Flathead Catfish. There are two species of catfish commonly caught in coastal waters of Texas: the gafftop and sea catfish, more. Of the three catfish, only the sailcat and gafftop are the ones you hear about people eating, but even then, most anglers seem to dismiss catfish for their reputation of being. orgBlue Catfish are brown/ gray to slate-blue, with a deeply forked tail. Sharks are one of the biggest predators of saltwater catfish, especially the tiger and bull shark. Species: CATFISH, CHANNEL (Ictalurus punctatus) Species Separation 1994 Rank Weight Angler Where Caught Date Caught. It’s best to use a medium-sized hook since it will most likely end up in. The Biggest Saltwater Fish Ever Caught was a 2,664 pound Great White Shark The record was set in 1959 by Alfred Dean off the coast of Ceduna, Australia. The largest blue catfish ever caught in California weighed 113 lbs. The Biggest Saltwater Fish Ever Caught was a 2,664 pound Great White Shark The record was set in 1959 by Alfred Dean off the coast of Ceduna, Australia. You can even try strips of saltwater. 76-foot, or 267-centimeter, wels catfish caught on the River Po in February 2015 was hailed as a world record at the time, eclipsing a record 255-centimeter. 2 lb flathead, cought on Lake Conjola. These stand out because they are short and stiff. According to the Guinness Book of Records, a nine-foot-long individual caught in northern Thailand in 2005 weighted an astounding 646 pounds , making it the largest exclusively freshwater fish ever recorded. The Pictus Catfish is a nocturnal fish, so don't expect much activity during the day. Lots of folks like catching them, but novices may not realize these sleek, powerful marine fish pack a dangerous set of dentures. Start by sliding an egg sinker or sinker slide up your main line, then connect a barrel swivel to the end of the line. Range: Blue catfish are native to the Mississippi River basin. The biggest channel catfish ever caught in Florida weighed 44. Biancardi said he decided to go in shallow water in an attempt to land it. Mix 1 cup ground yellow cornmeal, 1 cup cornflour, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons of salt, half a teaspoon of cayenne, and ground black pepper in a bowl. terrelli, which grew almost 9 m (29. 75 Lbs Per Foot – When bait is in shallower water is more than sufficient, you just have to deal with catching all of the smaller “button” shad. Saltwater catfish, also known as hardhead catfish or saltwater bullheads, are commonly found in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the. They reside in both the Atlantic and more heavily in the Gulf of Mexico. Hardheads and sail catfish are perhaps two of the most widely populated saltwater catfish along the coastal waters of Florida. For big flatheads, use live bream fished on the bottom as well. com. anglers will encounter, with 100-plus pounders being somewhat common. Catfish have four barbels ("whiskers") that hang from the lower jaw, two from each corner of the mouth and two from the top of the head near the mouth. MADCAT. 5ft /1. 5 feet long! ©M. At more than 6,000 pounds, the fish—found dead off the Azores—weighs as much as a white rhino. This fish is a pimelodid or long-whiskered catfish. Emerald Catfish. Sail cats you can eat the others I would not recommend. They tend to congregate in deeper pools near faster current, but never in small streams. The male is tasked with much of the parental duty. A really big catfish: In 2015, an Italian fisherman caught a 280-lb. The blue catfish is the largest species that U. They range from 2. The anal fin is the most prominent feature of a Blue Catfish and has a straight outer edge (sometimes referred to as a “barber’s razor”) with 30–36 fin rays. The Shimano Socorro is a saltwater spinning reel that is good for inshore and reef fishing. So, we took a look at the state fishing records (based on. 5 feet long! ©M. The largest and most well known species was D. An Italian angler made the catch of his life this week, hauling in a 280-pound catfish from the Po River (above, the angler can be seen catching a slightly smaller catfish in 2013). The state record is three pounds fifteen ounces. Hardheads and sail catfish are perhaps two of the most widely populated saltwater catfish along the coastal waters of Florida. Scientific name: Pangasianodon gigas. Nile Perch, Nile River – Africa. Best Rod and Reel Combo: Abu Garcia Commando Casting Combo. Texas anglers seeking saltwater thrills have it better than ever. Catching these saltwater cats is usually disliked but this one fought as go. Circle hooks are arguably the best hook for beginners to use and are common as saltwater fishing hooks as well. Gen 3 