Alabama woman sticks her hands underwater. Then something bites her leg. Then two giant fish attach to each arm: ‘It took my shoe off’

An Alabama woman walked into muddy water expecting to catch one fish by hand. Instead, she ended up with two large catfish clamped onto her arms after one fish bit her leg and another yanked a shoe off her foot. The dramatic moment came during a recent TikTok video posted by Hannah Barron (@hannahbarron96), who shares hunting, fishing, and outdoor content. Viewers reacted to the unusual catch and Barron’s calm response throughout the encounter.

Barron practices a fishing technique known as noodling, which involves reaching into underwater holes where catfish nest and allowing a fish to bite onto an arm or hand before pulling it from the water. Noodling, also known as hand grabbling or hand fishing, remains legal in Alabama for licensed sport fishermen, although regulations vary from state to state.

At the start of the video, Barron searched beneath the surface with her hands while others watched from nearby. She initially did not find anything.

Then one catfish bit her on the leg

Moments later, though, she felt movement and described what was happening beneath the water. “Oh, he bit me on the leg,” Barron said after one fish struck her lower body.

As she continued feeling around underwater, she added, “I gotta get my legs out, buddy,” before someone nearby joked that she was talking to the fish. The encounter became even more chaotic seconds later when another fish grabbed her footwear. “Give me that back. It took my shoe off,” someone in the video said after Barron’s shoe came loose underwater.

Despite losing her shoe, she continued searching without going completely underwater. Moments later, she emerged holding two sizable catfish, one attached to each arm. “Two good ones,” someone exclaimed as Barron lifted both massive fish from the water.

Another person watching the scene reacted with disbelief. “Oh, yeah. That is not normal. That is not normal.”

One observer also pointed out that Barron accomplished the feat without fully submerging herself. She later added, “Yeah, that worked out.”

The video quickly spread across social media, where many viewers praised Barron’s experience and composure during the unusual catch. One commenter wrote, “When the zombie apocalypse hits, I’m on her team.”

Noodling has become one of Barron’s signature forms of content. Many of her videos document successful hand-fishing trips for large catfish in rivers, creeks, and ponds.

Barron hand-fishes barehanded. Experienced noodlers often use gloves or other protective gear; the activity can involve bites, underwater obstructions, and other hazards. Many states, including the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, advise anglers to review local noodling regulations before fishing because the practice is subject to state-specific rules.