What is the biggest FW fish?

we all know the whale shark is the biggest fish in the world.and if you didn't you do now. it also qualifies as the biggest saltwater fish since it lives in the ocean.
but what is debatable is the biggest freshwater fish.
im not gonna make the qualifications for this too difficult.
if this fish can live in freshwater it qualifies, no matter if it can live in salt or brackish also.

is will this 11 hundred pound Stingray be it?
Photo from AP Photo by Zeb Hogan - Daylife

btw- on april 5 at 10 pm(et/pt) on animal planet a new series called River Monsters premieres. there are 7 parts to this and i can't wait.

 

The link you posted says

"the Mekong Giant Catfish, which currently holds the world record at 293 kilograms."

I'm guessing that is the biggest freshwater fish.

 

I would say Sturgeon. Technically, they can live in freshwater, and travel upriver to breed Got both of those beat.

 

Wait. Its 2.2 pounds per kilo so 293 x 2.2 = 664 so wouldnt the stingray win. Maybe I should quit posting while working or at least pay more attention.

 

found from another source

White sturgeon are the largest freshwater fish in North America and can weigh over 1,500 pounds, be 20 feet in length, and live for over 100 years

edit: it would seem there is some debate left lol

 

In north america? hmm, makes me wonder how large they get in other places.

 

As far as size goes...I would say the "Arapaima" related to the Arowana wins.

"The Arapaima (as known as the “Paiche”) is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world reaching lengths up to 14 ¾ feet and weighing as much as 440 lbs. A native fish to the Amazon, these fish are commonly raised in commercial farm ponds, because of its delicious meat and protein many poor rural regions of the Amazon can easily obtain."




I would say that stingray wins. But I dont' really like saying it's a fish. Yeah yeah I know, it's technically kinda sorta a fish. But it doesn't look like a typical fish, so I don't like saying it's a fish.

Here's the whole article I found on the stuff. Monster Leviathans: The Planet’s Largest Freshwater Fish That You Probably Didn’t Know About

 

my equator dvd(old version of planet earth, has since dissappeared for sale) calls them piraracue.

it states that it is the biggest fresh water fish in the world. but i did some history
wiki

i have heard this in other places too.

but it brings us to a important question how do we decide what is the biggest fish is?
by length?
by weight?
by the size of the body(calculated by surface area)?

 

arapaima gigas was what google came up with

 

Rainbow trout?