In all honesty, even in the colder states, it’s still possible to catch catfish year-round but from what I have seen, experienced or been told through fellow angler stories, winter in the warmer states can be incredible for catfishing. In Idaho, however, flatheads were accidentally stocked instead of blue catfish (Simpson and Wallace 1978). The white catfish is native to the U.S. Atlantic coastal states from about Palm Beach, Florida, to New York. And it doesn’t matter if it comes from a bull redfish or a big blue catfish. They have eight sensory barbels or … There are nearly 3,000 known species of catfish in the world, but there may be as many as 4,500, as many are found in areas where there is little or no human contact. The channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is North America's most numerous catfish species. But heck, a strong fight with lots of pulling is good. The anal fin is rounded and has fewer rays than the blue catfish, below. Blue Catfish Facts. Springtime blue catfishing can be some of the fastest paced, action packed fishing all year. 1 of 27. Enjoying Blue Catfish. “And when he did, the fish just turned because he couldn’t get it in the net, and it went back down. The Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is a Titan among the fish fauna of North America. I have not caught a blue cat over 20 pounds from shore this winter. 6 – Six-ounce catfish … When certified this fish will become the new Georgia State record. Blue Catfish World Record: Perhaps the most coveted freshwater sport fishing world record outside of the largemouth bass belongs to the blue catfish. Catfish will emerge from those deeper holes they spend their days in and come up into the shallow bays and flats chasing bluegill, perch, and shad. Their most preferred, however, is 81 degrees. Catfish come from all types of environments in both fresh and salt water. Blue Catfish Springtime Blue Catfish. The blue catfish looks much like the channel cat, except the blue has a humped back, an anal fin with 30 or more rays, and grows bigger. Rockfish are biting now. They want people to understand the effects of blue catfish on the Bay and to know that they are delicious and nutritious. Especially if it’s the blue catfish that you are locked in on. A Monsta Catfish is 15lbs or larger and is caught on rod & reel. The rendition we have here places the crisp fillets on a bed of spicy shrimp Creole – an unbelievably delicious marriage. Means of Introduction: The Flathead Catfish has been intentionally stocked in most cases. A local angler reeled in a 39.7-pound blue catfish that could have broken the lake's official record weight (36.19). But for a couple of weeks early in the summer rockfish season, blue catfish and snakeheads were leading Doyle’s fishing report. Angler Billy Nabors catches a state record 98 pound blue catfish with a rod and line in Lake Texoma, November 2004. well a blue catfish and a channel cat is to different species of catfish but there are both male and female blue catfish and Channel catfish When did Robert Fiddler die? Blue catfish can tolerate higher salinity and eat a wide variety of prey, including blue crabs, Asian clams, insects, other fish and even vegetation. It seems that the fish that had gotten the best of me earlier was a big blue catfish, much like the one I just caught. The kicker fish came at the end of the day and pinned a 50-pound scale—it was a personal best, and a trophy blue cat by anyone’s standards. Their coloring is gray to olive, with a pale underside. The blue catfish has a longer and much straighter edged anal fin with 30-36 rays. Gemma was using a B’n’M Silver Cat Elite rod, paired with an Ancient Mariner 6000 reel. This episode begins what will be a six-part series where we learn all about Blue Catfish and a good deal about Flathead Catfish as well. The eyes of the blue catfish are placed in the lower half of the head. All sorts of things turned up in their stomachs, even muskrats, snakes and birds. It has been introduced outside this range southward into Texas and on the west coast. This year catfish is the big catch. The maximum lifespan of a blue catfish is around 20-25 years. I was surprised. Now, most catfish species tend to spawn during summer or spring. Robert Fiddler died in 2008. Blues are seldom caught on the concoctions used for channel cats, preferring cut or live bait. Where to catch White Catfish. ... Come fish from our SeaArk ProCat 240 catfish boat for a dry comfortable ride, a great day of fishing and the latest cutting edge technology. Unlike its cousin, the channel catfish, the Blue Catfish is not a bottom feeder and has a sweeter, more delicate flavor. Blues are native to several rivers in northeastern Kansas including the Kansas and Missouri. In South Carolina, blue catfish are found in almost every drainage. Blue catfish has a deeply forked tail fin. While these fish can be caught during the day we prefer to target flatheads at … Oklahoma Department of Wildlife / wildlifedepartment.com A catfish the size of a bus lurking in the deep waters of Lake Texoma, with eyes as big as a Volkswagen Beetle’s headlights. Blue catfish at or above 50 pounds are now common in both lakes. Serves 6 . My usual place for catfish … All my trips since have had similar results, and while 50-pound fish are not easy to come by, the numbers are always good, and a few 30-pounders come … 111lb Blue Catfish caught out of the Chattahoochee River on the Georgia side. Catfish … Identification: A large, heavy-bodied catfish with a deeply-forked caudal fin.Color is pale blue to gray on the back and sides, fading to white on the lower sides and belly. Flathead catfish are more prevalent in less salty waters, like the Susquehanna River, and feed mostly on other fish. Blue catfish sometimes get confused with channel catfish. After a few days, the fries venture out on their own. A 43-pound blue was the biggest I’d ever caught.” When the record catfish rolled up behind the boat, the fishing buddies soon realized they had a big problem. The blue catfish is a very misunderstood fish compared to other catfish by most anglers and most do not understand the differences or feeding habits of these catfish. A Monsta Catfish Trip is a 6-hour … Blue catfish become sexually mature when they reach 24 inches long. “Wheeler Lake is unique from some other big catfish destinations in that the catfish can literally be anywhere from very shallow to very deep water during the winter,” he said. Flathead catfish and blue catfish are among the biggest fish that swim in freshwater and these trips are for the true trophy hunter interested in catching a trophy class fish in the warmer months. Her big blue weighed in at 25.44 pounds and beat her old PB by 6 pounds. I would like to ask the forum " Do you winter fish for blue catfish from shore? The blue catfish is generally slate blue on the back to silvery/white on its underside and has a deeply forked tail. But as for flathead catfish, they prefer to spawn during the mid-60s to 70s. Tim Trone is a great guy and fisherman. When the water starts to warm after a cold winter, the shad and other baitfish move from their deep winter holes to find the warmest water they can. His largest, a 105-pound blue, was caught during December. The Mississippi white catfish pictured in the accompanying photograph does not exist.So let the debate begin. A 4-ounce serving of blue catfish includes 19 grams … Blue catfish are now the dominant species in both lakes but some really large flatheads are being caught in Lake Oconee. Unfortunately, the fish did not make it through the certifying process. Catfish belong to 34 families. The threat of invasive catfish. Blue catfish, as an example, spawn at a water temperature of 70 degrees up to 84 degrees. This article discusses three species North American sportsmen seek out: the channel catfish, the blue catfish, and the flathead catfish. The blue catfish has a rounded anal fin with 24-29 rays. This large catfish is distinguished by its blueish back and side, lack of black spots and humped back near the dorsal fin. Recently the 9-year-old student made a trip to the Mississippi River where she caught her new personal best blue catfish. The channel catfish can appear superficially similar to blue catfish, below. Have numbers and sizes been declining?" Bridges has two catfish over 100 pounds to his credit and has boated five more over 90 pounds. In freshwater, there is no other fish that can come close to the drag stripping, rod bending action these fish give. One historical account in 1866 from the Missouri River near Portland, Missouri weighed 315 pounds, and there are several other more recent reports of Blue’s in excess of 100 pounds. Mostly, the study found, blue catfish are omnivores, eating whatever is abundant in the river. The number of anal fin rays is 30 to 35. Until now. Winter is catfish time for me. Populations in the Apalachicola River, Florida, probably spread … It is similar to the Channel Catfish, but differs by having a long, straight-edged (vs. shorter, rounded) anal fin and no dark spots on the body.Adults can grow to about 5.5 ft. (150 lbs. Throughout the early 2000s, anglers in Texas, Missouri, Illinois, and Virginia all laid claim to new world record blue catfish. “Robbie tried to net the fish,” Nichols said. At the same time, the study — which examined 16,110 blue catfish stomachs — cast doubt on the notion that they are voracious, ecosystem-altering predators. But, notice the spots along the sides. It happens when the water gets warmer. Since 2011, however, the record has remained intact and untouched. I do a lot of fishing from the bank so the nighttime offers be the best access to hungry catfish. 6-Hour Lake Tawakoni Blue Catfish Trip. Twenty pounds of great fight did not come in the form I expected. Blue catfish lack scales and possess an adipose fin, as well as a single, serrated spine in the dorsal and pectoral fins. Managers hope to increase public awareness of blue catfish. Range: Blue catfish are native to the Mississippi River basin. Idaho, however, flatheads were accidentally stocked instead of blue catfish generally. And to know that they are delicious and nutritious – an unbelievably marriage... 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