PHOTO: Man snags new state record with enormous catfish!

WXYZ - One Michigan native is reeling in a new state record!

Rodney Akey was still-fishing on shore of the St. Joseph River when he caught the fish of a lifetime.

Akey broke the previous record of 47.5 lbs, 44 in with a 49.8 lbs., 45.7 in catfish on May 22.

"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," said Akey. "And beating a nearly 70 -year record - that's a feat in itself!"

The previous record was set in 1943 by Elmer Rayner on Maple River in Ionia County.

Scott Hanshue, a DNR fisheries biologist of the Plainwell Office confirmed the record. Weight is the deciding factor for state records, the fish must exceed the current record weight then be verified by a DNR fisheries biologist.

Check out the full photo of the catfish above!