Fish guide
Sea Catfish (hazard)
Hardhead and gafftopsail catfish.
Not prohibited in Florida; listed for identification (venomous spines).
Showing the fish for Tampa Bay and Sarasota, FL.
Season in Tampa Bay
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
JFMAMJJASOND
Same as hardhead-catfish. (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 (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; seldom eaten (LSU).
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.