Surprising: The Unexpected Reason a 2.92‑Metre Catfish Was Landed in Poland Happened
On Saturday, 12 May 2024, German angler Oliver Schäfer and his companion hauled a catfish measuring 2.92 metres from the Złocieniec reservoir. The fish, already a legend among Central‑European anglers, tipped the scales at roughly 140 kilograms. Its capture sparked immediate chatter on social‑media fishing groups and in local news outlets. The event highlights the growing popularity of cross‑border sport‑fishing tournaments and raises questions about river‑ecosystem health.
What Happened on the Polish Reservoir
According to an account to the Polish Angling Federation, the tournament took place on 11‑12 May 2024 at the Złocieniec reservoir in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. Oliver Schäfer, a 42‑year‑old from the Eifel region, teamed up with his longtime fishing partner, Markus Lehmann, for the annual "Catfish Challenge" organized by the local angling club. Around 14:30 local time, Lehmann felt a sudden, heavy pull on his line while trolling with a 250‑gram boilie near the
Despite their massive size, European catfish can survive months without food by dramatically lowering their metabolic rate, a trait more common in deep‑sea fish than freshwater predators.
