A bottom-dwelling scavenger that feeds on almost any kind of plant or animal matter. It has a blue-grey back, silver sides with dark spots, a white belly, a wide, flat head, and long barbels. The Channel Catfish is North America’s most numerous and most targeted kind of catfish. The average weight of a Channel Catfish is 2 to 4 lbs., with the maximum recorded weight being 58 lbs.
Wetland
Channel catfish are widely distributed in southern Canada, the eastern and northern United States, and parts of northern Mexico. They have an extensive native range consisting of almost all of the United States west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Rocky Mountains, roughly following the Mississippi River Basin. They are also native to peninsular Florida. They are considered invasive in many other countries where they have been introduced.
Abundant
Nocturnal
The diet of adults consists of snails, algae, snakes, frogs, insects, aquatic plants, and even birds occasionally. Younger channel catfish are omnivorous, eating a large variety of plants and animals
Channel Catfish are solitary except during mating courtship and protection of young. They are active during the night, moving around and finding food after dusk. During the day they will be most likely found in deep water with little activity.
Least Concern
