Hardhead Catfish
AKA: Marine Catfish / Sea Catfish / Seacat / Bagre Family: Tooth And Spine
| Water: Salt/Coastal Waters |
Where: Surf / Inshore |
| Size: Most common at under a pound up to about a pound or so, large fish can weigh in at as much as 3-4 pounds. |
| Fight: Intial fight is a decent pull, but fish tires and gives in pretty quickly. |
| Deliciousness: Good |
| Range: Both Coasts |
Technique: Drifting / Still Fishing |
| Baits: Shrimp / Baitfish / Lures |
Tackle: Spinning / Baitcasting |
The Hardhead Catfish is characterized by a brown or darker upper body with a white to silvery underside. His head is somewhat flattened and stretched forward, at the corners of his mouth, are log "whiskers" with two pair of barbels under his chin. His body is coated with a sludgey bacterial slime, as are his dorsal and pectoral fins, and when poked by them, the slime "venom" will enter the wound and make for a painful experience.
These fish are found in all near shore and inshore waters, prefering the later, roaming open and soft bottoms.
Live and dead shrimp as well as cutbait are the best natural baits, while the occasional jig and plug may work when targeting with artificials.
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