Description of Flathead Catfish
The flathead catfish has a broad, flat head, with a lower jaw
protruding beyond the upper jaw. Its back and sides are brown to yellow, with
black-to olive-brown mottling, fading to a dirty white or yellow belly. Inside
the mouth on the upper jaw, it has a large tooth plate with backward extensions
on each end.
Flathead catfish are native to the river basins of the Gulf of Mexico, such
as the Mississippi River Basin. Although native to the New River and several
other river basins in North Carolina, they have been introduced to many river
basins that flow to the Atlantic Ocean, such as the Neuse, Yadkin and Cape Fear.
They are most common in large rivers and lakes where they often inhabit deep,
slow stretches near submerged logs, brush, rip rap and underwater piles of
debris.
protruding beyond the upper jaw. Its back and sides are brown to yellow, with
black-to olive-brown mottling, fading to a dirty white or yellow belly. Inside
the mouth on the upper jaw, it has a large tooth plate with backward extensions
on each end.
Flathead catfish are native to the river basins of the Gulf of Mexico, such
as the Mississippi River Basin. Although native to the New River and several
other river basins in North Carolina, they have been introduced to many river
basins that flow to the Atlantic Ocean, such as the Neuse, Yadkin and Cape Fear.
They are most common in large rivers and lakes where they often inhabit deep,
slow stretches near submerged logs, brush, rip rap and underwater piles of
debris.
Flathead Catfish
This Particular catfish was caught in the New River on a friends river lot. This cat was caught on a trot line we had stretched across the river, the bait was a live bluegill.