Giant catfish in the Susquehanna

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported in 2002 that Greg Misenko of Lititz and others had caught flathead catfish at Safe Harbor Dam. Flathead catfish can get big, over 100 pounds. In fact, Fosters.com reported in July of that same year that a flathead five feet long and 103 pounds had been caught in Georgia, and the record-setter, at 123 pounds, was caught in Kansas.

Flatheads are normally found in only the Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela rivers in Pennsylvania. Ecologists are concerned that the presence of the fish could upset the ecosystem of the Susquehanna. Flatheads have also been found in the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers.