86-pound ‘monster’ blue catfish caught in Missouri River. ‘He caught a whale!’

An angler caught a fish of a lifetime in Missouri, then released it so other fishermen can get the same opportunity.

The Missouri Department of Conservation said Wally Klein was fishing in the Missouri River near Washington recently when he hooked a “monster” blue catfish using gizzard shad as bait

Klein reeled in the beastly fish, which officials said weighed 86.8 pounds.

“When you combine fishing and weightlifting,” state officials said in the July 22 post on Facebook.

Officials said Klein released the catfish back to the water unharmed.

Klein’s fish was a behemoth, but it falls short of the state record — also caught in the Missouri River. In 2010, Greg Bernal caught a 130-pound blue catfish, which at the time was a world record.

Commenters took to Facebook to congratulate Klein on what officials said was the biggest fish he’s ever caught.

“I would die wrestling this thing and then die from excitement,” one commenter said.

“He caught a whale!” another commenter said.

Washington is about a 50-mile drive west from St. Louis.