Fish guide
Hardhead Catfish (hazard)
Ariopsis felis. Also called Hardhead, Sea catfish.
Bait thief and spine hazard.
Showing the fish for Nature Coast and Big Bend, FL.
Season in Big Bend
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
LSU seasonal pattern; FWC pier and bridge note. (Our inference)
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
Legal to keep; seldom eaten (LSU).
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 FL limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before you keep a fish.
Sources
- LSU / Louisiana Sea Grant, Louisiana Fisheries: sea (hardhead) catfish (Official source)
- Florida FWC species profile: hardhead catfish (Official source)
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: hardhead catfish (Arius felis) (Official source)
- Florida Museum, Florida fishes gallery: hardhead catfish (Official source)