New State and National Records Set at San Vicente

The largest freshwater fish in California state history was landed Sunday, March 12, 2000, at San Vicente Reservoir by Roger Rohrbouck of Lakeside.

Fishing from a rental boat with his brother Jeff, Rohrbouck drifted a small shiner on the east side of Lowell Island in the hope of catching a bass, but it wasn't a bass that will put Rohrbouck's name in the record books.

Instead, it was a mammoth 101 pound blue catfish that fell for the shiner and was landed after a lengthy battle. After being weighed, the fish was taken by a local bait dealer in the hope that it could be kept alive and displayed at the Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat Show which will run Wednesday through Sunday at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

According to San Diego City Lakes Biologist, Larry Bottroff, the big blue cat is just over 15 years old and was stocked in San Vicente in 1985 when it probably weighed about two pounds.

Because the fish was caught on just 10 pound test line, it may qualify as a line class world record if submitted and approved by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA).

San Vicente is one of ten reservoirs in the San Diego City Lakes Program which is operated by the City of San Diego's Water Department. The lake is open Thursdays through Sundays from sunrise to sunset.

For additional information on the San Diego City Lakes Program you can call our Fish Line at 619-465-3474 or visit our website at www.sandiego.gov/water.