Warrior Cat Bumping Rod. The Mekong giant catfish is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the world. Alessandro Biancardi's catch was more than 9 feet long — roughly the size. 6. The rod. 62 ft (1. The most common saltwater catfish species are the hardhead catfish ( Ariopsis felis) and the gafftopsail catfish ( Bagre marinus) though they are not found in the aquarium hobby. The warmer the water, the faster a fish’s metabolism will be. The Sail Catfish or gafftop catfish is slightly smaller when. With the help of our friends at IGFA, we've compiled this list of Florida Fishing Records. The three largest species of catfish are the Mekong giant catfish, the Wels catfish and the Piraiba catfish. Saltwater fish are generally much harder on gear and stronger fighters than freshwater fish. a big catfish can keep you down far longer than you can hold your breath. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Alessandro Biancardi says he caught the biggest catfish he'd ever seen in his 23 years as a professional fisherman. Josh Jorgensen, the presenter of YouTube’s largest saltwater fishing show, hosted three absolutely massive men off the coast of Florida to catch the world’s strongest fish, the. 5 inches for the 6-foot extended length version. We rounded up the best catfish baits to help you land more fish this year. Spiderwire Stealth is trusted by fishermen across the world for all kinds of species, and catfishermen will love. In 2005, a man caught a 9-foot-long, 646-pound Mekong catfish, breaking the world record for the world's largest catfish. /Intracoastal August 1977 *2. The blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is the largest species of North American catfish, reaching a length of 165 cm (65 in) and a weight of 68 kg (150 lb). Soak the catfish in the milk. Channel catfish are not native to the Bay watershed. 300 Gulf Stream Way Dania Beach, FL 33004 954-927-2628 hq@igfa. Florida Saltwater Fishing Records Written by Noah Chanin. They have four barbels ("whiskers") that hang from the lower jaw, two from each corner of the mouth and two from the top of the head near the mouth. The Freshwater Giants Are Dying. “So every single time it’s like an adrenaline rush that this could be the next biggest fish and it just so. Best Overall: Berkley PowerBait Catfish Bait Chunks. They’ll catch catfish in creeks, rivers, ponds or reservoirs. 5 inches (0. White Perch (saltwater. The largely freshwater fish can tolerate brackish water and a wide variety of climates. The common pleco is the "suckerfish" often seen stuck to the aquarium glass. 5 ft) in length [24] and 4 t (4. In Asia, the Mekong River is known for its giant freshwater catfish – one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. Description. 10. Obviously, birds and humans are also common predators. The size of a catfish depends on its species and environment. The official all-tackle world record for a wels catfish is 297 pounds, 9 ounces caught March 11, 2010 by Attila Zsedely in Italy’s river po. Common Names: Spotted-catfish,speckled catfish, silver catfish, fork-tailed catfish. The maximum life expectancy of a typical catfish species is anywhere between 8 and 20 years in the wild. Here is just a short list of why I hate catching saltwater catfish (or more like why I hate it when they bite my line while I am fishing for an inshore fish like a snook,. 6 inches for males and 7. Catfish (or catfishes; order Siluriformes / s ɪ ˈ lj ʊər ɪ f ɔːr m iː z / or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Hardheads get their name from the bony plate between their eyes and dorsal fin. Brown Bullhead: 7 pounds, 6 ounces, caught by Glenn Collacuro at Mahopac Lake in New York in 2009. White Catfish. Measuring over nine feet long (285cm), Biancardi’s fish should set a new world record for the. This is what not only allows you to pull in these large amounts of line quickly but gives you good power to “winch” in big cats. If you are stung by a catfish, you need to do several things: Get off the water. These fish have grayish-brown bodies with red tails, long whiskers, and large mouths. The Biggest Saltwater Fish Ever Caught was a 2,664 pound Great White Shark The record was set in 1959 by Alfred Dean off the coast of Ceduna, Australia. Next, tie the tag end of the line to a 20-pound-test barrel swivel. Make sure you get all of the blood from the fillets when washing. White sturgeon have been reported to reach lengths of 15-20 feet and weights of nearly one ton. Now onto some of the biggest saltwater fish. These sucker fish can be pretty aggressive when they get older and have the scary habit of latching onto other fish and sucking on their slime coating. Lifespan: 60 years. 