An avid nine-year-old fisherman sat by Lake Hume in the dark for several hours last Saturday hoping to land something big.
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At the end of Tyler Jones’ line, a worm sat in the water, waiting to be gobbled up.
While the rest of the Kinross Fishing Club camp ate dinner after a long day on the water, Tyler remained on the bank with a rod in his hand.
His patience paid-off after a “one-in-a-million” catch left the fishing community surprised and excited.
Tyler landed a catfish which has rarely been heard of in fishing circles.
His dad Shawn had just enough phone battery to get a quick snap of the fish on a mat before releasing it back into the water.
The only place in Victoria you are able to keep catfish is in the Wimmera River.
Mr Jones said he will “forever be kicking himself” for not getting a picture of Tyler holding his catch.
“I saw the rod bend and come up a few times and thought ‘he's got something on here’,” Mr Jones said.
“When I first saw it I thought ‘god that's an ugly fish’.
“At first I thought it would be a carp.”
Tyler had been fishing off a property adjacent to the Bowna Reserve boat ramp about 9pm.
He had been reading fishery books and was able to identify it.
Native Fish Australia North East representative Stan “The Hook” Miosge said catfish were an interesting species and made for good eating.
“A tackle business owner rang me and told me and I was said ‘you little ripper’,” he said.
“Everyone I've spoken to has been very excited over this catch.
“A lot of people have been asking if I'm sure it's a catfish.
“I've heard of catfish being caught in Lake Hume, but I've never seen one.
“If you haven't got a photo - it doesn't exist in my book.”
The Hook said it was good to see the younger generation out fishing and said they often provided him with some good ideas.
He said he is keen for more people to send him photos of rare catches and was even willing to offer a prize.
“They are a native fish of Australia,” the Hook said.
“I reckon there could be a lot more catfish out there and hopefully down the track it could become another one people can go fishing for.”
