Catfish

Catfish are smooth-skinned fish with four pairs of barbels, or "whiskers," around the mouth. Blue, white and channel catfish have forked tails, while brown and yellow bullheads have squared tails.

What species of catfish live in the Bay?

Five species of catfish can be found in the Bay.

• The blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, has a bluish-gray body and a silvery white belly. Its barbels are black, and the pair at the corners of the mouth is twice as long as the other pairs. It usually grows to less than 2 feet, but can be as long as 5.5 feet and weigh as much as 100 pounds.
• The white catfish, Ameiurus catus, has a grayish-brown body and white belly. Its barbels are pale-colored, and it usually grows to about 12 to 13 inches, but can be up to 2 feet long.
• The channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, has a bluish-gray body and white belly, with olive-colored fins and small, dark spots scattered across the sides. Its barbels are light-colored, and it usually grows to about 2 feet, but can be as long as 4 feet and weigh more than 50 pounds.
• The brown bullhead, Ameiurus nebulosus, has a mottled brown or black body and yellowish-white belly. Its barbels are dark-colored, and it usually grows to about a foot, but can be as long as 20 inches.
• The yellow bullhead, Ameiurus natalis, has a brownish-gray body and yellow sides and belly. Its barbels are pale-colored, and it usually grows to about 18 to 24 inches.

Where do catfish live?

• Blue catfish are freshwater fish, but are occasionally found in brackish water tributaries. They are most often found in the backwaters and main channels of medium to large Bay tributaries, such as the James and Rappahannock rivers. They prefer water with a moderate or swift current and a sandy bottom.
• White catfish live in fresh and brackish waters in the upper to middle Bay and in tributaries throughout the watershed, including lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. They are found in the shallows, open waters and deep waters alike.
• Channel catfish live in fresh and brackish waters in the upper Bay and tributaries throughout the watershed. They prefer deep, slow-moving channel waters in large rivers, streams and creeks that have a sandy, rocky or gravel bottom. They are also found in lakes, ponds and reservoirs.
• Yellow bullheads live in shallow, slow-moving freshwater Bay tributaries, including streams, lakes and ponds. They are usually found in areas with lots of aquatic vegetation.
• Brown bullheads live in fresh and brackish waters in the upper Bay and tributaries throughout the watershed, including ponds, lakes and streams. They prefer slow, deep waters with lots of underwater vegetation. They are also found in shallow backwaters and in open, clear pools.

What do catfish eat?

Catfish are bottom feeders, using their long barbels to taste for their prey, which includes:

• Insects
• Mollusks, such as clams and mussels
• Crustaceans
• Crayfishes
• Other species of fish

How do catfish reproduce?

• Blue catfish spawn from April through June. The parents build a nest, into which the female lays her eggs. Both parents care for the eggs until they hatch.
• White and channel catfish spawn in late spring and early summer. The parents move upstream and build a nest, into which the female lays her eggs. One or both of the parents then guard the eggs until they hatch, then care for the young until they are about half an inch long.
• Yellow bullheads spawn in May and June. The parents build a nest in a vegetated or open area, and the female lays her eggs into th