The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the catch of a new state record flathead catfish.

Rodney Akey of Niles, Mich., caught the record 49.8-pound, 45.7-inch long catfish on Tuesday, May 22, on the St. Joseph River in Berrien County at 8 p.m. Akey was still-fishing from shore with an alewife when he landed the record fish.

The monster fish was verified by Scott Hanshue, a DNR fisheries biologist, at the DNR's Plainwell office.

Let's just say this would do pretty well in the catch of the month contest.