By Lili Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News
Tony Montoya caught not only one, but two huge catfish on the same day. After an adventure getting his largest fish weighed, he now holds the new lake record for blue catfish on Brazos Lake.
The Waco resident was fishing with his buddy, Cody Cox, on the morning of Dec 2 when he brought in a 40.8-pound blue catfish, a fish that may have been a lake record.
The pair frequent the banks of the Brazos River and are avid night fishermen.
“I’m out there fishing any chance I get,” Montoya said.
Fishing from the bank near Baylor University’s McLane Stadium, Tony Montoya landed a 52.6-pound blue catfish, a Brazos Lake record. Photo by John Tibbs, TPWD.
Around 6 p.m. the same night, the pair went back to the same spot along the bank where they had success earlier that morning. Using 7-inch shad chunks for bait, not 30 minutes later, Montoya hooked another monster.
“I knew he was good, but didn’t know he was that good,” Montoya recalled.
A 52.6-pound blue catfish was on the other end of the rod. The fish gave a good fight, but eventually Cox was able to lip it and get it on the bank. The friends knew time was against them, but wanted to get the fish weighed before releasing it.
Their first stop was Cabela’s, but they arrived 15 minutes after the store closed. They drove to Academy, where they learned the store had stopped weighing fish. Finally, they were able to get in touch with a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department official.
The fish measured 46 inches long and weighed 52.6 pounds, breaking the record for Lake Brazos. The previous blue catfish was 39.5 pounds, set in April of 2010.
Montoya was cognizant of the time and how long the fish would live out of the water. He wrapped the fish in his sweatshirt that he soaked in water to keep the fish hydrated.
“You learn to respect the animals, especially of that size,” he said. “I’m just super thankful for my buddy, he was right there with me giving it his all and I couldn’t have done it without him.”
Montoya feels fortunate regarding his catches.
“Breaking not one, but possibly two records in one day, now that’s pretty lucky,” Montoya said. “Maybe I should have bought a lottery ticket.”
