Perry Sets New Flathead Record-With A Speargun!

Britt Perry has been certified as a world record holder.

On July 31, the Louisiana resident killed a 36.2-pound flathead catfish with a speargun in the Sabine River.

Spearfishing catfish is legal in Louisiana.

The record has been officially recognized in the “Women’s Speargun” category  by the International Underwater Spearfishing Association.

“I was spearing in the Sabine river when I shot this flathead catfish. The visibility that day was about 4ft and the current was slow but steady. I dove about 10-15ft to the bottom of the river and was slowly swimming along the muddy floor when the fish came into view from the dark. It was large and laying stationary,” Perry said.

“I took aim and creeped a little bit closer to make sure it wasn’t a carp hiding through the murk. I took the short, 3ft shot and with a thump, I knew it was time to head to the surface.”

She said the swim back to the bank wasn’t the easiest but she was able to get to shore, kick off her fins and bring it on land.

“Logan Boudreaux, who I was spearfishing with, watched from the shore and was waiting for me. We were both surprised by how big it actually was. He suggested that we find a dock on Toledo Bend to have it weighed. We loaded up and drove to Living The Dream docks to have the fish weighed on the certified scales and celebrated with a couple drinks.”

For more information on spearfishing records click here.