Halley's fish was 3 pounds heavier than the previous record set in 1997 by the team of Freddie Parker and Brad Smith, MDWFP officials said. This is the second blue catfish record set this year. Eugene Cronley, of Brandon, landed a 131-pound blue catfish in April using a rod and reel. That fish and the previous trophy record were all caught from the Mississippi River near Natchez, wildlife officials said. State fishing records are separated into three categories: Rod and reel, trophy and fly fishing.