15-Year-Old Breaks Ohio State Record for Largest Fish Catch

Jaylynn Parker, a 15-year-old high school sophomore from New Richmond, Ohio, made headlines in April after catching what could be the largest fish ever recorded in state history – a massive blue catfish weighing an impressive 101 pounds and measuring more than five feet long. Although she shares her love for fishing with her father, they normally prefer using rod-and-reel techniques, but on this particular occasion, Jaylynn’s family opted to use jugline methods due to the heavy rainfall that caused an increase in water levels in nearby creeks feeding into the Ohio River.
After reeling in the colossal blue catfish with her father and a friend, Jeff, Jaylynn was initially unsure whether she had broken any state records, as there seemed to be too many onlookers observing their catch. The following day, however, three game wardens arrived at the family’s property to measure and weigh the fish before releasing it back into its natural habitat.
The Ohio State Record Fish List currently lists Jaylynn Parker’s blue catfish as a new state record surpassing the previous 96-pound catch recorded in 2009. The Outdoor Writers of Ohio (OWO) officially certified her fish’s size and weight, but there was some controversy surrounding social media attention that Jaylynn received following her achievement due to “nasty messages” sent by strangers online prompting the family to shut down their daughter’s Facebook account for a while.
Despite this setback, Jaylynn remains humble about her record-breaking catch and is using it as an opportunity to share more of her fishing adventures with others through social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Her passion for the sport has been evident since she was just two years old when she would wake up early every morning eager to join her father on his fishing trips, a tradition that continues today.
Jaylynn’s achievement hasn’t distracted her from academic pursuits or other hobbies either; in fact, she is currently working towards obtaining her driver’s license this summer while maintaining excellent grades at school. Nevertheless, it remains clear that the excitement and surprises associated with fishing continue to captivate Jaylynn as much today as they did when she was a child.