Teen reels in 101-pound blue catfish; possibly setting new state record

CLERMONT COUNTY, Ohio (WXIX/Gray News) - An Ohio teen reeled in what might be a state record-setting blue catfish.

Jaylynn Parker, a 15-year-old student at New Richmond High School, says she has been fishing with her father since she was young, but needed help to get the more than 100-pound catfish from the Ohio River.

“I was screaming,” she said. “I was so surprised. I didn’t think he was going to be that big at all.”

Jaylynn did not use a traditional rod and reel to pull in her catch. She used a technique called jugging.

According to Jaylynn, her technique included a Clorox jug, a 200-pound test line, a hook and some skipjack for bait.

The 101-pound catfish did not break the line either.

Once up on the scale, the catfish weighed in at 101.11 pounds.

“I was like, this is a big fish. He was just massive,” Jaylynn said.

With her dad Chuck in the background and family friend Jeff Sams holding the fish, Jaylynn said there was no way she could have pulled the fish by herself.

“I mean, I’m probably 10 pounds bigger than him,” she said.

Jaylynn and her family took a moment to get photos and videos of her big catch before releasing it back into the Ohio River.

The 15-year-old said she is waiting for official confirmation from the state of Ohio to see if the fish she caught is indeed a record catch.

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