Catfish

 

Channel Cat

Virginia State Record

Channel Catfish  31 lbs 8 oz  Rappahannock R.  10-02-92  Sue Stanley
 

Unlike flathead catfish the upper jaw projects beyond the lower jaw. Coloration is olive-brown to slate-blue on the back and sides, shading to silvery-white on the belly. Typically, numerous small, black spots are present, but may be obscured in large adults. The anal fin has 24-29 soft rays, as opposed to blue catfish which always have 30 or more rays in the anal fin.

Channel catfish are most abundant in large streams with low or moderate current. They spawn in late spring or early summer when water temperatures reach 75°F. Males select nest sites which are normally dark secluded areas such as cavities in drift piles, logs, undercut banks, rocks, cans, etc. A golden-yellow gelatinous egg mass is deposited in the bottom of the nest. Males guard the nest, and may actually eat some of the eggs if they are disturbed. The eggs, if not devoured, typically hatch in about a week. Fry remain in the nest, under the guardianship of the male, for about another week. In clear water young fish appear to be much more susceptible to predation and survival during the first year of life is much lower. Channel catfish less than 4 inches in length feed primarily on small insects. Adults are largely omnivorous, feeding on insects, mollusks, crustaceans, fish, and even some plant material.

 

 

Blue Catfish

Virginia State Record

Blue Catfish  71 lbs 12oz  James River  11-19-99  Hugh L. Self Jr.

 

Blue catfish have a forked tail, and are sometimes very similar to channel catfish. However, only the Rio Grande population has dark spots on the back and sides. The number of rays in the anal fin is typically 30-35, and coloration is usually slate blue on the back, shading to white on the belly.

Blue catfish are primarily a large-river fish, occurring in main channels, tributaries, and impoundments of major river systems. They may tend to move upstream in the summer in search of cooler temperatures, and downstream in the winter in order to find warmer water. Their spawning behavior appears to be similar to that of channel catfish. However, most blue catfish are not sexual mature until they reach about 24 inches in length. Like channel catfish, the blue catfish diet is quite varied, but it tends to eat fish earlier in life. Although invertebrates still comprise the major portion of the diet, blue catfish as small as four inches in length have been known to consume fish. Individuals larger than eight inches eat fish and large invertebrates. Blue catfish commonly attain weights of 20-40 pounds, and may reach weights well in excess of 100 pounds. It is reported that fish exceeding 350 pounds were landed from the Mississippi River during the late 1800's..

 

 

Flathead Catfish

Virginia State Record

Flathead Catfish  66 lbs 4 oz  Occoquan Res.  05-06-94  Mike Willems
 

Flathead catfish are typically pale yellow (hence the name “yellow cat”) to light brown on the back and sides, and highly mottled with black and/or brown. The belly is usually pale yellow or cream colored. The head is broadly flattened, with a projecting lower jaw. The tail fin is only slightly notched, not deeply forked as is the case with blue and channel catfish. Young fish may be very dark, almost black in appearance

Males construct nests by excavating a shallow depression in a natural cavity (such as hollow logs, caves, or crevices), or near a large object. Females are encouraged to lay their eggs in the nest by males. Over 100,000 eggs may be found in a golden-yellow egg mass which is guarded viciously by the male. Young generally hatch in four to six days. They may school together for several days near the nest, but soon disperse and seek shelter under rocks or brush. Fingerlings feed on insect larvae, juveniles feed on small fish and crayfish, while adults feed almost exclusively on fish. Adults are usually solitary, each staking out a favorite spot, typically in deeper water or under cover, during the day. At night they may move into riffles and shallow areas to feed.