Fish guide
Hardhead Catfish (hazard)
Ariopsis felis. Also called Hardhead, Sea catfish.
Bait thief with venomous, barbed spines. Listed so you can identify it; not a target. In South Carolina sea catfish possession is prohibited.
We picked these fish for Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay mouth, VA, the region closest to Columbus, Ohio, based on the approximate location of your internet connection (IP geolocation, looked up on our own server). It is about 436 miles away; FishOS covers the coast from Maine to Florida and the Gulf of America, and adds regions as they are checked. Pick another region if that is not where you fish.
FishOS has not charted hardhead catfish (hazard) in Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay mouth, VA. The regions where it is charted are below.
Season by region
| Space Coast | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Southeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Southwest Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Tampa Bay | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Big Bend | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Panhandle | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Alabama | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Mississippi | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Louisiana | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Upper Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Middle Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Lower Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
On the bottom near piers, bridges and muddy bays; often thick in dirty surf.
Bottom; finds crabs, fish and shrimp with its barbels (TPWD).
What to look for
Repeated bait theft on bottom rigs.
Bait
Any natural bait (shrimp, cut fish, squid). .
Leader
Common mistakes
- Grabbing it by hand or stepping on it; the spines go through shoes (TPWD)
Landing
Swing it up or slide it in, then control it with pliers.
Handling
- Sharp, barbed dorsal and pectoral spines coated in mildly toxic slime; a puncture causes severe pain and swelling
Hold it with pliers, never by hand and never with your foot: TPWD says tennis shoes or leather soles are not enough protection. Cut the line if you cannot unhook it safely.
Keep or release
In South Carolina, release immediately (sea catfish possession prohibited). Elsewhere check the regulations file. TPWD: edible but not very tasty and difficult to clean.
Typical: About 10 in and half a pound (TPWD). Large: 2 lb or more. Texas record 3.3 lb, 19 in (1997).
Limits
FishOS has not checked the VA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission before you keep a fish.
Sources
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: hardhead catfish (Arius felis) (Official source)
- Florida Museum, Florida fishes gallery: hardhead catfish (Official source)