MISSOURI – Most kids celebrate their birthday with cake and candles. Tucker Mullinax, however, celebrated his 12th birthday with the catch of a lifetime.

Tucker hooked an enormous 78-pound catfish while fishing with family and friends on the Missouri River, an experience he’ll never forget.

Tucker was joined by his uncle John, another friend and Capt. Wally of Show Me Catfishing Trophy Guide Service, a St. Louis-based fishing group.

As recalled in a Wired2Fish.com feature story, their adventure started at 5:45 a.m. after a 45-minute ride into east-central Missouri.

As hours ticked by, just after 1 p.m., Tucker felt a powerful tug on his line. As Tucker fought to reel in the giant fish, he nearly lost his footing and almost tumbled into the muddy waters. With support from his uncle, Tucker eventually reeled in a 78-pound catfish.

“There’s your lifetime fish, buddy,” said Capt. Walley during the experience.

  • Tucker hooked an enormous 78-pound catfish while fishing with family and friends on the Missouri River on his 12th birthday, an experience he’ll never forget. (Photos provided by: Show Me Catfishing Trophy Guide Service)
  • Tucker hooked an enormous 78-pound catfish while fishing with family and friends on the Missouri River on his 12th birthday, an experience he’ll never forget. (Photos provided by: Show Me Catfishing Trophy Guide Service)
  • Tucker hooked an enormous 78-pound catfish while fishing with family and friends on the Missouri River on his 12th birthday, an experience he’ll never forget. (Photos provided by: Show Me Catfishing Trophy Guide Service)

“The fish was huge, fat, bigger around than me,” said Tucker via Wired2Fish.com. “It weighed 78 pounds, almost as much as me, and I weigh 97 pounds. My head could have fit inside its mouth.”

After snapping some photos and weighing the fish, the group released the fish back into the water to follow Missouri’s catch-and-release rules.

“This will be a birthday Tucker will never forget after shattering his pb,” said Show Me Catfishing Trophy Guide Service on his personal-best catch. “Congratulations on a great fish and Happy birthday, young man!”