how big can catfish get

Catfish can grow to very large sizes depending on the species. The largest recorded catfish is the Mekong giant catfish, which can reach lengths of 5 to 7 feet and weigh over 600 pounds, with the largest caught weighing 646 pounds. Another extremely large species is the Wels catfish, common in Europe, which can grow over 9 feet long and weigh over 300 pounds, with some historical reports of individuals even larger than 3 meters (about 10 feet) and weighing up to 400 kg (880 pounds). In North America, large catfish species such as the blue catfish can reach lengths of about 5.5 feet and weights over 140 pounds, while flathead catfish can grow over 4 feet long and weigh above 100 pounds. Most catfish species are much smaller, with some as small as under 12 cm in length.