: 7-16-2024
I have compiled a list of as many freshwater fish as I could find that have the propensity to grow over 100lb and broken it down by continent.
By location
North America (Sturgeon(s), Alligator Gar, Paddlefish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, King Salmon)
South America (Short-Tailed River Ray, Piraiba, Arapaima, Spotted Surubi, Jau Catfish, Red-Tail Catfish)
Africa (Nile Perch, Kamba, Vundu, Sharp-Tooth Catfish, Goliath Tigerfish)
Australia (Murray Cod, Barramundi)
North America
Starting with my home continent of North America - we are fortunate to host some half dozen species of fish that can grow over 100lb. North America has incredible diversity of species and some real sleeper giants.
Stugeon(s) to 1200lb
There are over a half dozen species of sturgeon in North America - the majority of which can eclipse 100lb. For that reason we will simply lump them all into one category. While many sturgeon species are naturally anadromous - they all spend a significant portion (or all) of their lives in freshwater. The most notorious of all being the white sturgeon, which is among the largest 'freshwater' fish on earth.
White*, Atlantic*, Gulf*, Green*, Lake*, Pallid*, Shortnose, Shovelnose, and Alabama Sturgeon
Alligator Gar (300lb) Atractosteus spatula
Arguably the largest purely freshwater species on the continent, the Alligator Gar is North America's heavyweight king of the predators. A prehistoric monster fish that can exceed 9 feet in length and over 300lb. With its long cylindrical body covered in armored scales, and a bony bill filled with two rows of sharp teeth, the Alligator Gar is certainly one of the most unique species on the planet.
Paddlefish (170lb) Polyodon spathula
This colossal filter feeder is another one of North America's unique prehistoric monster fish. While the paddlefish can grow to nearly 200lb, it does so on a diet of tiny plankton. As a result, the most common method of capture for the paddlefish is by intentionally 'snagging' the fish with a weighted hook.
Blue Catfish (150lb) Ictalurus furcatus
North America's blue catfish is an interesting case in that it seems to continuously grow larger year over year. In the last few decades this species all-tackle world record has fallen repeatedly, with the most recent specimen coming in at 143lb. It seems to be just a matter of time before we see this species approach the 200lb mark!
Flathead Catfish (125lb) Pylodictis olivaris
North America's flathead catfish is a solitary predator that has a proclivity for underwater caves, timber, and structure to dwell in. Wildly popular, but still somehow surrounded by mystery, triple digit specimens have become increasingly rare. Still, the largest flathead catfish taken on rod and reel weighed 123lb!
King Salmon (120lb) Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Like the aforementioned sturgeon species - the King Salmon (aka Chinook) is an anadromous species. Born in freshwater, but spending much of its life in the ocean feeding and growing, is giant salmonid returns to the freshwater rivers where it was born to spawn. Specimens have been caught by commercial means over 125lb! But, this is an incredibly rare instance. The largest on record by rod and reel pushed the 100lb mark, coming in at 97lb!
South America
South America is a notorious mega-fish hub... the Amazon and its tributaries are perhaps the most pristine and remote river systems on the planet and are home to some of the most iconic freshwater fish.
Short-Tailed River Ray (500lb) Potamotrygon brachyura
Native to the Río de la Plata Basin, including the Paraguay, Paraná and Uruguay Rivers in the countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay - the short-tailed river ray is a mysterious and monstrous freshwater fish. It is believed to grow to up to 500lb, but because of limited sampling - its true size potential remains mysterious!
Piraiba (400lb+) Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
Arguably the largest purely freshwater fish on the planet, the piraiba catfish is the King Kong of catfish species! It is the largest of the Amazonian catfish species... a notoriously powerful and difficult species to catch by rod and reel.
Arapaima(s) (400lb)
Officially the largest scaled freshwater fish on the planet, the arapaima is the queen of the Amazon... and one of the most recognized and prized freshwater giants on earth. This prehistoric bohemoth frequents marginal ponds and oxbows along main rivers and tributaries of the Amazon. It can grow to the area of 10 feet in length and exceed 400lb!
Spotted Surubi (250lb+) Pseudoplatystoma corruscans
Another ornamental giant, the spotted surubi is the largest of the Pseudoplatystoma class of fish. Found in the Paraguay river basins, it is often caught as bycatch for anglers targeting other species. While it is known to reach up to 250lb, this monster catfish is believed to grow considerably larger!
Jau (200lb) Zungaro zungaro
The jau, or 'gilded catfish' is an absolute brawler found in the Amazon basin. With a proclivity for swift current and underwater snags, it is a uniquely challenging fish with a powerful set of shoulders. Favoring the cover of darkness and noctornal hunting, this monster catfish can reach up to 200lb.
Redtail Catfish (150lb) Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
A wildly popular ornamental catfish found in the aquarium trade, the Amazon's red tail catfish is one of its most recognized species. A spectacular beauty that can reach upwards of 150lb, the red tail is a marvelous freshwater monster fish.
