The largest non-shark fish ever caught is the Mekong giant catfish, which was caught in Thailand in 2005. The fish weighed an astonishing 646 pounds and measured 9 feet long. It was so large that it took four men to lift it out of the water.
The Mekong giant catfish is native to the Mekong River Basin, which runs through China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is a critically endangered species due to overfishing and habitat destruction. The fish can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 660 pounds. It is considered one of the largest freshwater fish in the world.
The Mekong giant catfish feeds on a variety of aquatic organisms such as insects, crustaceans and small fish. It has an elongated body with a large head and eyes located near the top of its head. Its mouth is wide and its lower jaw protrudes slightly beyond its upper jaw. Its body is covered with thick scales that are grayish-brown in color with dark spots along its sides.
The Mekong giant catfish has been fished for centuries by local fishermen for food and sport fishing purposes. In recent years, however, it has become increasingly rare due to overfishing and habitat destruction caused by dams built along the river basin. As a result, it is now listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Despite its endangered status, there have been several reports of large catches of this species in recent years including one reported catch in 2017 that weighed nearly 500 pounds! While this may not be as big as the record-breaking catch from 2005, it still shows that this species can still be found in some areas despite its endangered status.
Overall, the Mekong giant catfish is an impressive species that holds the record for being the largest non-shark fish ever caught! Its size alone makes it an impressive sight but unfortunately due to overfishing and habitat destruction it has become increasingly rare in recent years making it even more special when one is caught!