Catfish alarm at the regatta facility?
All information about the giant fish in the popular bathing water
Created: 02/23/2022 05:33
By: Max Wochinger
The giant catfish from the regatta facility: the nocturnal fish is around two meters long and weighs around 70 kilograms.
© Lars Reichenbach
It belongs to the regatta facility like the racing boats and swimmers: the giant catfish from Oberschleißheim.
Now the two-meter fish has reappeared – during a police sonar exercise.
Oberschleißheim
– Police divers made a huge discovery three weeks ago.
At least that's what the cops thought.
During an underwater measurement in the Oberschleißheim regatta facility, they saw a large object;
he moved.
The officials contacted members of the Isar fishermen with the news.
The association has the fish lease for the waters.
The fishermen were not surprised about the find: "This is our catfish." That's how Willi Bock, chairman of the Munich 72 rowing society, tells it. According to a report in BR, the catfish is now a topic of conversation again.
70 pounds heavy
The catfish has been living in the water of the regatta facility for many years.
In the summer of 2019, the Munich newspaper Merkur photographed the fish – as the “largest resident of the facility”.
Willi Bock explains: "The catfish is around two meters long and quite wide".
The nocturnal fish weighs about 70 kilograms.
If the water is smooth, you can see the fish in the starting area.
There are a lot of wires under the water, anglers can't fish here.
The giant catfish obviously knows that.
"He's a smart guy," says the club boss.
The fish is not a monster.
Some people are already comparing the catfish to the Loch Ness Monster.
He's just a fish, emphasizes Bock.
"He doesn't do anything." But the fish is not that squeamish.
After several incidents, he has earned his reputation as a monster.
"The waller has a lot of power"
A few years ago, Bock no longer remembers the date, Waller attacked rowing boats.
Young rowers were training.
"He swam full soup on it," says the club chairman.
The girls screamed.
Boom, the fish banged against the boat.
The thin wood of the boat tore apart, suddenly there was water in the hull.
"The Waller has a lot of power," says Willi Bock.
But that was a long time ago, "nothing has happened for years".
Smaller and lighter: This is what the catfish from the regatta facility looked like a few years ago.
© Lars Reichenbach
According to Bock, there are two explanations for the attack: The fish may have thought that the boat was prey - because of the noise of the paddles.
Or he might have mistaken the boat for a possible partner.
The attack happened during the rutting season.
Maybe the guy just isn't that smart.
No danger for bathers
In any case, rowers and swimmers can catch their breath: "Catfish don't attack people," says Willi Ruff, the former board member of the Isar fishermen.
The "highest of feelings" is that he gets a duck.
The fisherman also does not think that the catfish attacked the boats.
"I think it's more likely that the damage comes from hitting a big grass carp," he says.
The actual attacker can probably no longer be determined.
For the feel-good factor of water sports enthusiasts, the type of fish also plays no role.
Name wanted!
At least this positive news: The catfish will not grow much anymore, says Ruff.
According to the fish expert, he is at least 20 years old.
He assumes that 30 years ago an "aquarist" threw the first catfish into the regatta facility - illegally.
There are many stories about the giant catfish, but one important thing is still missing for its legendary status: a name.
How about Willi the catfish?
More news from Oberschleißheim and the district of Munich can be found here.
