Robert Coutinho caught his first flathead catfish over the weekend from the Fox River. His buddy, Saro Kevorkian, put him “on that beast.” It weighed 38 pounds and came on a bluegill.

“Pound for pound, one of the best fights I’ve ever had,” Coutinho messaged.

FOTW, the celebration of big fish and their stories around Chicago fishing, runs Wednesdays in the Sun-Times. Submit nominations on Facebook (Dale Bowman), on Twitter and Instagram (@BowmanOutside) or email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com).