was held by a man who caught his trophy blue on the Missouri River. The belly typically fades toward white at the very bottom. Habitat Blue catfish are primarily large-river fish, occurring in main channels, tributaries, and impoundments of major river systems. One caught in an inland lake on the Virginia–North Carolina border weighed 143 pounds. Blue Catfish occur in a variety of habitats from swiftly to slow-flowing clear or turbid freshwaters, estuaries and inshore coastal marine environments. Their color tends to be shades of blue-gray, although they can take on a silvery appearance. Mouth lacks teeth. Lake Texoma and Lake Tawakoni are the best Catfish Fishing Lakes in all Texas. There are more than 3000 species of catfish that can be found on all continents except on the Antarctica. The following tables show the full nutrition facts for wild catfish per fillet. Catfish has a large, flat head, elongated body and two to four pairs of whiskers. : The most, new, latest, shocking, weird, scary, funny, fascinating, interesting and amazing things | facts in the world. Catfish live in freshwaters such as rivers and streams. You just need to make sure that you keep the right species and practice better pond management. Blue Catfish Blue catfish are round in shape with a flat belly, as they age they frequently develop a distinct hump in front of the dorsal fin. Blue catfish are highly productive and create high numbers of offspring each reproductive cycle. These names all spawn from the fact that blue catfish … Catfish has smooth and scaleless skin covered with mucus. Some ancient cultures used to keep catfish in their latrine ponds as a natural way of getting rid of waste. Facts About the Blue Catfish (A Picture Book For Kids) (Volume 17): Strattin, Lisa: Amazon.sg: Books Blue Catfish spawns in late spring to early summer at water temperatures of 21 to 25°C (Sublette et al. It’s a fact that a 143 lb. Call Today To Book A Trip (903) 815-0273. Jan 28, 2020 - Explore Ruben Zaragoza's board "Blue catfish" on Pinterest. Their colors can vary from blue, to black, or olive. 1990) In advance of spawning, Blue Catfish seek protected areas to deposit eggs behind rocks, root-wads, depressions, undercut stream banks, or other areas where the currents are minimal (Graham et al. It is reported that fish exceeding 350 pounds were landed from the Mississippi River during the late 1800's. Features. Eggs are deposited in nests secluded under banks or logs or over open bottom. Blue catfish were introduced to tidal freshwater stretches of the James, York, and Rappahannock rivers during the 1970s and 1980s to enhance recreational fisheries. The previous record of 130 lb. Blue catfish are ready to breed when they are 4 to 7 years old; at this time, they are usually 35 to 66 cm (14 to 26 in) long and weigh 2.3 kg. Catfish eat mostly fish, insects, worms, and frogs. They are related to the carp , characins, and minnows. See more ideas about monster fishing, blue catfish, fishing pictures. Scrapes algae from submerged tree trunks, rocks, and river bottoms. The blue catfish can be distinguished from the channel and white catfish by its noticeably longer anal fin, which has a more even depth and a straighter edge than in the other two species. Catfish also will spawn in larger lakes where suitable habitat is available. Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish: Invasive, Dbuet licious and Nutritious! Spawning occurs mostly in rivers and streams in the spring and early summer when waters warm to 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Blue catfish are one of the largest catfish species you'll find in North America. Blue catfish can be caught year-round in the state of Texas, but the month of February and the first few weeks of March can be one of the best times to target large fish. It is similar to the Channel Catfish, but differs by having a long, straight-edged (vs. shorter, rounded) anal fin and no dark spots on the body.Adults can grow to about 5.5 ft. (150 lbs. Armored Catfish – Facts | Size | Aquarium | Lifespan May 22, 2020 May 20, 2020 / by Author shamim1410 (Last Updated On: May 20, 2020) Covered in bony plates, the armored catfish has a triangular shape, with a smooth bottom, spotted in a leopard pattern. From my experience, blue’s are a little less finicky and have a bigger appetite for a variety of baits. This fact sheet aims to enhance public awareness of this invasive species as a new commercial fishery resource. In blue catfish, this fin has a straight edge while the channel catfish’s anal fin has a convex edge. Channel catfish have smooth scales that are speckled, with a darker back to a light whitish belly. Males guard eggs and fry (Graham et al. Blue catfish commonly attain weights of 20 to 40 pounds, and may reach weights well in excess of 100 pounds. Blue Catfish spawns in late spring to early summer at water temperatures of 21 to 25°C (Sublette et al. They enjoy living near or in complex structures and rock piles that offer both cover and a place to rest without currents. What We Know About Blue Catfish. A distinguishing difference between the two species is the anal fin. Click Here. Catfish Facts Catfish is a type of fish that belongs to the group of ray-finned fish. During this time of year, when the water temperatures are cooler, blue catfish are often found congregating in deep holes. All nutritional values are from the USDA Food and Nutrient Database. Spawning occurs in spring in dark-water locations. Blue catfish prefer fresh or slightly salty water, which somewhat constrains their movement into lower reaches of tidal rivers and the Bay itself. 