How to recognise it
- Dark spots on the body, though large adults may lose them.
- The outer edge of the anal fin is rounded, with 24 to 29 rays. A blue catfish's is straight.
Habitat: where it lives
- Most abundant in large streams with low or moderate current; found throughout Texas.
Habits: behavior, spawning and growth
- Spawns in late spring or early summer once the water reaches 75°F. The male picks a dark, hidden nest site, such as a hole in a drift pile, a log, an undercut bank or rocks, and guards the eggs and fry.
- Eggs hatch in about a week; the fry stay in the nest about another week.
- Matures in 3–6 years in Texas. Fish over 36 lb have been landed in Texas waters.
- Like other catfish, more active in low light and overnight, but catchable any time.
Where and when
- Found statewide. Spawns in late spring or early summer at about 75°F water.
- Moves into the shallows at night from late spring to early fall. By day, look in deeper holes and around sunken timber out of the current.
- Neighborhood Fishin' ponds are stocked every 2–4 weeks from late April to early November, except August.
Bait and lures
Live and natural bait
- Nightcrawlers
- Chicken liver
- Shrimp (stays on the hook well)
- Stinkbait
- Cut hot dogs or cheese
Lures
- A plastic worm dipped in catfish dip bait
Why these baits work
- A catfish finds food mostly by taste and touch, not sight, so strong-smelling baits work: stink bait, punch bait, chicken liver, cut bait.
- Channel catfish are much more likely than flathead or blue catfish to take baits that aren't live or natural, which is why prepared baits and hot dogs catch them.
- Adults eat almost anything (insects, snails, crayfish, fish and some plants), so worms and shrimp work too.
Rod and reel setups
Grouped by lure fishing (artificial baits) and bait fishing (live or natural bait).
Tips
- Use only enough weight to keep the bait on the bottom, then reel the line tight.
- A small treble hook holds soft baits like liver or cheese better.
- No bite in 15 minutes? Move to a new spot.
- In a creek or river, fresh cut shad's natural oil trail is hard to beat. In warm, murky or slow-moving water, a strong-smelling prepared stink bait carries just as well and is easier to keep on the hook.
On the table: cleaning and cooking
- Prized for its flavor. Catfish are skinned rather than scaled: see the catfish cleaning steps in the handbook.
Step-by-step cleaning, keeping fish fresh and eating safely are in the handbook.
Size and bag limits vary by state, species and lake. Current limits: Texas (TPWD); elsewhere, your state's fish and wildlife agency. Check before you keep a fish.
