The tale of the catch that didn’t slip away.
Every fishing enthusiast has a tale about the elusive fish that got away, but Ditch Ballard has a story of triumph to share.
During a trip to the Ebro River in Spain in January, a British fisherman was hoping to catch carp, but he ended up with more than he bargained for on his fishing line.
On his Instagram, the fisherman confessed that although it was the most significant fight he had ever experienced in his fishing career, he wouldn’t want anyone to go through it.
Allow us to hear his version of this remarkable catch.
One Hour of Agony
In January, Ballard went to Spain and stationed himself by the Ebro River in search of noteworthy smaller fish like carp. However, despite the unfavorable weather conditions, he persisted in his pursuit. Despite the freezing cold and unbearable wind chill of that January night, Ballard hooked something that he immediately knew was not a carp.
“Based on the bend in my small 10-foot rod, it was apparent that I had hooked a catfish,” he wrote.
Initially, he attempted to reel in his catch, but it quickly became apparent that it was a futile endeavor. The immense creature on the end of his line kept fighting and thrashing about, and it appeared as though it might break free at any moment.
According to Ballard’s account, the fishing line was quickly unspooling from the reel, so he decided to release his boat and depart.
As he rushed to bring his catch to land, Ballard overlooked grabbing his shoes and hat from his tent, a mistake he soon regretted. He found himself stranded in the middle of the Ebro, shivering in his small boat in the nearly freezing air. Water splashed into the boat, drenching him, and hypothermia began to set in.
Ballard acknowledged that the following hour was nothing short of agony.
With his muscles growing tired and the adrenaline subsiding, Ballard’s body temperature began to drop, and he soon found himself crouched in the bottom of the boat, struggling to hold on while shivering uncontrollably.
Ballard experienced a moment of panic upon noticing that his line was fraying, which served as a stark reminder of just how cold it was.
However, the “fraying” turned out to be nothing more than icy slush forming on the damp braiding.
Desperate for the Battle to End
Ballard thought he was close to winning the battle after fighting the giant fish for an hour in freezing conditions, but then realized another problem: the fish had taken his small boat offshore, nearly a mile away.
The fisherman recalled desperately needing the battle to end, so he summoned all his remaining strength and pulled with all his might. His cold hands were no longer following his brain’s instructions, and every time the fish ran, he risked losing a finger.
Ultimately, he caught sight of it: a colossal catfish, stretching over eight feet in length, lurking just beneath the water’s surface.
Ballard described how, in his depleted state, he was able to grab hold of the fish’s jaw and knew he had to summon one final burst of strength to claim his prize.
With a mighty effort, he hoisted the 200-pound behemoth onto the boat. Although exhausted and shivering, he had emerged victorious.
A couple of hours later, as the sun rose, a hard frost covered everything in white. As Ballard held the massive creature, he pondered how he would ever surpass it in freshwater.
Reflecting on the experience, he expressed doubts about ever wanting to go through it again.
Big But Not Big Enough
Although Ballard’s catch is an impressive behemoth of a fish, one question lingers: did his 200-pounder break any records?
Regrettably, Ballard’s catch didn’t break any records. Though, it should be noted that his accomplishment is not to be underestimated, as the catfish he landed is nothing compared to the current world record holder.
The largest catfish caught and recorded in the Guinness World Records is a Mekong giant catfish that was caught in 2005 by a Thai villager. This monstrous fish was 9 feet long and weighed a whopping 646 pounds.
However, it’s not fair to compare Ballard’s catch with the Mekong giant catfish since they belong to different species. Regardless, Ballard can still bask in the glory of his catch and the amazing story he has to tell, not to mention the photographic evidence.