A large, North American, freshwater bottom-dweller. It has a slender, olive body with dark mottling, a wide, flat head, and short barbels or “whiskers.” The Flathead Catfish is much larger than the Channel Catfish, with the maximum recorded weight being 123 lbs. Their large size, combined with the fact that their flesh is widely regarded as the tastiest of all of the catfish, make the Flathead Catfish very popular among anglers.
Wetland
The native range of the flathead catfish includes a broad area west of the Appalachian Mountains encompassing large rivers of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio basins. The range extends as far north as Canada, as far west as Texas, and south to the Gulf of Mexico including northeastern Mexico. It is considered invasive in some areas.
Spring, Summer
Abundant
Nocturnal
Feeds primarily on fishes, insects, annelid worms, and crustaceans.
Flathead catfish are a benthic fish species meaning they prefer to lay on the bottom of a body of water. This species is primarily nocturnal, but is sometimes active during the day as well.
Least Concern
