I recieved an email this morning from a friend that informed me that SPLASH, the 121 lbs Blue catfish has died.
I haven’t been able to confirm this as yet, but he’s a reliable source.
Splash is the Texas state record Blue that held the world record for about a year when another, larger Blue was caught in the ‘sippi this last year. Splash was (I believe) the first record fish that was held in captivity in TX for all to see.
If true, she will be missed.
So are they having a big fish fry down there? 
Quote:
So are they having a big fish fry down there?
sounds like catfish stew! 
sorry Brian, I couldn’t resist… 
Quote:
The Texas state record catfish known as Splash died Tuesday, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife officials.
The catfish, which was being held at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, was donated to the state by angler Cody Mullenix of Howe. He caught the fish nearly two years ago on Jan. 14, 2004, at Lake Texoma.
At the time, the huge blue catfish weighed 121 1/2 pounds, making it the largest blue catfish ever recorded in Texas and a world record as well. However, a Mississippi River blue catfish caught earlier this year weighed in at 124 pounds, eclipsing Mullenix’s record.
Splash was a crowd favorite at the Fisheries Center, especially during feeding periods, when she would eat chicken, herring and mackerel from divers’ hands.
Parks and Wildlife fisheries biologists are planning to have a life-size replica of the catfish made for display at the center. The fish’s skeleton also will be prepared and placed on display in Athens.
http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/outdoors/12/8LEGNOTES.html
The sad day was when they put Splash in captivity.
AMEN BRET, should have been returned to her native waters. 
What are you guys talking about? There was nothing wrong with letting masses of people revel over such a great creature. The fish dying is unfortunate (even for a catfish) 
, but it was OLD…it’s gonna happen. Think of all the kids who might have taken an interest in fishing just b/c of seeing that fish.
You say Potato, I say Potato’
Although I try very hard not to…I have to agree with Slop on this one.
I can’t say how Tx laws work, but if we could do this legally in MN, it would be a good thing. (no questioning if it was a TRUE record or not!)
Who knows how long she would have survived in the wild?
She was pretty much done reproducing. So why not place her in a controled enviroment for all to enjoy?
What’s truely sad is that the law states that you have to kill your record in MN……(at this time, there is hope!)
Quote:
What’s truely sad is that the law states that you have to kill your record in MN……(at this time, there is hope!)
But we all know that isn’t really true either Brian. See current MN state record bass.
That’s what I was referring to Koots.
There is hope!
I’m glad that the bass story played out as it did…in hope that some common sense will be used in changing this…”poorly thought out law”. I give the DNR A LOT of credit…but having to kill fish (any fish) to trasport them is IMO, poorly thought out.
I’m glad they give us ways to constructivly change them!
Seams like there is alot more that goes along with catching a record fish these days than getting a certificate from the DNR and your name in the record books. Not sure if this is good or bad. 
Something else to “cash” in on I guess.
The unbelievable thing with Splash was that record didn’t hold up very long. The new record blue didn’t live long enough to make it into an aquarium either. The new MN record bass didn’t live too long after it was caught. Is there a pattern here…
I think the real difference here is that the guys who caught Splash actually had a contingency plan for catching a record fish. These guys were not slouches, but trophy cat hunters who knew what they were doing. 2 years in captivity IMO is a success, especially with a fish that old.
This isn’t good..twice in one day Slop! What’s going on here!
From what I recall of the bass, it was moved at least twice and never made it to the third time.
You do have a point Hansen, about the cashing in. Personally, I think they should be donated…can’t sell a fish anyway can we? ‘Spose there’s ways around everything….
IIRC, the guys in Texas didn’t have a great plan.
They repeatedly tried to hold the fish up for pictures and then basicaly put it on a stringer for 30+ minutes while they made a bunch of cell phone calls.
Could have been worse, but could have been better too.
I’m sure I’m gonna catch heck for saying this, but this whole business of record this and record that is starting to really bother me! 
So we have all these record books and agencies keeping records on big fish that so-n-so caught…..who really gives a crap?!?!? No offense briank or anyone else out there, but do you honestly believe that I care that you have your name in the record book? I don’t believe for one minute it’s the fish or the animal that is benefiting or being honored when it gets its name and score in some dumb record book……it’s purely a way for the person who caught or killed it to boost their ego. Great! So you caught a big fish or shot a big buck, wanna impress me….take a bunch of nice pictures, hang em in your house, and passionately and fairly go out and try to do it again. This whole business of records needs to go! It seems a lot more rewarding to me to have a bunch of witnesses watching me release a big fish back to the water, after pictures, than to enter it into a record. Now I know you can’t release a big buck like you can a fish, but keeping its score should be a personal thing. I think most people actually look suspiciously upon some guy that shoots a big buck….like he must’ve cheated or something. Why would anyone want to bring that kind of scrutiny on themselves for a moment of ego building fame? All these records are doing is driving some guys to do anything it takes, legal or not, to kill or catch big fish or animals. Really people, it means more to you than anyone else.
sheesh im still wondering how they successfully moved a 120+ pound cat to an aquarium?! What did they do? call the local dump truck company and fill it with water…its not like you just toss it in a cooler and ride away all marry about it!
also…thanks guys, i finally figured out what “IMO” means, using “context clues” as my literature teacher would say. 
Rest In Piece Splash! (pun intended)
I love this site for the diffrent views everyone has.
Did this fish turn some kid onto fishing? Maybe, but probably not anymore than the rest of the fish stocked in the aquarium.
Was Flash long for this world any ways? Can’t answer that one. It would be cool to know how long that fish was around!
Sure, its just a fish but, the older I get the softer I get.
Do I want to die in captivity (nursing home ect.)? Nope, I want to go in my natural surroundings 
I think it would have been cool to get the numbers and some pics, then let the girl go.
Just 2 cents, ok, maybe 3 cents worth 
Bret, aging her is one of a number of things they are doing to her remains.
I’m going to GUESS (because I’m uneducated) that she’s more than 15 years, but less than 20.
One good thing about releasing her is that we wouldn’t know how long she live in the wild…wheather it was 3 days or 3 years…
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