50 pounds and was caught by Joe Purvis on Lake Bluff. The largest catfish ever caught is the Mekong catfish. The two types of saltwater catfish that live along the southeast Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America are the gafftopsail catfish and the hardhead catfish. They fight hard, and the smaller ones, that fall within the slot, are great eating. Blue Catfish. These 50 fish are the biggest of their species ever landed on a rod and reel. 4) Flathead Catfish: 72 pounds 14 ounces. You can expect to catch Speckled Trout, Redfish, Flounder, as well as Sharks. What is the. LEARN MORE. Trash Fish Tuesday is a new project from the MeatEater Fishing Department investigating, explaining, and celebrating some of our misunderstood and under-appreciated native fishes. 5 cm (1 inch). Features include rubber gaskets to create a waterproof drag, 4+1 ball bearings, cross carbon drag, and a spool lip design for longer casting while preventing backlash. Thread starter hatchrooster; Start date Mar 31, 2012; Mar 31, 2012 #1 hatchrooster Senior Member. However, like any fish, it is important to properly clean and prepare them before cooking and consuming them. Even without counting, young channel cats tend to have small black spots while young blues are solid silver/gray with no. Channel catfish may exceed 40 pounds, although the typical size is less than five pounds. First, you want to start by threading your line through a 1/4- to 1/2-ounce barrel weight. Hailshadow / Getty Images. Electric Eel, Amazon River – South America. 75 pounds. The stingray was snagged by a local fisherman south. There’s a whole lot more swimming around down there than bass, trout, walleye, and catfish. They reside in both the Atlantic and more heavily in the Gulf of Mexico. [1] It inhabits estuaries and occasionally freshwater bodies, in Japan. These fish do not run in the same crowd as. The Flathead was over 5 feet in length and weighed 123 pounds. 5. The sportfishing world record for the largest channel catfish ever recorded is a specimen from South Carolina that weighed 58 pounds. The redtail catfish is a freshwater fish of the Pimelodidae family. Blue catfish commonly attain weights of 20 to 40 pounds, and may reach weights well in excess of 100 pounds. 28 Thai Brendan Hoang Mississippi River September 2022 *4. 3. Dorsal fin deeply notched. Madcat / Alessandro Biancardi. 5. The 48-pound, 3. In a separate dish, make a marinade by mixing a dash of hot sauce and 1 cup of low-fat buttermilk. International team now tracking the 661-pound giant freshwater stingray's movements to better understand, protect the species and key freshwater habitatsA 661-pound stingray caught in the Mekong was tagged and tracked. The Coral Catfish is seen in the wild scavenging in the sand, so the fish tank must have a sandy. These massive creatures can weigh over 600 pounds and are critically endangered due to overfishing. An Italian angler may have broken the world record for the largest catfish ever caught after reeling in a massive nine-foot catfish. It measured 8. The No. Catfish have an extraordinarily keen. The catfish’s mouth and throat are lined with bristle-like sharp points. There are 37 catfish families, with species found in both freshwater and saltwater. Simply dip the fish in the milk to get it wet, and then shake off any excess. Big Pine Key: June 13, 2009: Larry Maier: Scamp: Mycteroperca phenax: 28 lb 6. Specific Gravity : 1. Most of the time a small setup like this will get the job done. answers. When most people think of trophy-sized catfish, they usually think of flatheads. Catfish can sometimes be predatory toward. February 28, 2022 Robert. Females produce 4,000 to 8,000 eggs per kilogram of body weight—so a 10-pound fish could produce more than 20,000 eggs. Lord’s new state record blue catfish weighed 48-pounds, 3. So clean, in fact, that surrounding towns use its water as unfiltered drinking water. The giant lizard weighed around 14 kilogram - 29 lb. andrewsThe Pictus Catfish is one of the most common aquarium catfish species. In captivity, the maximum length for a sucker fish is usually 18 inches. Feeding should occur later in the day as the fish wake up for their. Like many marine fish, it is dark on top and light on bottom. For breeding purposes, it is recommended to keep a small group of three males and two females. The candiru feeds on blood and is commonly found in the gill cavities of other fishes. 6. Flathead Catfish A big Saginaw River cat. Small baits will catch big fish, but the old saying about using big baits to catch big fish often holds true. Redtail catfish are large bottom dwelling fish requiring an experienced aquarist. 