1999). Apr 27, 2017 - Blue catfish information, interesting facts, photos, and catfish fishing tips on American Expedition - Experience Wildlife! Blue catfish can grow to be larger than 100 pounds. There are about 2,500 species, or kinds, of catfish. 4-6 yrs. Here are a few additional fun facts: A catfish has about 100,000 taste buds, and their bodies are covered with them to help detect chemicals present in the water and also to respond to touch. Name of animal-plant: Blue sea catfish Species name: Arius guatamalensis Animal type: FISHA fish is any member of a group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic craniate animals that lack limbs with digits. Blue catfish is often mistaken for the channel catfish due to their similar appearance, especially the smaller juveniles. Identification: A large, heavy-bodied catfish with a deeply-forked caudal fin.Color is pale blue to gray on the back and sides, fading to white on the lower sides and belly. There are 30-36 rays in the fin, versus 24-30 rays in the channel catfish and 19-23 rays in the white catfish. Blue catfish grow slowly during their first few years of development and more quickly as they age. Habitat: Found in large rivers and major reservoirs, blue catfish generally prefer areas with sand, gravel or rock bottoms. They are most common in large rivers, where they often favor faster currents than other catfish. Catfish has two to four pairs of whiskers. How To Fish The "Instincts" Of Blue Catfish And Trigger More Strikes. The Chesapeake Bay record is a blue catfish caught in the James River that was 102 pounds. If anyone can put you into a trophy Striper or Blue Catfish Cody can. I’ve definitely had my fun catching them and flatheads. A few species of catfish live in salt waters. 1999). Catfish inhabits freshwater ecosystems such as rivers and streams. Natural Food Sources: Blue catfish feed primarily on fish, mussels, snails, insects and crayfish. We will fish other Northern Texas lakes for Stripers at our clients request, but our favorite lakes are most Lake Tawakoni and Lake Texoma. The heavy rain dramatically reduced salinities in rivers and most of the Bay, allowing the catfish to spread almost everywhere. With that said, it’s still possible for catfish and other hunting fish species to co-exist. Blue catfish, like flathead catfish, are native to the Mississippi River Basin. On the Potomac, blue catfish are generally found north of the Route 301 bridge. 1990) In advance of spawning, Blue Catfish seek protected areas to deposit eggs behind rocks, root-wads, depressions, undercut stream banks, or other areas where the currents are minimal (Graham et al. They have been introduced to many river basins that flow to the Atlantic Ocean, such as the Cape Fear and Catawba rivers in North Carolina. To help scientists and resource managers learn more about these fish, NCBO provided more than $1 million in funding for research projects to investigate blue catfish. Their anal fin is long and has a straight margin and 30-35 rays of equal length. Blue Catfish is an invasive fish species in the Chesapeake Bay but increasing commercial harvest and consumption is one way to reduce their numbers. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO) and other Chesapeake Bay organizations identified invasive catfish as a challenge facing the Chesapeake ecosystem several years ago. If you have ever seen a catfish, you may be able to guess why it is named after a cat. These feelers, known as barbels, help the fish to taste and to feel. You'll also hear people call them "silver cats", "fork tails", and "hump backs". blue catfish was caught on a lake in Virginia. Catfish such as the Channel Catfish, the Blue Catfish and the White Catfish are nest builders. Males guard eggs and fry (Graham et al. The anal fin will be straight across the bottom on a blue catfish. Some species of catfish are adapted to the life in salt waters and caves. A catfish is a fish that has one or more pairs of whiskerlike feelers by its mouth. Generally in muddy water they are olive to yellowish white and in clear water they are blacker in color. But some other facts about these fish may surprise you! Blue catfish prefer to live on the sandy bottoms of medium to large freshwater channels and pools that possess swift and well-flowing currents in depths greater than 6 meters. Blue catfish have a forked tail as does the channel catfish. Dorsal fin I, 7; Anal fin 15-19; Pectoral fin I, 10-11; Caudal fin 15; Gill rakers 17-22. They form a sister group to the tunicates, together forming the olfactores. 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