Giant catfish in the Ebro: catches of over 100 kilos revolutionize sport fishing in Aragon

The Ebro River has once again lived up to its reputation as a favorite haunt of “river monsters.” In just one week, two aquatic giants, catfish, have been caught in Aragonese waters, leaving images that have astonished fishermen throughout Europe. One of them, measuring 2.30 meters and weighing about 100 kilos, was pulled from the water at the end of April by a veteran Aragonese enthusiast. The other, measuring 2.45 meters and weighing more than 100 kilos, was caught on May 3 by a group of Asturian kayakers.

The first of the feats was the work of Adriano Marchena, a resident of El Burgo de Ebro (Zaragoza) . Experienced in these endeavors, Marchena shared an image of a colossal catfish on his social media: “A good-sized one from the town of Mequinenza that wanted to pose next to me,” he recounted. His piece, caught at the end of April, measured over 2.30 meters, and although it didn’t reach his personal record, it also weighed close to 100 kilos.

“I’ve been interested in this sport since I was a child. I learned to fish in the Huerva River at the age of five,” says Marchena, who has dedicated himself exclusively to catfish for 25 years. “I discovered this species when I was 13 in the Ebro, and today, at 38, I’m fully dedicated to it.” His name is well-known among sport fishermen because he broke the Spanish record a few years ago with a 2.72-meter catch.

Marchena doesn’t stop: “Last week I caught another one off Pina de Ebro, measuring 2.42 meters,” he notes. For him, beyond the record, the important thing is to maintain sporting and responsible fishing . “I don’t like them being eaten in other parts of the world. We take care of our fishing style: we release everything we catch,” he asserts.

CATFISH AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE

The fisherman laments that there are increasingly fewer large specimens in the Ebro. “It’s a shame because they could be a top-tier tourist attraction , as is already the case in other parts of Europe. This generates traffic in hotels, restaurants, and generates an economy for the region… and attracts people with high purchasing power,” he emphasizes.

A few days later, on May 3, five members of the Asturpeskayak club had an unforgettable experience near the Mequinenza reservoir . “When we saw him, we were amazed! He was a beast!” they also recounted on their social media accounts.

The Asturian expedition, made up of five members of the club based in Langreo (Asturias), was looking for precisely that: thrills and giant catfish. After several smaller catches of around 10 kilos and a 1.70-meter, 70-kilogram specimen, they landed the real trophy. Using spinning and kayaking, they managed to haul in one of the largest specimens of the year: 2.45 meters of pure power.

CATFISH SPORT FISHING FACTS

Catfish fishing, despite the controversy surrounding its invasive species, continues to attract thousands of enthusiasts. The Mequinenza reservoir, known as the Sea of ​​Aragon, welcomed more than 25,500 anglers in 2024, according to data from the Aragonese Federation. The economic and tourism impact is undeniable.

The catfish, Silurus glanis, was introduced into the Ebro River in the 1970s for sporting purposes. Originally from Eastern Europe, it has become one of the most feared and admired predators in the river ecosystem. It can grow up to three meters long and weigh more than 120 kilos, although its true limit remains a mystery. “It’s not known for sure how long they can live or how long they can reach,” says Marchena. “The world record is 2.82 meters and was set in France.”

The Ebro River continues to roar with force. Its waters harbor true beasts, and each new record reinforces its status as an international catfish paradise.