6 inches for males and 7. Mollies. I caught 4 big hard head catfish one of them stabbed. Biancardi said he decided to go in shallow water in an attempt. The minimum tank size for an adult redtail catfish is around 1,500-2,000 gallons (yeah). The fish, caught by British angler. If needed, it’s recommended to take a few Tylenol or Advil. State records for the heaviest marine fishes caught in Florida waters, or in federal waters extending directly outward of Florida state line boundaries, are maintained for 81 species in conventional tackle and fly-fishing categories. This flathead was 61 inches long with a 43-inch girth. Tags: Catfish. The morning bite typically occurs during the early hours of the day, just after sunrise, and is a great time to catch catfish. Channel cats have between 24 and 29 rays, while blue cats have 30 to 36. The younger catfish are usually better eating, as the bigger fish are. 06 lbs: Elie Pellegrin: 10/96: Horse-eye Jackfish: 25. If needed, it’s recommended to take a few Tylenol or Advil. Summary: An olive greenish, greyish to brown eel-tailed catfish often with pale yellowish mottling on the rear of the body, and a whitish underside. However there are probably many other subspecies located in. Bagarius yarrelli, also known as the giant devil catfish, is found in large, swift rivers in India. Redtail catfish are difficult to care for because of their enormous size and predatory nature. These can hurt people with painful puncture wounds. Origin: South America. Record Redtail Catfish (Pirarara) Weight: 123 lbs 7 oz (56 kg) Length: 4. The Mekong giant catfish is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the world. The best way to treat a Saltwater Catfish sting is to first remove all of the spines from the affected area. YELLOWFIN TUNA. These poisonous barbs or spikes are designed simply as a self-defense method. Setting up a tank to match its natural. The reel can uphold the great weight of the greatest fish like catfish while maintaining its smoothness, rigidity, and strength. C. Florida has a new state record for flathead catfish, with the report of a 70-pounder caught on the same river as the previous record. 1. The record was set in 1959 by Alfred Dean off the coast of Ceduna, Australia. The saltwater hardhead catfish is a member of the Ictaluridae family, including the blue catfish and channel catfish. [11] [12] In the Southern United States, catfish species may be known. 5. This is the saltwater “Hardhead” catfish. Reeling in large amounts of line and pulling in larger catfish requires a faster retrieve ratio. It’s the largest artificial reef in the area and home to a range of exciting fish species. The largest and most well known species was D. The largest. In this article, we will rank 10 of these incredible creatures by size. Structural Adaptation. Mississippi Angler Smashes State Record With 131-Pound Blue Catfish. Species. If you want to go for big fish like catfish, then you need a bigger and heavier reel to support. 9 lbs and measured 48 inches long. Our coastal fishery is in excellent shape, and thus affords anglers many opportunities for a good time. Italian angler Alessandro Biancardi shocked the catfishing world this week with an absolutely massive Wels catfish he caught from Italy’s River Po. Usually the cut off for eating catfish for me is 8lbs. Image source: IGFA. “It’s the biggest catfish. One interesting fact about saltwater catfish is that it is edible to eat and poisonous in some instances. Overview. No other details about the catch are recorded by the IGFA, but subsequent stories say the fish was 15 inches long and had an incredible 18. Hayes held the All-Tackle title for 41 years, despite swirling rumors denouncing his catch. 31 Harold W. 5 lbs , which was not only a Texas. (You might be interested. As a versatile pursuer of the largest North American catfish species, Strickland also fishes for blue catfish with jugs above the dam and with a rod and reel below the powerhouse. The catch beats. It’s built to last and built to perform. Many – especially eating size cats – are caught on live bait. Channel, flathead and blue catfish are recognized as excellent eating fish and can be fished in lakes and rivers. Catfish: Freshwater: Everfall, Brightwood, Cutlass Keys, Great Cleave, Reekwater, Shattered Mountain:Saltwater catfish is poisonous due to the fact that it has very sharp spines on its back that secrete poison or venom. The blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 121. Some fish species, like catfish, feed from the bottom, but also spend time at different levels. Ken Paulie caught the biggest Flathead Catfish back in 1998, and he still holds the world record, though some question its