Oconee River Record Flathead Catfish Weighs 62 Pounds

Brian Estes, flathead catfish from the Oconee River.

On June 13 of 1999, Brian Estes, of Milledgeville, was fishing in the tailrace below Lake Sinclair using a Zebco 33 and 16-lb. test line when something huge hit his live shad.

After a 40-minute fight, that included the fish taking all the line right down to the knot, Brian landed a monster flathead catfish. On certified scales the fish weighed 62 pounds—just off the then state record weight of 63-lbs., 8-ozs. for a Georgia flathead catfish.