The River Ebro - Northern Spain


Wells Catfish


Silurus Glanis


The wells catfish is a very active predatory fish, with a very long scaleless body with flat head, and 2 long barbules on upper jaw, and 4 smaller barbules on lower jaw. The wells has a slate grey back with mottled green/yellow sides, and with a distinctive and long anal fin.


The resident catfish in the UK have never reached the sizes of the wells catfish throughout mainland Europe. A 40lb British catfish is a very large fish for the UK. however, In mainland Europe the wells can reach much bigger sizes, and 100lb+ fish are quite common in countries such as Spain, Germany, and Russia. The full weight potential of the wells is largely unknown. There are long held rumours of 'giant' catfish in Russia, and it is thought that potentially the fish can grow up to 600lbs! There is little doubt however that the wells is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. The current IGFA world record stands at 202lbs, a fish caught by Kevin Maddocks, from the Illie Delta in Kazakhstan.

The River Ebro is located in Northern Spain. It rises in the Cantabrian Mountains, and flows southeast for about 565 miles through rugged scenery, and finally empties into the Mediterranean sea near Amposta.

In recent years, the River Ebro has become a major target for dedicated catfish angler's, and is now Europe's premier destination for large wells catfish, or 'siluro', as they are known as in Spain. The valley and its surrounding area has a warm arid climate, and the river supports thousands of carp for the hungry 'Siluro' to feed on. Consequently, the Ebro cats have a growth rate of ten to fifteen pounds per year, due to this inexhaustible supply of food.

It would appear that the River Ebro has provided the perfect environment for the Siluro to grow to its full potential, and this venue has now produced many 100lb+ catfish to the travelling angler.

I had, for a long time, held a burning ambition to catch a large European catfish. But my foreign ambitions seeking these species was never quite realised. However, my interest in large catfish, was re-awakened, when I heard about the exploits of angling guide, and catfish expert Martin Walker, of Catfish Capers, who had been fishing a certain River Ebro in Spain. Telephone calls were made, and I soon had a two week trip booked with ‘Catfish Capers’, in the first two weeks of September 2003.
Martin’s track record for big cats on the Ebro is quite staggering, and the results of my two week adventure in Spain were impressive. I caught 26 catfish during the trip, including 4 100lb+ ‘Siluro’. With three 80lb+ fish, two 70lb+ fish, six 60lb+ fish, and seven 50lb+ fish.