YORK COUNTY, Pa. — A monster, record-setting catfish was recently caught in Susquehanna River, south of Lower Bear Island in York County.

According to media reports, Jeff Bonawitz of East Lampeter Township reeled in a 50-pound, three-and-half feet long catfish on April 6.

Bonawitz caught the fish on a live bluegill bait. 

“When it finally came up to the top, we thought it might be a mermaid,” Bonawitz jokingly told WPMT FOX43. “I’ve fished the Susquehanna for years and I’ve never caught anything quite like it.”

The previous Pennsylvania catfish record was a 48-pounder caught in Blue Marsh Spillway in Berks County back in 2006. 

Upon getting the fish officially weighed and measured, Bonawitz released the fish back into the water. 

Jeff Bonawitz, of East Lampeter Township, holds a record-breaking catfish hauled out of the Susquehanna River in York County. The fish weighed in at 50 pounds and was over three-and-a-half feet long.
Jeff Bonawitz, of East Lampeter Township, holds a record-breaking catfish hauled out of the Susquehanna River in York County. The fish weighed in at 50 pounds and was over three-and-a-half feet long.

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