Big Blue Cat Falls Just Short Of Sinclair Record

When she has the chance, Rachel Brown, 25, of Dallas, Ga., accompanies her dad at their family’s Lake Sinclair vacation home.

On Thursday, April 9,  they had the chance to go fishing together like they have many times before.

“We fished some that afternoon and caught some bass and bream, which is our normal,” said Rachel. “We were just hanging out on the boat like we normally do, not expecting anything.”

Shortly before 7:30 p.m., her dad, Ray, suggested they bait a few lines with smaller bream they caught earlier in the day and cast into open, deep water.

“I got a bite but ended up having to cast again,” said Rachel. “Not even five minutes later, my line took off, and I started reeling.”

Rachel said that even though it only took a few short minutes to get the blue catfish to the boat, it was still a struggle.

“My dad was yelling at me to not let go whatever I did. I was so in shock and excited,” said Rachel.

Rachel Brown, of Dallas, caught this 47-lb., 1-oz. blue catfish on Lake Sinclair on April 9, 2020.

The next challenge was finding a scale to get Rachel’s monster catch weighed to see if it’d be a new lake record. Rachel said that on their way to find one, her dad stopped at every dock and marina he saw people at to show off her trophy.

They finally connected with Drew Copelan at The Meat Shed and had the fish weighed on certified scales. A few pounds shy of breaking the 51-lb., 14-oz. lake record, Rachel’s blue catfish still weighed in at a whopping 47-lbs., 1-oz.

“My dad fishes often and has caught several big fish, but nothing like this,” said Rachel. “After all the excitement, we cleaned it and plan on eating it.”

GON has compiled and keeps records for most major lakes and rivers in Georgia. If you have a fish that you believe to be a new record, refer to the instructions below on how to get your fish certified and recognized in GON’s Georgia Lake and River Records list.

• Fish must be caught legally by rod and reel in a manner consistent with state game and fish regulations.

• Catch must be weighed on accurate Georgia DOA certified scales with at least two witnesses present.

• Witnesses to the weighing must be at least 18 years old, and they must not be members of the angler’s immediate family nor have a close personal relationship with the angler.

• Catch must be positively identified by qualified DNR personnel. Click here to find a WRD Fisheries office near you. 

GON’s records are compiled and maintained by GON, to be awarded at GON’s discretion. Additional steps may be required for record consideration.