Africa
While Africa may be the land giant mammals, it doesn't necessarily have the most giant freshwater fish. Still, the species it does have eclipsing the triple digit mark are very unique! Home to the longest river in the world (Nile), and the deepest river (Congo) - there are deep and untouched habitats that may yet conceal monster sized fish we cant imagine.
Nile Perch (400lb) Lates niloticus
Africa's largest freshwater fish is the colossal Nile Perch. Capable of exceeding 200lb, this monster freshwater fish has even been said to reach upwards of 400lb. Found through much of Central, Western, and Eastern Africa - the Nile Perch is a relatively widespread species... but truly monster size specimens are becoming increasingly hard to find.
Kamba Catfish (250lb) Chrysichthys cranchii
Francois Botha with a massive Kamba catfish
The Kamba is Africa's largest catfish species - It is a heavy bodied catfish that can reach nearly 300lb. The species is endemic to the Congo river basin. Instances of exceptionally large Kamba caught by rod and reel seem rare.
Vundu (150lb) Heterobranchus longifilis
This unique species of airbreathing catfish is the largest species of freshwater fish found in Southern Africa. With specimens captured at nearly 6 feet in length and upwards of 150 lb, it is a formidable species for sure.
African sharptooth catfish (130lb) Clarias gariepinus
A similar cousin of the Vundu, the African sharptooth catfish is another longfinned catfish species that has been known to exceed the 100lb mark, with specimens recorded upwards of 130lb.
Goliath Tigerfish (130lb~) Hydrocynus goliath
Perhaps the most fear invoking monster-fish of them all, the goliath tigerfish is the stuff nightmares are made of. While fish exceeding 100lb are very rare, specimens have been captured pushing 130lb! A mysterious monster fish, the goliath tigerfish is often considered to be the most difficult freshwater fish on the planet to capture and is found almost exclusively in the Congo river basin.
Asia
The continent with the greatest number of freshwater fish species over 100lb is Asia. With over a dozen species of freshwater fish reaching triple digit weights, it is certainly a land of giants. Many of Asia's native giant species are at peril of extinction, and their populations are rapidly shrinking in many cases.
Giant Stingray (1000lb+) Urogymnus polylepis
When you wade into the conversation of what is truly the largest freshwater fish on the planet, the waters get murky. Somewhere in that mix and debate though is the giant freshwater stingray. Growing in excess of 1000lb it is an absolute giant to be sure. Whether it is walking the line of being an anadromous species or not is where the debate lies. Are they spending any time in saltwater? How much of their time is in brackish estuaries? Nevertheless, this colossal ray spends the majority of its life in freshwater, and the consensus is that they are a pure freshwater species (hence the name).
Mekong Catfish (650lb) Pangasianodon gigas
This critically endangered species of giant catfish is also in the conversation for largest freshwater fish on earth. Increasingly rare in its natural habitat due to habitat loss and overfishing - the mekong catfish is still clinging on, and can exceed 650lb and over 9 feet in length. Today it is found almost exclusively in the Mekong delta and Cambodia's Tonle Sap lake. The species has been artificially stocked in lakes, and efforts to re-stock them into native river systems are ongoing.
Sturgeon(s) (1000+lb)
A number of sturgeon species can be found in Asia - each being an anadromous species by nature. The largest among them is the Chinese sturgeon which can grow to 16 feet in length and over 1000lb. The Chinese sturgeon can be found in the fresh waters of the Yangtze river. The species, like many other megafauna fish species, is in extreme peril. Natural reproduction in the wild is thought to be increasingly rare due to the damming and polluition of natural migratory hubs, but the species is being artificially reared and farmed for stocking and release in rivers like the Yangtze.
Giant Barb (600lb) Catlocarpio siamensis
Commonly referred to as the giant Siamese Carp, the giant barb is the largest cyprinid in the world. This massive migratory species is found in the basins of the Mekong, Mae Klong, and Chao Phraya river systems. Like the other giants of the surrounding Mekong system, the species is in decline and exceedingly rare in the wild. The giant barb sustains its mass on a diet of phytoplankton, algae, fruits, and other plant matter.
Chao Phraya Catfish (350lb+) Pangasius sanitwongsei
The Chao Phraya Catfish, also known as the giant pangasius, is a close relative of the giant Mekong catfish. The species is native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya rivers. While it may be a slightly more hardy species than the Mekong giant catfish, it is still an endangered species.
Wallago Leerii Catfish (350lb~)
Wallagonia leerii
Also known as the 'Tappah', the Wallago Leerii is a species of catfish native to Southeast Asia. Its habitat ranges from the river drainages of Thailand through the Malayan peninsula to the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia. Because it is a popular food fish, overfishing and habitat degradation has driven the species to be endangered.
King Barbus (300lb+) Luciobarbus esocinus
The King Barbus, or 'mangar' is an enormous predatory cyprinid native to the Tigris–Euphrates river system in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Truly massive specimens have been captured exceeding 7 feet in length and over 300lb! Because of the overharvest, and the unstable regions they inhabit, they are among the most difficult species of giant freshwater fish to capture.
