 WHITE CATFISH
Scientific Name: Ameiurus catus
Identification
A
member of the bullhead group of catfishes, the white catfish
is usually blue-gray above, fading to gray on sides
with a white belly. It has a moderately forked tail with rounded
ends, and its upper jaw extends slightly beyond the lower. The
white catfish is sometimes mistaken for the channel
catfish, but
the white
catfish has a much wider head and lacks black spots on its sides.
Habitats and Habits
Unlike flathead and blue catfish, white catfish are native to rivers and streams
that flow to the Atlantic Ocean.
They can also be found in the French Broad and Pigeon rivers,
although they may have been stocked in these Tennessee River tributaries.
While quite common, white catfish are often overlooked. This
may
be in part to their small size compared to flathead, blue and
channel catfish. However, these fish are aggressive feeders and
have a
tendency to feed more during the daytime than other catfish.
Fishing Techniques
White
catfish make excellent table fare, and anglers can catch them
using many of the same methods for other catfish.
Worms, minnows, scented baits and hellgrammites fished on or near
the bottom work well.
Good Places to
Fish
White catfish
can be found in lakes and rivers in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
In the Piedmont, the impoundments
on the Yadkin and Catawba rivers are popular places to fish, while
the Tar, Roanoke and Chowan rivers have good numbers in the Coastal
Plain.
NCARP Minimum
Requirements: 4
pounds or 21 inches
State
Record:
13 pounds from Lake James, May 21, 1990
World
Record: 19 lbs., 5 oz. from Oakdale, Ca., May 7, 2005*
* Anglers
provide information on their potential world-record catches directly
to the International
Game Fish Association, which maintains the world records
for sport fishing.
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