A 67-pound catfish caught by hand proved to be the catch of a lifetime for 33-year-old angler Emily Horst, whose Black Belt fishing adventure earned top honors in the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association’s inaugural Big Catfish Photo Contest.
A photo of Horst grinning while holding the massive catfish she caught while noodling in the Alabama River received the most online votes, making her the contest’s first champion.
Horst described the catfish as “a doozy of a fish” and said the experience exceeded her expectations.
“I didn’t realize how special this fish was,” Horst said, noting it was only her second noodling trip. “When that fish clamped down on my arm, I was like, ‘This is the greatest feeling ever.’”
As the contest winner, Horst will receive a two-person, half-day guided noodling trip with Bama Noodling in 2027, giving her another opportunity to participate in the Alabama outdoor tradition of catching catfish by hand.
Horst, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, first discovered Alabama’s catfishing opportunities while visiting her sister, who previously lived in Atmore. She quickly developed a passion for noodling and now travels south in search of trophy catfish.
“I have to travel to find these bad boys,” she joked.
Jonathan House placed second with a photo of a giant flathead catfish caught on Lake Demopolis, while 10-year-old Owen Patterson of Pickens County finished third.
Jonathan House
Owen Patterson
Patterson said his late grandfather inspired his love of fishing, making the recognition especially meaningful, according to the association.
The inaugural contest featured anglers of all ages and highlighted fishing experiences and memories made on lakes, rivers and waterways throughout Alabama’s Black Belt.
“We decided to launch the Big Catfish Contest to put a new twist on our annual Best Fish Contest and support the new Alabama Catfish Trail promotion launched in late June by the Alabama Tourism Department, and it was a resounding success,” Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association Director Pam Swanner said. “We appreciate everyone who submitted photos and everyone who cast online votes on our website. The contest is a wonderful way to showcase the outstanding fishing opportunities and all of the other outdoor recreation experiences available throughout Alabama’s Black Belt.”
Known nationally for catfishing, bass fishing and diverse outdoor recreation, Alabama’s Black Belt continues to attract anglers from across the country seeking trophy catches and outdoor adventures.
“The Big Catfish Contest celebrates not only remarkable fish but also the people, traditions and experiences that make the region one of the South’s premier fishing destinations,” the association said.
The Black Belt includes 23 counties: Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Wilcox.
