Man Catches Record 144-Pound Catfish

Summer 2012 is proving to be the season of the oversize catch. A week ago a 21-pound lobster was caught off the coast of Massachusetts. Instead of heading straight for the dinner plate, it found a new home at the New England Aquarium in Boston. Yesterday, across the pond in England, chef and occasional angler James Jones caught a catfish in the Oak Lakes fishery in Essex. It took two hours and several helpers to reel in the fish, which weighed in at a whopping 144 pounds.

A proud Jones said, "It was quite obviously massive. Nearly seven inches longer than me. Everyone was quite impressed." Afterward, instead of planning a menu, he returned his prize to the lake. Would you have done the same? Let us know on Facebook, or by following Trending Now on Twitter: @YahooTrending.