Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

I caught this catfish this morning in South West Florida in a freshwater canal.  This is the first time I have ever seen red fins on a catfish.  Is this normal or is this some kind of catfish disease. Any help would be greatly appreciated..

Views: 2644

Attachments:

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Yes...it's a fine bullhead, either a black or a brown. Colors of these twp species can vary from one body of water to the next. Black bullheads tend to have white bellies and brown and yellow bullheads have yellow underbellys.

Nice feeesh!

It looks like some kind of Bullhead, and if so it is a dandy! I am saying this based on the shape of it's head, and kinda rounded off tail. I have caught them with bloody looking fins but never did know what made them that way. 

I never realized there were freshwater fish in Florida.

There's a lot of freshwater in Florida.  The problem is finding a spot to fling a worm that from that somebodys not already built a house or condo on!

Hahaha! I've caught bass in drainage ponds in Florida!
Roadside ditches? Oh yeah.
Golf course water? Yep.
Small creeks and backwaters? Of course.
I wish I'd had a kayak, back then. Park the truck, toss her in and go.

And here, I was thinking it was a small Flathead, due to the coloration and the squared-off tail.  Did you get a good look at the tooth pads in the mouth?  On bullheads, the sides of the tooth pads are square with the lips.  On a Flathead, the ends of the tooth pads angle back, giving the tooth pads a really funky look.  This is probably the best way to tell a juvenile Flathead from a decent Bullhead.

BTW, nice fish!  Bullheads here in OK rarely get more than 8" long.  I think all the Flatheads eat them.

I've never seen red fins like that on cats that I bring home.  That's probably because I cut their blood vessels between the heart of gills when I put them on ice.  I do that at the first available gas station after I leave the water.

last time I remember reading on catfish species, bullheads don't get that big?

I caught one (a bullhead) back in the early 90's that weighed 2 lbs even on a 10' little jewel telescopic, while gill fishing off a dock . I had more than my hands full with that one, as it was my personal best bullhead. I wish I still had a picture of that one to post.  

The record is something like 7 pounds?
Depends on the species and location. I've seen em that go 2-3 pounds.
But you're right, in that most don't get bigger than a frying pan (hint, hint)...

RSS

Latest Activity

John Sheehan posted photos
5 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Joe’s Personal Best Yellow Perch….11/3/2024

"Thanks Tracy……I was very glad that my son-in-law got this bite….he has been…"
yesterday
tracy willis commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
yesterday
John Sheehan posted photos
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

A Flock of Ibis Roost on a Duck Blind Near Back Bay, North Carolina….11/5/2024

These birds pass through and feed in the shallow marshes….cold weather will push them south…but we…
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Joe’s Personal Best Yellow Perch….11/3/2024

"Thanks Bruce ….Joe was very excited to get his hands on this perch……I started…"
Tuesday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Joe’s Personal Best Yellow Perch….11/3/2024

"Thanks Dick….fish like this give you motivation to make a few more casts even on a very…"
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Few More Gills From Today…..11/3/2024

"Thanks Dick…..it’s slowing like you would expect in the Fall….but with…"
Tuesday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Joe’s Personal Best Yellow Perch….11/3/2024

"Wow, I'd take them all day long."
Monday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Few More Gills From Today…..11/3/2024

"Looks like your still into some great fish Jeffrey."
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Joe’s Personal Best Yellow Perch….11/3/2024

"Thanks John….Joe was very excited to see this fish…..I had just said we should see a…"
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

IMPKLICKER p

"oh Brown Bullheads too"
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Joe and I faced a strong northeast wind at first light this morning, mixed bag totaling 37 fish including Joe’s personal best Yellow Perch.."
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

ocsj

"Nice crappie on the squirrel tail……"
Sunday
John Sheehan posted a photo

ocsj

Another Squirrel Tail/Spin Jig Crappie.
Sunday

© 2024   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service