Giant bagrid - (200lb+) hemibagrus microphthalmus
The giant bagrid - also known as the salween catfish - is a large and relatively unknown species of catfish found in the Irrawaddy, Sittang and Salween rivers of India, Myanmar and Thailand. While listed as a species that maxes out at around 170lb, larger specimens have been captured without proper documentation and many photos online appear to show fish that could potentially go even bigger. It is a species that has hardly been examined by diehard big game anglers.
Goonch (250lb) Bagarius yarrelli
Known as the 'giant devil catfish', the goonch is a large species of catfish native to the Indian subcontinent. This unique catfish species sports a formindable set of jaws lined with large sharp teeth. They prefer fast moving, deep flowing river systems where they hide among large rocks and underwater caverns. The species is currently listed as 'Vulnerable' due to habitat loss and overfishing.
Taimen (200lb) Hucho taimen
The worlds largest salmonid. The Hucho Taimen, or 'Siberian Taimen' is an enormous trout-like species found in flowing rivers around Mongolia and Russia. Considered vulnerable and in decline - especially large Taimen can exceed 150lb, but are thought to be increasingly rare.
Black Carp (200lb+) Mylopharyngodon piceus
The black carp is a monstrous cyprinid, among the largest in the world. With weights thought to exceed 230lb! It is native to lakes and rivers in East Asia, ranging from the Amur Basin across China to Vietnam. This large carp species feeds primarily on small invertebrates like snails, clams, and mussels. Because of its propensity to devour snails, the black carp has been used in aquaculture to control certain species of invasive snail.
Humpback Mahseer (200lb) Hypselobarbus mussullah
This endangered species of cyprinid is the largest of the mahseers. It is endemic to the Western Ghats of southern India. The Humpback Mahseer has been recorded from the Krishna, Kaveri and the Godavari in the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala. They prefer deeper stretches of clear, fast flowing streams and rivers where they feed primarily on other fish, crustaceans, amphibians, and some plant matter.
Asian Redtail (180lb~) Hemibagrus wyckioides
One of several species of Asia's bagrid catfish that can eclipse the 100lb threshold, the Asian Redtail originates from the Mekong basin but has been introduced throughout Malaysia and other areas of Asia for sport and for food. Unlike many of its larger counterparts of the Mekong basin, this is a very common species.
Salween Rita Catfish (150lb+)
Rita sacerdotum
The Salween Rita is a heavy bodied species of bagrid catfish found in Mayanmar and Thailand (originating in the Saween River it was named after). While they can reach upwards of 150+lb, the species are more commonly caught at half that size.
Julliens Golden Carp (150lb+) Probarbus jullieni
The Julliens Golden Carp is a critically endangered cyprinid scarcely found in wild river systems today. In natural circumstances the species could grow over 150lb! Today such specimens are thought to be all but gone. Historically, this fish was found in the Mekong, Irrawaddy, Chao Phraya, Meklong, Pahang, and Perak River Basins of Southeast Asia, specifically in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Malaysia.
Yellowcheek (120lb) Elopichthys bambusa
The yellowcheek carp is a large species of predatory cyprinid that ranges from Asia's Amur River, through China to the Red and Lam Rivers in Vietnam. Especially large specimens can reach upwards of 7 feet in length and 120lb. Its streamlined body is built for speed and efficient navigation of swift moving waters.
Europe
While Europe does not boast a large number of megafauna freshwater fish species, it does have one of the most recognized.
Sturgeon(s) (2,000lb+)
Europe's Beluga Sturgeon and grow to astounding sizes, although they are exceptionally rare specimens. Today, finding a beluga sturgeon over 500lb would be difficult. The species has become increasingly rare in natural river systems. Like many/most other sturgeon(s) it is a naturally anadromous species... but has been introduced to land locked lake systems. Europe has numerous other species of sturgeon - several of which can also reach over 100lb, however, all or most are also diminished populations of anadromous species.
Wels Catfish (350lb) Silurus glanis
The European Wels Catfish is a widespread species of giant catfish that has been introduced for sport, and also deemed as invasive in many waters of Western Europe. Today it's found from the United Kingdom east to Kazakhstan and China and south to Greece and Turkey. The species has an enormous mouth and an appetite to accommodate. It can grow close to 10 feet in length and over 350lb!
Australia
Australia is home to two species of freshwater fish that can reach upwards of 100lb.
Murray Cod (200lb+) Maccullochella peelii
The Murray Cod is Australia's freshwater king. It's the largest freshwater fish on the continent that can grow to the range of 200lb! This carnivorous species, like many of the others on this list, are in decline - where truly enormous specimens at the high end of their true size potential are increasingly rare.
Barramundi (130lb) Lates calcarifer
The Barramundi may be among Australia's most notorious freshwater fish. It can be found in tropical regions of the country, including the Ashburton River in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and the Maryborough River in Queensland. While it technically can reach weights exceeding 100lb, instances of fish of this caliber are exceptionally rare.
Any I missed? be sure to let me know in the comments!
bucket list!