the blue catfish (ictalurus furcatus) is the largest species of north amercian catfish. the current world record stands at 143 pounds, which was caught in the john h. kerr reservoir (bugg's island lake) located in virginia. according to amercian expedition, the average weight of a blue catfish is between 20 to 40 pounds. given that the largest blue catfish ever caught was at the john h. kerr reservoir, you believe that the mean weight of the fish in this reservoir is greater than 40 pounds.