Mason Munoz caught a 55.5-pound blue catfish on June 8 at Lake Palestine. He did it by noodling, using only his bare hands and feet.

According to Richard Ott – a fishery management biologist out of the Tyler office of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – a category for the largest fish caught by noodling at Lake Palestine has not been set up, but Munoz's catch rivals the largest blue catfish ever caught at that body of water. Robert McCrummen caught a 64.62-pound fish using a jug line on March 30, 2010. Johnny Ward Jr. caught a 47.25-pound fish with a rod and reel using cut shad on Feb. 8, 2014.

Munoz estimated he was working in eight feet of water  when the big catfish latched on to his right foot.

Munoz then used his left arm for the pivotal move of the catch as the fish latched on to it up to his elbow. He reported the fish was pulling him into deeper water.

Munoz and a friend finally wrestled the fish up out of the water. The monster catch was 46.5 inches long and had 29.75 inches of girth. Their catch was verified by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department natural resource scientist Deborah Lane.

Because it was weighed and measured Munoz was unable to release the fish back into the lake. He decided to turn it into food and will have replica made of it at a later date.

Courtesy photo