Giant catfish in Lake Constance: Anglers' joy causes incredible outrage!

Giant catfish in Lake Constance: Anglers' joy causes incredible outrage!

A new excitement is exciting the fishing scene in the Lake Constance region: On August 11, 2025, the two anglers Maurice Karr and Florian Haag caught a catfish in Langenargen that went beyond the standards. With a length of 2.43 meters and a weight of 90 kilograms, this catch is not only the largest, but also the heaviest catfish ever caught in Lake Constance. However, the enthusiasm and joy of this extraordinary catch were quickly overshadowed by a wave of criticism on social media. Users expressed outrage at anglers' smiles during the presentation of the dead fish, which has reignited public debate about the treatment of such impressive animals. Some critics regret the death of the catfish, which is estimated to have been between 40 and 50 years old, and question sport fishing in general. But there are also voices that support the joy of anglers and raise the debate about the critics' meat consumption. These controversies show how emotional the debate about how to treat nature is schwaebische.de reported.

What is a reason for joy for many anglers, but there is also a dark shadow looming over the water depths: In a similar incident in Middle Franconia, a catfish got into trouble. Peta animal rights activists are horrified by the killing of a catfish in Lake Brombachsee after it allegedly attacked bathers. There was a police operation here in which an officer shot the catfish several times before two anglers killed the fish. A police spokesman justified the harsh approach by saying that it was not possible for the emergency services to monitor a music festival at the same time. PETA is now planning to file a criminal complaint and is criticizing the authorities for their actions. However, no criminal charges have been received in the case so far. While critics condemn the killing of the fish, questions remain as to whether security forces could have protected the swimmers or warned them how sueddeutsche.de reported.

The king of fresh waters

The European catfish (Silurus glanis) is the largest native freshwater fish in Europe. It can be over 2.5 meters long and weigh up to 100 kilograms. Despite its size, the catfish is not a predator, but feeds mainly on fish, crabs and amphibians. Attacks on humans are extremely rare and can often be explained by unknowing feeding or fear of loss during the spawning season. The catfish is also nocturnal and retreats to its hiding places during the day. Studies show that these “monster fish” avoid contact with humans, which makes the shock reactions to such incidents seem all the more tragic. Media representation often contributes to giving a distorted image, as if catfish are dangerous predators, while scientific evidence shows a completely different context fischereiverein-vellberg.de can be seen.

The current incidents are throwing a wrench into the perception and handling of these fascinating animals. It remains to be seen how public opinion will develop and whether the discussion about the catfish as a symbol of dealing with nature will continue to escalate.