legitimacy. to bow up on some blue catfish. In home aquariums, they are used to clean the bottom of the aquarium and control algae and detritus build-up. Numerous species from the families Ariidae and Plotosidae, and a few species from among the Aspredinidae and Bagridae, are found in salt water. Lots of big fish congregate in small areas, and if you can pinpoint them on a graph or by other means, chances of catching several trophy fish are superb. Every good inshore angler knows there are just THREE basic things behind consistently catching solid inshore saltwater fish with live bait. The gafftopsail catfish ( Bagre marinus) is one of the two most common species of saltwater catfish, the other being the hardhead catfish (Ariopsis felis), found in the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea from as far south as Panama and as far north as Cape Cod. If you are wondering how big saltwater catfish get, they stay fairly small. Although they start very small when sold at the fish store, these catfish can grow up to a few feet long in the wild. There are 2 main types of catfish in saltwater. They typically grow to about 18 inches in length and can be caught using light tackle and line. Some live much longer however. 6 ounces and was caught in the Cooper River by Paul Daniels of Hanahan. Fifty- to 80-pound mono leader is advisable. Cobia, with an average length of three to four feet, have a torpedo-shaped body. 9) The 280-Pounder. species often known simply as bullheads: Black Bullhead: 8 pounds, 2 ounces, caught by Frank Piazza at Massapequa Lake on Long Island, New York, in 2015. Catfish do indeed have bones. Size: 50 Retrieve: 5. One increases your chances of scoring a big fish, while the other improves your odds of snagging a rare fish. Hotspots. The dorsal and pectoral fins have sharp, venomous serrated spines. Cory catfish species vary in size, but none grow very large. White Hake: 41 pounds, 7 ounces, caught in 1989 by Wayne Eble off of Barnegat Light. The biggest steelhead trout caught in Oregon was a 35 pound 8 ounce trout caught on the Columbia River (probably a summer-runner). 75 pounds. Eugene Cronley broke a state record that had stood for 25 years. Most anglers hate having to take the time to deal. 1. The belly of the hardhead is silver to white. The Blue Catfish has a deeply forked tail and typically has a bluish-gray body above, fading to white on its sides and belly. What Are Saltwater Catfish? Are there saltwater catfish? There are a few species of catfish that live in saltwater. There are very few saltwater fish as famous as the Clownfish. The catfish’s main bone is in the upper part of its body, and the smaller bones are joined on both sides. A 15-year-old Missourian caught the fish of his dreams during a mid-August outing on the Missouri River with his father, boating a 108-pound blue catfish that some say is the. Of all the commonly known catfish species, the flathead surely takes the prize of Top Ugly. However, most blue catfish are not sexually mature until they reach about 24 inches in length. The Hardhead. 5 meters long and weighs more than 21. Although they are typically thought of as an inshore species, they can be caught in the surf as well. 5-pound, former world-record blue cat. usgs. 75That means ensuring tackle boxes are stocked with the best hooks for catfish. 5 – 34. We rounded up the best catfish baits to help you land more fish this year. When it comes to identifying a hardhead, they are easy to distinguish from a gafftopsail catfish. His fish is 30 pounds heavier than the next biggest catfish. Bumblebee Catfish. 8 kilo - 17. Their teeth are curved inwards to help them keep prey in their jaws. Here are 10 of the biggest alligator gar ever caught. The rod length when extended in either 5-feet or 6-feet. Sexual maturity is reached in two or three years in captivity, whereas data from natural populations indicates channel catfish in Texas reach sexual maturity in 3-6 years. World Record Line. 3-5lbs. If you are wondering how big. Largest on record: 8 feet, 10 inches | 646 pounds. This means that catfish can grow much faster in warm waters than in cold waters. Ken Paulie has the current all-tackle world record, with a 123-pound flathead caught May 19 1998, from Elk City Reservoir in Independence, Kansas. This unique species of catfish is a South American native. Date: May 20, 1961. For the most part, catfish are not picky eaters. Stink bait is just one of the man-made lures used to catch catfish. Fishing. Prefilled with quality. There are two species of catfish commonly caught in coastal waters of Texas: the gafftop and sea catfish, more commonly known as hardhead. Often recognized for its excellent saltwater