Dallas Youth Sets New Records for Blue Catfish at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center

Larry Hodge, 903-676-2277, larry.hodge@tpwd.texas.gov

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ATHENS—Ten-year-old Wyatt Ciccarelli of Dallas set two junior angler water body records for the casting pond at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) December 30.

Ciccarelli used cut bait and the rod and reel he got for Christmas to catch a 34.3-pound blue catfish that measured 43 inches in length and 34.5 inches in girth.

In addition to earning a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) big fish award, Ciccarelli also set new junior angler water body and junior angler catch-and-release water body records for Lake Zebco, TFFC’s 1.5-acre casting pond.

TexasParksand Wildlife Department recognizes fishing excellence through its Angler Recognition Program. The program maintains state record lists for public and private waters and water body records for all public lakes, rivers, and bays. The program also issues certificates for other types of angler achievements.

For state and water body records, junior anglers (under 17 years of age) compete in a separate division. If a junior angler’s catch beats an all-ages record, the young angler will receive recognition in both divisions.

For more information, lists of records and a downloadable Angler Recognition Program application, visit http://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/programs/fishrecords/.