Fish guide
Sea Catfish (hazard)
Hardhead and gafftopsail catfish.
Not prohibited in the Gulf states as it is in SC; listed for identification because of the venomous spines. See hardhead-catfish and gafftopsail-catfish.
Showing the fish for Southwest Florida, Naples to Charlotte Harbor.
Season in Southwest Florida
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Same as hardhead-catfish (the existing combined id covers hardhead and gafftopsail); LSU seasonal pattern. (Our inference)
Season by region
| 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.
Handling
- Venomous, serrated dorsal and pectoral spines
Do not grab it. Pin it with a towel or your foot, unhook with long pliers, or cut the line.
Keep or release
Legal to keep in Florida. LSU calls hardhead very good table fare, though seldom eaten.
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.