fishing,. The right mix of those creates the best catfish rods. Raymond Houtmans Date of capture: July 9, 1988 Bait: live catfish Time of battle: one hour, 5. Perhaps their most recognized traits are their catlike whiskers, or barbells, and their lack of visible scales. Spanning 467,000 acres, it’s also Florida’s largest lake. 75 lbs. Aquarium Fish Depot has one of the largest selections of saltwater and freshwater aquarium fish including amazing array of aquatic pets of all kinds. The Biggest Saltwater Fish Ever Caught was a 2,664 pound Great White Shark The record was set in 1959 by Alfred Dean off the coast of Ceduna, Australia. Hayes caught his record fish on July 9, 1955 while trolling a lure in Dale Hollow Reservoir, Tennessee, USA. Angler Steve Oudomsouk caught the 57-inch long fish at the San Vicente Reservoir on July 24, 2008. The big boys will turn their nose up at frozen bait,” he says. Courtesy of MADCAT / Instagram. Species: Flathead catfish. Most authorities now give the crown of the largest catfish to the Mekong giant catfish, Pangasianodon gigas, which is also considered the heaviest completely freshwater fish. Josh Jorgensen, the presenter of YouTube’s largest saltwater fishing show, hosted three absolutely massive men off the coast of. [26] Blue catfish are highly productive and create high numbers of offspring each reproductive cycle. On February 15, 1976, angler Edward Walbel caught a 13-pound and 1-ounce largemouth bass at Stone Quarry Lake, the largest ever caught in Illinois. IGFA. Rod. However, little do they know; blues are the largest and most migratory North American catfish species. Switch to artificial lures. The Biggest Saltwater Fish Ever Caught was a 2,664 pound Great White Shark The record was set in 1959 by Alfred Dean off the coast of Ceduna, Australia. The Biggest Saltwater Fish Ever Caught was a 2,664 pound Great White Shark The record was set. Reportedly, the biggest ever recorded weighed 317 pounds and stretched 9 feet, 1 inch and came out of the Po Delta in Italy. The vast majority of catfish live in freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes, and ponds. The all-tackle world record Eurasian catfish was caught July 4, 1997 by angler Shoji Matsuura from Lake Biwa in Shiga, Japan. Similarly, the Wels catfish, a popular European species, has been documented to live. Most are mature by the time they reach 12 inches in length. The most common saltwater catfish species are the hardhead catfish (Ariopsis felis) and the gafftopsail catfish (Bagre marinus). 2 pounds. Lavon Nowling just reeled in the biggest catfish ever recorded in the state of Florida. Emerald Catfish. Bluefish. ”. Dave Chermanski. Picture. King Mackerel – 54 lbs. Spool up enough leader to allow a turn or two. If you’re targeting the biggest, strongest fish in deep water, this is the reel you want. But the monster of this group is the Mekong catfish of southeast Asia weighing in at over 600 pounds. That’s why. Best Overall: Berkley PowerBait Catfish Bait Chunks. White Sturgeon. Weighing in at 37 pounds, 14 ounces, the cat measured 46. A giant freshwater stingray, named Boramy by researchers, was. 0:32. You're looking at a tank. The largest lake trout in Connecticut weighed almost 30 pounds! The upper half of the body is a silvery bluish-green or brown color, while the underside is mostly white. Simply, these are amongst the very best catfish rods money can buy, (Image credit: Gen 3 Warrior Cat Bumping Rod) 7. Eel Tail Catfish. An Italian angler may have broken the world record for the largest catfish ever caught after reeling in a massive nine-foot catfish. Worms. These fish are normally 12 to 16 inches long and weigh one to 12 pounds. Add the fillets to the pan and cook your fish fry till the meat turns opaque. Joshua Jones Sr. If a creature attacks a saltwater catfish, it will raise its spines and try to sting its attacker. Fisherman reels in massive catfish that could break a world record. Yes, the saltwater hardhead catfish is edible. First,. A sting can cause nausea and leave you feeling lightheaded. Channel catfish, black crappie, walleye and striped bass are all popular catches. Striped bass is our most sought-after species, providing great sport through catch and release fishing and great eating when you catch a “keeper”. Food Habits: Crayfish, frogs, fish or insects. 010, saltwater as adults (1. Lake Okeechobee. This next species is the largest catfish species in North America. Alessandro Biancardi, with from the MADCAT ITALY team, shocked the whole catfish world with a massive 9-foot-long, 330-pound catfish caught in the Po River. They perform well suspended under bobbers or resting on the bottom behind a sinker. 54 kg (10.