The best locations for catching catfish occur all over the state of Florida. The Apalachicola River offers excellent fishing for channel, flathead, and blue catfish. Angling for big channel cats is best from April into early July; flathead fishing picks up in April and runs into the summer months.
Are there flathead catfish in South Florida?
Flathead are found in the Apalachicola and Escambia rivers, where they recently arrived from Georgia and Alabama.
Are flathead catfish native to Florida?
Flathead catfish are not native to Florida, but they can now be found in many of the Florida Panhandle’s river systems, the commission said. The previous record for a flathead catfish was set in 2019, when a fisherman named Marvin Griffin caught one in the same location. It weighed a whopping 69.3 pounds.
Where is the best place to catch flathead catfish?
The native range of flathead catfish includes the larger rivers of the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Rio Grande river basins from the Great Lakes south into northern Mexico. Flatheads thrive in rivers that range from tributaries just 100 feet wide to the lower reaches of the nation’s largest rivers.
What states have flathead catfish?
Documented State Record Flathead Catfish
| State | Weight | Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 76 lb 9 oz | Bartlett Lake |
| Arkansas | 80 lbs | Arkansas River |
| California | 72 lbs 14 oz | Colorado River |
| Colorado | 30 lbs 10 oz | Lake Pueblo |
Where can I find flathead catfish in Florida?
Top Florida Fishing Holes for Catfish
- The Apalachicola River offers excellent fishing for channel, flathead, and blue catfish.
- The Choctawhatchee River provides outstanding fishing for channel and flathead catfish.
- The Escambia River generates quality opportunities for blue, channel and flathead catfish.
- The St.
Where are the biggest catfish in Florida?
The largest blue catfish ever caught in Florida was caught in the Choctawhatchee River. This river is located in the panhandle of the state running north to south into the Choctawhatchee Bay before draining into the Gulf of Mexico.
What type of catfish live in Florida?
Channel catfish
Channel catfish are abundant throughout Florida, spawning in holes and crevices in flowing water.
What kind of catfish are in the Gulf?
The gafftopsail catfish (Bagre marinus) is found in the waters of the western central Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
| Gafftopsail catfish | |
|---|---|
| Family: | Ariidae |
| Genus: | Bagre |
| Species: | B. marinus |
| Binomial name |
Are blue catfish in Florida?
Originally found in the Escambia and Yellow rivers in northwest Florida, they are now also in the Apalachicola and Suwannee. Blues occur in big rivers and in the lower reaches of major tributaries. They prefer clearer, swifter water than other catfish, and are usually found over sand, gravel or rock bottoms.
How old is a 10 pound flathead catfish?
Flatheads put on 2-5 pounds a year between 3 and 8 years old. Monster cats grow upward of 10 pounds a year. In some southern rivers and reservoirs, cats have grown as much as 30 pounds in 10 years.
What’s the best bait for flathead catfish?
Flatheads feed primarily on live baits. Good hearty and lively baits like live perch, bluegill, sunfish, goldfish or mudcats are the preferred bait for catching flatheads.
What is the best time of year to catch flathead catfish?
Best Time of Year to Catch Flathead
The best time to target flathead catfish is from the spring to the fall. Flathead LOVE warm water, so usually around may – august I have my best luck. When the water temp reaches 55, they seem to pick up and start biting. This can be found by researching your local body of water.
What state has the biggest flathead catfish?
Oklahoma. Oklahoma is best known for big flatheads, like this one caught by Haydn and Owen Williams of Grove.
What is the largest flathead catfish ever caught in the United States?
123 pounds
What was the largest flathead catfish ever caught? Ken Paulie caught the biggest Flathead Catfish back in 1998, and he still holds the world record, though some question its legitimacy. The Flathead was over 5 feet in length and weighed 123 pounds.
Where are the biggest flathead catfish caught?
Fish measured at 48 inches
– An angler from Hobart, Indiana caught a new state-record flathead catfish while fishing in Berrien County, Michigan. The flathead catfished weighed in at 53.35 pounds and measured 48 inches.
Is there a limit on catfish in Florida?
No bag limit unless you are in a fish management area. Bag limit reduced to six channel catfish in any fish management area except as provided by rules of the Commission.
Are catfish in Florida poisonous?
The sting of a catfish, whether a Florida saltwater catfish or one of many other species, is something you do not want to ignore. It is venomous and can lead to a serious infection. Before you head out on the water, make sure to take the proper safety precautions to minimize the risk of getting stung.
Can you gig catfish in Florida?
Nongame fish may be taken:
At night by bow and arrow and gigs.
What is the Florida state record flathead?
69.9 pounds
— A fish nearly as long as the man who reeled it in is now the largest flathead catfish ever caught in the state of Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission certified the state record flathead catfish weighing 69.9 pounds, measuring 48.5 inches long, 38.25 inches in circumference.
What is the biggest fish ever caught in Florida?
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Saltwater Angler Recognition program has not yet certified the No Name’s recent catch, but it stands to set the Sunshine State’s bluefin record. The current state record is a 826.5-pound fish that Rick Whitley and his deck mates caught in 2017.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.