Freshwater

Blue catfish

Bagre azul

Ictalurus furcatus

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

5–30 lb.

Depth

10–60 ft.

Best time

Evening and night are best; also after rain raises the river.

Found in

3 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Bluish-gray catfish with a deeply forked tail and a straight-edged anal fin; no spots.
Typical size: 5–30 lb.
Maximum size: Over 5 ft and 140 lb.
Diet: Fish, crayfish, mussels, insects and almost anything it can smell.
Behavior: Feeds mostly by smell and touch, near the bottom in holes, channels and current breaks.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Florida Gulf Coast, Northern Gulf (AL–TX) and Mexico Gulf Coast. Large rivers and reservoirs — Panhandle rivers in Florida, and big rivers across the Gulf states.
Habitat: Large rivers and reservoirs — Panhandle rivers in Florida, and big rivers across the Gulf states.
Depth: 10–60 ft.
Fishing depth: Bottom of holes and channels, 5–40 ft.
Best season: All year; spring and early summer are strongest.
Best time: Evening and night are best; also after rain raises the river.
Best tides: In rivers, current seams and eddies; rising water triggers feeding.
Best weather / conditions: Warm, overcast and stable weather.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Large rivers and reservoirs — Panhandle rivers in Florida, and big rivers across the Gulf states.
Rig up: Medium-heavy rod with a baitcasting or spinning reel. 25–50 lb mono, 18–24 in.
Pick your bait: Fresh cut shad, skipjack herring or other oily fish. Lures: —
Fish it: Anchor above deep holes and current breaks and soak fresh cut bait on the bottom.
Time it: Evening and night are best; also after rain raises the river. In rivers, current seams and eddies; rising water triggers feeding.

Fishing techniques: Anchor above deep holes and current breaks and soak fresh cut bait on the bottom.
BigJoe's tip: Fresher bait = more bites. Cut it right before it goes in the water.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Cook fish to 145°F (63°C) — the flesh turns opaque and flakes easily. Fry, grill, bake or blacken.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Stiff, sharp spines in the dorsal and pectoral fins can cause painful wounds.
Regulations: Check FWC/state rules; many states limit large fish. A Florida fishing license is required unless you are exempt; Florida rules are set by FWC (myfwc.com). Federal waters fall under NOAA Fisheries. Other states and countries set their own limits — check before you keep fish.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits