Channel Catfish
Description
To 3'11" 58lbs.Slender; back blue-gray; sides light blue to silvery with scattered dark olive to black spots; belly white; fins olive to dusky. Head wide, flat to slightly rounded above; eyes large, above midline of head; upper jaw overhangs lower; 4 pairs of barbels. Adipose fin present; outer edge of anal fin rounded, 24-31 rays; caudal fin deeply forked.
Habitat
Rivers and large creeks in slow to moderate current over sand, gravel, or rocks; ponds, lakes, reservoirs.
Related
Species
Headwater Catfish has shorter pectoral fin spines; 22-27 anal fin rays; caudal fin less deeply forked; found in Pecos River drainage in S. and W. Texas, and E. New Mexico. Spotted Bullhead has pale yellow spots, shorter anal fin, caudal fin shallowly notched; occurs in deep holes or large streams over firm bottom from SW. Georgia to N. central Florida.
Comments
The Channel Catfish, a very popular sport and food fish, is harvested commercially in some areas. It is the principal catfish reared in aquaculture.