A fisherman in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, now holds the state record for reeling in the biggest catfish.

George Thompson was fishing along the Missouri River earlier this month when he reeled in a catfish measuring 60 inches long and weighing 105 pounds, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

It's the same stretch of river where the previous record of 53 inches and 101 pounds was set back in 2004.

The Iowa DNR says it took Thompson 35 minutes to battle the beast out of the water.

After the catch, friends and officials coordinated to get an official weight on a certified scale before returning the fish to the river.

Thompson’s friend, Anchor Inn Bait & Tackle owner Joel Rybin, said he met Thompson and DNR staff at a river ramp with a scale and aerators to stabilize the

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