Fish

Hardhead catfish

Bagre boca chica

Ariopsis felis

SaltwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

8–14 in.

Depth

1–40 ft.

Best time

Dawn, dusk and the first hours of a moving tide are the best windows.

Found in

7 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Gray saltwater catfish with a hard bony plate on top of the head, short dorsal spine and four chin barbels.
Typical size: 8–14 in.
Maximum size: About 2 ft.
Diet: Shrimp, crabs and small baitfish such as mullet, pinfish and menhaden.
Behavior: Moves with the tide between grass flats, oyster bars, mangrove edges and deeper holes; feeds hardest when water is moving.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Florida Atlantic Coast, Florida Gulf Coast, South Florida & Keys, Northern Gulf (AL–TX), Mexico Gulf Coast, Mexican Caribbean & Belize and Georgia & South Carolina. Just about every bay, pier and beach in Florida and the Gulf.
Habitat: Just about every bay, pier and beach in Florida and the Gulf.
Depth: 1–40 ft.
Fishing depth: 1–8 ft on flats and shorelines; 6–20 ft in channels, holes and docks.
Best season: Fishable all year in Florida and the Gulf; cold fronts push fish into deeper creeks, canals and holes in winter.
Best time: Dawn, dusk and the first hours of a moving tide are the best windows.
Best tides: A moving tide — especially the last of the outgoing and first of the incoming — is best.
Best weather / conditions: Calm to light wind for sight-fishing; a light chop helps in clear water. Fish slow after cold fronts.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Anything — shrimp, squid, cut bait.
Best artificial lures: Rarely targeted.
Tackle setup: 7 ft medium-light to medium spinning rod with a 2500–3000 reel.
Hook size: 1/0–3/0 circle hook for live bait; 1/8–1/4 oz jig heads for soft plastics.
Line: 10–15 lb braid.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.

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: Just about every bay, pier and beach in Florida and the Gulf.
Rig up: 7 ft medium-light to medium spinning rod with a 2500–3000 reel. 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Pick your bait: Anything — shrimp, squid, cut bait. Lures: Rarely targeted.
Fish it: It finds you on any bottom rig.
Time it: Dawn, dusk and the first hours of a moving tide are the best windows. A moving tide — especially the last of the outgoing and first of the incoming — is best.

Fishing techniques: It finds you on any bottom rig.
BigJoe's tip: Use a dehooker so you never need to grab it.
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: Edible but not prized — strong or bony; many anglers release it.
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: Venomous dorsal and pectoral spines — one of the most common fishing injuries in Florida. Never grab it bare-handed.
Regulations: No special limits in most areas. 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.

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Sources & photo credits