Date:9/26/2023 8:00 AM
Happy Tuesday everyone! Today's fish of the day is the flathead catfish!
The flathead catfish, also known by scientific name Pylodictis olivaris, and common names such as mudcat, or shovelhead catfish, yellowcat, and Johnniecat. Common across their native range west of the Appalachian mountains, where they spread across the American continent from Southern Canada to sections of Northern Mexico. Primarily these fish are known for their place in the ecosystems of the Mississippi river, Missouri river, Colorado river and Ohio basin.
These fish are well known among fishers, as they are considered to be some of the tastiest catfish. This, along with the impressive sizes they can reach. The flathead catfish's diet is carnivorous, feeding mostly on fish, but also preying on worms, crustaceans, and insects at convenience. Insect larvae are the main food source of juvenile flathead catfish, until they reach lengths of about 10 inches, where they begin to hunt more efficiently from other fish, sometimes including their own siblings or parents.
Known to get to ridiculous sizes, the largest recorded measuring 69 inches long and weighing just a bit more than 140 pounds, although most sexually mature adults reach sizes of 60 inches. These fish are the longest catfish in the entire United States, just barely coming in over the blue catfish. They live in deep pools, lakes, or slow moving rivers, and breed in the summer, late June to early July.
I hope everyone has a good Tuesday!