Live or cut bait. Jorge Masullo de Aguiar currently holds the world record for the largest Lau-Lau (Piraiba), which is a species of catfish that is native to South America. Fisherman have found monkeys, birds, and other catfish in its stomach. The fish lives only in the Amazon, and is known to be easily the largest Catfish of the river. This giant South American catfish was also over 6.5 feet (2 meters) long. The Paraiba is known to eat literally anything. Braided line 65 pounds or heavier. Masullo de Aguiar's Piraiba was caught in 2009 and weighed 341 pounds 11 ounces (155 kilograms). A large circle hook (14/0) or greater haywire twisted to at least 12 inches of strong, (120lb test) wire with a heavy 180lb test swivel.
Piraiba - The Largest of the Giant Amazon Catfish Species The largest of the Amazon catfish, piraiba have been described as attaining weights in excess of 450 pounds. Piraiba have very large, spiky dorsal fins, and some compare them to sharks. The back of the Piraiba is dark grey to black, while the underside is completely white. Sometimes called the "lau lau", the Piraíba catfish (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum) is probably the largest of the Amazonian catfish, and debatably the largest Amazonian fish. Interestingly, for such a large catfish they are very athletic and readily venture into open, running water. This fishes maximum size is just barely 10 feet in length and 500 pounds in weight. The smooth drag of the Rod Shimano Tekota 800LC.