CHATTANOOGA, TN -- Chattanooga-area angler Eric Mauer was recently
awarded a Line Class World Record by the International Game Fish
Association. Mauer specializes in catching monster catfish and recently
claimed the world title for the IGFA Freshwater 130 lb. Line Class
record for blue catfish.
Mauer caught
the 84-pound blue on March 18, 2007 near the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant
in about 38 feet of water. He was using a 2-inch "steak" cut from
a river herring (skipjack).
Mauer described it this way, "It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon
on Chickamauga Lake fishing the drop-offs with 130 lb. test Ande
line when this 84-pound monster picked up the bait. I knew it was
a monster right from the beginning and fought it for about 45 minutes."
Mauer
said another boat watched the entire show, however he netted the
beast by himself.
"It's a technique I've learned on other big catfish... and the net
held," he exclaimed. "I grabbed a couple of fellow fishermen and
headed for a dock because I knew this fish should set the new IGFA
130 lb. line class record. It had to be weighed on land on certified
scales (which I carry) and witnessed. "
The fish was 55 inches long and had a girth of 34.75 inches.
Mauer said, "After weighing, measuring, and taking photos, I stood
in the water with it until it revived enough to swim away."
Mauer, who is retired, says he normally fishes 3-to-4 days per week
and averages about 25 hours per week year-round.
"I don't specifically fish for record fish, but I do use methods
and fish areas that will produce big fish. I always use line that
will test at or below the maximum allowed for each line class so
that if I do catch a record fish it will not be disqualified because
the line tested too high. I preset my drag at 25% to 30% of the
stated line test, especially for the lighter lines. I also prefer
circle hooks for catfish, in a size appropriate to the line strength,
so that “setting” the hook is not required and there is less risk
of breaking off the fish. I also carry the required paperwork and
a list of state and world records so that I know if a fish qualifies,
and can have the fish witnessed and weighed and photographed, and
can still release it."
Obviously "record-oriented" Mauer says he became interested in ”record”
fishing through the Tennessee Angler Recognition Program (TARP),
where they have set minimum “trophy” lengths to recognize anglers
and to collect information on these large fish throughout the state.
He says after doing some research, he discovered that he was catching
fish that might possibly set some records and thought that it would
be exciting to try to set some of them, so he learned the rules
and made sure that all of his equipment met the standards.
"I hold or have applied for 127 TARP certificates, 107 of them for
blue catfish, 20 for other species," said Mauer. "I also currently
have the most different species caught at 13. Of those 13 different
species, 12 of them (all except rainbow trout) have come from Chickamauga
Lake, and in fact within sight of each other. Same for the IGFA
records."
This is Mauer's 4th IGFA World Line Class record (all for blue catfish),
and 9 current or pending IGFA Tennessee State Line Class records.
Mauer says, "The funny thing is that I don't usually 'target' trophy
fish, but I honestly expect every bite to be a big fish. Attitude
really does play a large part in being a successful fisherman."
And he's got well about 140 certificates on his wall to prove it.
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