When people think of colossal monsters from the depths, they generally think of the ocean. Although the biggest marine animals do live in the ocean, that doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions in freshwater that are truly striking.
River Monsters
These river monsters refuse to obey the laws of nature and grow to gargantuan sizes. It’s a true test of mettle to try and fish these behemoths, but some people are craziest enough to go for glory.
Beluga Sturgeon
The beluga sturgeon is the largest freshwater fish on the planet and lurks in the waters of the Caspian and Black Sea. The biggest beluga sturgeon ever caught weighed over 3300 pounds and measured over 22 feet long.
White Sturgeon
The white sturgeon can be found all over the river systems of California, The Columbia River, and Fraser River. The largest sturgeon observed weighed close to 1500 pounds, but the biggest one ever caught weighed over 1100 pounds.
Freshwater Stingray
Freshwater stingrays are a real thing and the majority of them live in the Amazon River. The Ocellate river stingray is poisonous with no antidote. A 13 foot freshwater stingray was caught that weighed over 650 pounds.
Mekong Giant Catfish
The Mekong giant catfish is the largest catfish species and likes to inhabit the Mekong Basin in the Mekong River. The biggest Mekong giant catfish was caught in 1981 and weighed around 640 pounds.
Arapaima
The arapaima is a species of bonytongue that swims in the freshwater basins of South America. The enormous fish can use its mouth to create a strong current to suck up anything nearby. The largest ever found was weighed at 450 pounds.
Alligator Gar
The alligator gar is the largest garfish species that likes to inhabit the slow-moving rivers across the southeastern United States. The largest alligator gar ever caught weighed 327 pounds and was found by commercial fisherman Kenny Williams.
Bull Shark
Bull Sharks are one of the only shark species that inhabit freshwater rivers. The like warm waters and inhabit the Zambezi River and are found all the way up to Baghdad . They also like coastal waters all over the world. The biggest bull shark caught weighed just shy of 700 pounds.
Nile Perch
Nile Perch, or African Snook, hunt in rivers all over Africa. The biggest Nile perch was caught in Lake Nasser by a fisherman named William Toth in 2000. The fish weighed 230 pounds.
Giant Barb
The giant barb is the largest species of its kind and swims in the waters of southeast Asia. Its reputation earned it the nickname “kingfish,” as it can weigh over 650 pounds. The largest giant barb ever caught weighed 230 pounds.
Paddlefish
The paddlefish is one of the oldest animal in North America according to the fossil record. The ancient fish can live to thirty years old and inhabits the mississippi drainage system. An angler caught the biggest paddlefish in this year, weighing 164 pounds.
Taimen
The Taimen swims in the rivers of Siberia, Russia, and parts of central Asia. They are the largest member of the salmon family but are threatened due to overfishing. The largest taimen caught was in 1943 and weighed 230 pounds.
Source:
11 Largest Freshwater Fish in the World
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