David Hayes

In August 2008, David Hayes broke the North Carolina state record for channel catfish when he caught a 21-pound, 1-ounce catfish while fishing from a private pond with his granddaughter, Alyssa.

It took Haynes 25 minutes to land the fish, which measured 32 inches long and 22½ inches in girth.¹

Fast Facts

1. Alyssa was 3 years old at the time¹
2. Alyssa’s father bought her the pink Barbie fishing rod for Christmas²
3. Alyssa had caught a few bluegill fish earlier in the day²
4. The catfish was two inches longer than the Barbie doll fishing pole used to catch it¹
5. Previous N.C. state record for a channel catfish was 18-pounds, 5-ounces for a fish caught in August 2007¹
6. Haynes weighed the fish on certified scales at a nearby grocery store¹
7. Kin Hodges, a Wildlife Resources Commission fisheries biologist, certified the fish's weight³

Qualifying for a N.C. State Fishing Record

• The fish must by caught on a rod and reel³
• The fish must be weighed on a certified scale and witnessed by one observer³
• The fish must be positively identified by a qualified expert from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission³
• An application with a full, side-view photo of the fish must be submitted to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission³

Quotes

• "Alyssa turns to me and says: ‘Papa, I’ve got to go to the bathroom. Hold my fishing rod.' A few minutes later, the float went under, and I saw the water start boiling up — I knew right then that I had my hands full with that fishing rod."—David Hayes¹

Related Pages on Mahalo

Goliath Grouper | Fishing | How to Fish | Catfish

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