Benjamin Tillqvist, a 23-year-old fisherman in Pori, encountered a remarkable catch last September when he discovered a massive catfish in his fish trap at Pihlavanlahti. Initially, Tillqvist was unable to identify the catch, admitting he had no idea what he had caught until he received help from others to determine the species, later confirmed by the Central Union of Finnish Fishermen. The fish weighed 15.5 kg and measured 137.5 cm, similar in size to an elementary school child.

Tillqvist offered a description of the catfish, noting its resemblance to a burbot and emphasizing its impressive size and plumpness. The catfish, described as having a large head and small eyes, possessed noticeable whiskers. With the help of photographs on his cell phone, Tillqvist expressed his conviction that he had broken the previous Finnish record for the species, which had stood for over 20 years and was just over two kilograms.

During a recent meeting of the Finnish Record Fish Committee, six new records were approved for entry into the Finnish record book, marking a significant event for the local fishing community. The official recognition of such catches highlights the ongoing interest in angling in Finland and underscores the exceptional nature of Tillqvist's find, setting a new standard for catfish catches in the country.