Fish guide
Hardhead Catfish (hazard)
Ariopsis felis. Also called Hardhead, Sea catfish.
Bait thief and spine hazard; listed for identification.
Showing the fish for Southwest Florida, Naples to Charlotte Harbor.
Season in Southwest Florida
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
LSU: moves to deeper water in winter, spawns May to September in shallow bays. FWC: commonly caught from bridges, catwalks and piers in passes and waterways. (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
Bridges, catwalks and piers in passes and waterways (FWC).
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 in Florida; LSU calls it very good table fare though seldom eaten.
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)