NILES, MI — A 45.7-inch catfish that weighed in at a whopping 49.8 pounds was caught by a Niles man last week, and state officials have confirmed the fish breaks a Michigan record set in 1943.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources confirmed the record catch, by Rodney Akey at 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, on the St. Joseph River in Berrien County.

Akey was still-fishing from shore with an alewife for bait when he landed the record fish.

The record was verified by Scott Hanshue, a DNR fisheries biologist, at the DNR's Plainwell office.

The previous state record flathead catfish was caught by Elmer Rayner of Hastings on the Maple River in Ionia County on Aug. 6, 1943. That fish weighed in at 47.5 pounds and measured 44 inches.

Giant catfish 4 Gallery: Giant catfish

“I’ve been fishing catfish on the St. Joseph River for the last 20 years, but it never crossed my mind that I would catch a state record,” Akey said. “And beating a nearly 70-year record – that’s a feat in itself!”

State records are recognized by weight only. To qualify for a state record, fish must exceed the current listed state record weight, and identification must be verified by a DNR fisheries biologist.