What giants have you heard of being caught in fla
- Thread starter chugger
- Start date
Here's a mixed list of native and non-native Florida catfish:
WALKING CATFISH (Clarias batrachus)
RANGE ? Most commonly encountered in Everglades and associated canals, but also occurs throughout central and south Florida; first reported in 1967 in Broward County and later in Hillsborough County, now these two populations have joined; abundance has decreased since 1970. Native range southeast Asia
To 20" and 3lbs.
SAILFIN CATFISH (Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus)
RANGE ? The sailfin catfish is by far the most successful, abundant, and widespread loricariid in Florida, and is found throughout central and south Florida. Although the suckermouth catfish (Hypostomus sp.) has been in Florida since the 1950s, it is not widespread, being found primarily in Miami-Dade and Hillsborough counties. The vermiculated catfish is occasionally found in central Florida, including Six-Mile Creek in Hillsborough County and the St. John?s River. Native range for all loricariids is South America.
Grow to more than 20 inches and weights of 3.0 pounds.
BROWN HOPLO (Hoplosternum littorale)
RANGE ? First documented in the Indian River Lagoon system in 1995; now found throughout central and south Florida from the St. John?s River to Lake Trafford. Native to eastern South America.
Rarely exceeds 10 inches.
CHANNEL CATFISH (Ictalurus punctatus)
Range - Found throughout the state, except in the Florida Keys.
State Record: 44.50 pounds, caught in Lake Bluff, Lake County, in 1985.
BLUE CATFISH (Ictalurus furcatus)
Range - Originally found in the Escambia and Yellow rivers in northwest Florida, they are now also in the Apalachicola and Suwannee. Blues were first officially recorded in 1990 by Florida Game and Fresh Water Commission biologists despite reports that anglers had been catching blues for many years.
State Record: 61.5 pounds, caught in the Escambia River, Escambia County, in 1996.
WHITE CATFISH (Ameiurus catus)
Range - In Florida, they are found statewide in rivers and streams and in slightly brackish coastal waters.
State Record: 18.88 pounds, caught in the Withlacoochee River, Marion County, Florida, in 1991.
YELLOW BULLHEAD (Ameiurus natalis)
Range - Occurs statewide.
Usually between 1 and 3 pounds.
BROWN BULLHEAD (Ameiurus nebulosus)
Range - Throughout Florida, except in the extreme southern part of the state.
To 5 pounds.
FLATHEAD CATFISH (Pylodictis olivaris)
Range - The distribution of flatheads in Florida is limited. Populations of notable size are found in the Apalachicola and Escambia rivers in the Florida Panhandle.
State Record: 48.4 pounds, caught in the Escambia River, Santa Rosa County, in 2000.
WALKING CATFISH (Clarias batrachus)
RANGE ? Most commonly encountered in Everglades and associated canals, but also occurs throughout central and south Florida; first reported in 1967 in Broward County and later in Hillsborough County, now these two populations have joined; abundance has decreased since 1970. Native range southeast Asia
To 20" and 3lbs.
SAILFIN CATFISH (Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus)
RANGE ? The sailfin catfish is by far the most successful, abundant, and widespread loricariid in Florida, and is found throughout central and south Florida. Although the suckermouth catfish (Hypostomus sp.) has been in Florida since the 1950s, it is not widespread, being found primarily in Miami-Dade and Hillsborough counties. The vermiculated catfish is occasionally found in central Florida, including Six-Mile Creek in Hillsborough County and the St. John?s River. Native range for all loricariids is South America.
Grow to more than 20 inches and weights of 3.0 pounds.
BROWN HOPLO (Hoplosternum littorale)
RANGE ? First documented in the Indian River Lagoon system in 1995; now found throughout central and south Florida from the St. John?s River to Lake Trafford. Native to eastern South America.
Rarely exceeds 10 inches.
CHANNEL CATFISH (Ictalurus punctatus)
Range - Found throughout the state, except in the Florida Keys.
State Record: 44.50 pounds, caught in Lake Bluff, Lake County, in 1985.
BLUE CATFISH (Ictalurus furcatus)
Range - Originally found in the Escambia and Yellow rivers in northwest Florida, they are now also in the Apalachicola and Suwannee. Blues were first officially recorded in 1990 by Florida Game and Fresh Water Commission biologists despite reports that anglers had been catching blues for many years.
State Record: 61.5 pounds, caught in the Escambia River, Escambia County, in 1996.
WHITE CATFISH (Ameiurus catus)
Range - In Florida, they are found statewide in rivers and streams and in slightly brackish coastal waters.
State Record: 18.88 pounds, caught in the Withlacoochee River, Marion County, Florida, in 1991.
YELLOW BULLHEAD (Ameiurus natalis)
Range - Occurs statewide.
Usually between 1 and 3 pounds.
BROWN BULLHEAD (Ameiurus nebulosus)
Range - Throughout Florida, except in the extreme southern part of the state.
To 5 pounds.
FLATHEAD CATFISH (Pylodictis olivaris)
Range - The distribution of flatheads in Florida is limited. Populations of notable size are found in the Apalachicola and Escambia rivers in the Florida Panhandle.
State Record: 48.4 pounds, caught in the Escambia River, Santa Rosa County, in 2000.
go here and scroll down..you will find all the common and links showing others reported caught but not established such as rtc,shovelnoses ect..
http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/non-native.html
http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/non-native.html
Man oddball that's one hell of A RESPONSE! Good Report. When I was in Miami fishing/collecting with Dieselmack we caught walking catfish, oscars, jaguar cichlids, gars,peacock bass, largemouthbass, talipia,Mines?, and whole mess others! DM and his friend Chad are pros down there!!!