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Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on November 13, 2014 at 6:11pm

SC on the flathead catfish:

"The flathead catfish is an introduced species to South Carolina. Its native range is in the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri river basins. Since its introduction into the Santee-Cooper Reservoir, flatheads have become established in nearly every reservoir or river system in the state. The spread of this non-native fish has negatively affected several native species, most notably redbreast sunfish. Although the flathead catfish provides a great sportfishing opportunity, the highly predacious flathead has negatively impacted native species such as bullheads and redbreast sunfish creating ecosystem imbalance. The flathead catfish maintain a solitary existence, usually inhabiting the same site on a daily basis. Like most catfish, the flathead catfish is a nocturnal feeder, becoming more active as light intensity declines. This fish makes excellent table fare. Unlike other catfish species, flatheads are reluctant to take decaying bait and prefer live bait. "

Regulations -
Possession Limit: No statewide limits

Size limit: No statewide length limits

Comment by John Sheehan on November 13, 2014 at 6:07pm

I'm with you Rod , the flathead sounds like a devastating creature!

Comment by Jim Gronaw on November 13, 2014 at 5:50pm

Maryland currently has an invasive specie classification on flatheads where as 10 years ago there wasn't likely a single flathead in the state.

The Upper Chesapeake region , Susquehanna River, NorthEast River, Elk and the non-tidal Potomac above Washington DC have fishable populations...even world class in the Susky on up into PA where it is believed they were transplanted by anglers 10-15 years ago. 30 lbers are quite common and I have seen many pics of 40's and at least one below Conowingo Dam at 54 lbs.

Catch and Kill ethics are encouraged by the MD DNR to assist continuation of native species population. There are tons of RB Sunfish in the Potomac, but numbers may dwindle if the flatheads take a bigger hold of the waterway. Recent electro-shock surveys in the upper Potomac by MD DNR shows an increase in flathead populations, so there is some concern.

Comment by Leo Nguyen on November 13, 2014 at 12:39pm

All good size cats (2 to 15lbs) are great to eat, depending on the waters they're coming out of. We have genetically mutated channel cats from the California aqueducts ranging between 5lbs to monstrous 52lbs, and flathead supersized in the farmland's slurry of dangerous chemicals and manure between 25lbs to 68lbs. These are definitely not good eating, but surely abundant.

However, although our lakes are not the cleanest, the cats between 1lb to 10lbs are truly yummy. We love catching them and make gourmet meals out of them. Anything more than 15lbs, we either give away, or offer to the animals of the land.

Comment by Rod Herington on November 13, 2014 at 12:31pm

Yea, it's hard to unring a bell, or put the genie back into the bottle so to speak. A lot of the ole timers say that the Flat, Snail, and Spotted Bullheads are the best eating Cats. Apparently the Flatheads think so. I go to church with a fella who is originally from the Florida panhandle. He claims those Spotted Bullheads from the blackwater creeks and rivers down there are the very best eating catfish. He often describes them as Butter Cats!

I know the Black Bullheads I catch from a spring fed pond are really good. Tasty rascals! Soaked in buttermilk & rolled in cajun mix they are delicious.

Comment by Jason Preslar on November 13, 2014 at 10:03am

Yadkin River is my neck of the woods and the focus of most of my comments regarding the flathead. Lots less bullheads and redhorse as well. Bummer.

Comment by Rod Herington on November 13, 2014 at 9:57am

Here in Texas Flatheads are native, and are in all the lakes and rivers. When they are present most of the smaller cats disappear. In all honestly you're going to have less of everything. Just throw a couple of big Flatheads in a 2 or 3 acre pond, and see how fast all the fish disappear.

A friend of my did this with a 2 acre pond and within 1 year they ate most the fish in the pond. He couldn't believe it! I couldn't believe it! I read some where that they don't spawn in ponds. These did because we started catching smaller ones. There were some really decent size fish in that pond that became prey. Incredible! It took a while, but we finally got all of them of out of the pond? Anything that moves, or swims through the water is on a Flatheads menu. They are eating machines.

There needs to be more public awareness, and education about them and their impacts to other fisheries. I think Maryland has begun a good campaign to educate people. Hopefully that will continue? Lord willing other states will watch and learn something from their efforts?

This is a quote from a biologist in one of the articles I read.

Biologists speculate that anglers who wanted to increase fishing opportunities for a large and hard-fighting fish in their areas, to slip them in local waters. He said that while it might seem like a good idea to replace a population of small bullheads the result will be less fishing opportunities.

“As a general rule, only 10 percent of the weight of a prey item is converted into body weight of the predator that eats it,” continued Hodges. “If a stretch of river now contains a single Flathead catfish weighing 50 pounds and ate bullheads exclusively, up to 500 pounds of bullheads could have been eaten by that Flathead to grow that big.”

“Taking that scenario one step further, if you assume an average bullhead weighs about half a pound it means that for each 500 pounds of bullheads that are eaten, anglers fishing the Yadkin River are losing opportunities to catch 1,000 half-pound bullheads and replacing them with a chance to catch one trophy-sized Flathead catfish.”

Maybe it's just me? But I would rather have a lot nonstop action for smaller scrappy fish like Redbreast, Bluegills, and Bullheads. Instead of fishing all day for one, or maybe a few big fish. Just saying.....

Comment by Slip Sinker on November 12, 2014 at 11:39am

Here is a great example of just that ... a probable illegal release of a fish that was caught in and native to the adjacent st Josephs river and released into a nearby lake

Michigan man nets 52-pound catfish, a new state record

http://archive.freep.com/article/20140117/NEWS06/301170105/giant-ca...

nice video of the catch also in the article

Comment by Jason Preslar on November 12, 2014 at 11:06am

They are a top shelf predator. Once they've taken root they're there to stay.

Comment by Leo Nguyen on November 12, 2014 at 11:02am

But in reality, it a combination of both. Some waters were stocked with flatheads by private parties, while some are stocked by the governmental agencies, to support the remedial ecosystem, supporting wildlife. Uncontained and uncontrolled, you got issues.

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