South Carolina's fishing community is buzzing after Paula D. Haney of Liberty set a new state record by landing a 113.8-pound blue catfish from Lake Moultrie in 2017. The massive catch, measuring 52 inches long with a 40-inch girth, surpassed the previous record of 109.4 pounds set in 1991 by George Lijewski. Haney caught the fish using blue herring as bait in just 10 feet of water.

Lake Moultrie, located in Berkeley County about 30 miles north of Charleston, has become legendary among anglers for producing trophy-sized fish. The 60,400-acre lake, with depths reaching 75 feet, has yielded multiple record-breaking catches including a 58-pound channel catfish in 1964. The lake's reputation for giant fish was further cemented when two fishermen caught a 136-pound blue catfish on a trotline, though it didn't qualify for the state record due to the fishing method used.

Blue catfish, the largest catfish species native to North America, can grow longer than 5 feet and weigh up to 150 pounds. These powerful fighters are prized by anglers for their strength and size. With Lake Moultrie's proven track record of producing monster catches, many believe the current record could soon be broken as anglers continue to pursue these river giants.