At a glance
5–30 lb.
8–30 ft.
Evening and night are best; also after rain raises the river.
3 areas
Know it
Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.
- Identification
Mottled yellow-brown catfish with a broad flat head, a protruding lower jaw and a square tail.
- Typical size
5–30 lb.
- Maximum size
Over 4.5 ft and 120 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.
Find it
Where, when and how deep to look.
- Where to find it
Found from Florida Gulf Coast, Northern Gulf (AL–TX) and Mexico Gulf Coast. Deep holes with logjams in big rivers.
- Habitat
Deep holes with logjams in big rivers.
- Depth
8–30 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.
Bait & gear
What to tie on and what to throw.
- Best bait
LIVE bait — bream, shad or bullheads.
- Best artificial lures
—
- Tackle setup
Medium-heavy rod with a baitcasting or spinning reel.
- Hook size
2/0–8/0 circle hooks.
- Line
20–50 lb mono or braid.
- Leader
25–50 lb mono, 18–24 in.
BigJoe's setup for Flathead catfish
The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.
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Catch it
Step by step, from first cast to landing.
Step-by-step: how to catch it
- Go where it lives: Deep holes with logjams in big rivers.
- Rig up: Medium-heavy rod with a baitcasting or spinning reel. 25–50 lb mono, 18–24 in.
- Pick your bait: LIVE bait — bream, shad or bullheads. Lures: —
- Fish it: Fish a lively bait near logjams at night with heavy tackle.
- 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
Fish a lively bait near logjams at night with heavy tackle.
- BigJoe's tip
Unlike other catfish, flatheads want live fish, not stinky bait.
- 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.
Clean & cook
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.
Stay safe & legal
Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.
- Safety warnings
Stiff, sharp spines in the dorsal and pectoral fins can cause painful wounds.
- Regulations
Native only to Florida's far western Panhandle; introduced elsewhere (such as the Apalachicola system), where FWC encourages anglers to keep them. Check FWC. 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.
Where it's found
Tap an area to open its fishing map.