Studies indicate 14 years as the maximum age, but some fish probably live 15 to 20 years. Sporting Qualities — Most channels are caught by bottom fishing with baits such as dried chicken blood, chicken livers or gizzards, and nightcrawlers.
They prefer dead or prepared stinkbaits to live bait, but at times will take live minnows and lures such as spinners and jigs. Strong fighters with good endurance, they are frequently caught on trotlines. Since channel catfish can also be taken by commercial fishermen, except where stocked by the Commission, they are not legally classified as sportfish. Note: Channel catfish are reared at Commission hatcheries and stocked in many managed areas, such as urban ponds, Commission-managed impoundments and selected fish management areas.
Often in these areas, the Commission provides automatic fish feeders to help increase the growth rate of catfish, bullhead and bream and also to concentrate fish for angler harvest. Eating Quality — Considered one of the best-eating freshwater fish. The meat is white, tender and sweet when taken from clean water. Florida aquaculturists and commercial anglers provide these fish to markets and seafood restaurants throughout the state.
Appealing to the keen sense of smell and taste could turn a so-so day into a memorable event. The state record blue catfish came out of the Choctawhatchee River.
The state record white catfish came out of the Withlacoochee River. There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. Soft jerkbaits and topwater frogs are a must when fishing these areas. Although topwater baits can catch fish throughout the year, summer months offer the best action when the bass are very aggressive.
Summertime is also the best time to target bass on the FWC fish attractors using spinnerbaits and Carolina-rigged soft plastics. Fish all around the orange and white buoys because the attractors are spread over a large area but be careful to avoid getting hung up on them if you plan to anchor while you fish. Fishing for black crappie or specks can also be very rewarding on Lake Weohyakapka as there are plenty of nice fish swimming around for the determined angler.
Most anglers prefer to spend their time in open water trolling or drifting minnows, jigs and spinners for crappie. Good numbers and some quality fish are caught in deeper 10 ft areas of the lake during the cooler months and in shoreline vegetation bulrush, knotgrass and maidencane during the spring spawning season. Missouri minnows fished under corks or on small jig heads, as well as Hal-Flies and small spinners, are excellent for catching crappie near dense vegetation such as bulrush, cattail or Kissimmee grass.
Seven fish attractor locations were refurbished with artificial brush in December and should concentrate plenty of fish for anglers offshore. Use caution if you plan to anchor when fishing around the buoys to avoid getting hung up on the attractors which are anchored on the lake bottom.
Lake Weohyakapka also has a relatively unknown catfish fishery. There are some nice size white and channel catfish lurking around the lake. A smaller, but just as tasty, cousin which also occupies the lake is the brown bullhead.
They are very abundant and often roam around in large schools. Anglers should try fishing the mouths of creeks coming into the lake if water is flowing or around man-made canals. Slow drifting the deeper open water areas can also be productive as well during certain times of the year.
The best baits to use are chicken liver, frozen shrimp, live worms or commercial stink baits fished on or near the lake bottom. Over the eight completed seasons of TrophyCatch, Lake Okeechobee is one of the top 5 waters for qualifying submissions.
With a total surface area over , acres and over , acres of littoral and marsh habitat, there is lots of lake to explore, which can make it both challenging and productive. If there is one bait that gets talked about year in and year out it is the Gambler Big EZ.
A healthy wild shiner is always a good bet too. Crappie fishing is also top notch right now. The strong spawn of is grown up and providing anglers great fishing. Always a strong producer of white and channel catfish, it is not uncommon for a million pounds of catfish to be harvested annually. Skip to main content. Report Issues Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc. Go Outdoors Florida! About Catfish Catfish Top Spots The following areas were selected by Florida's freshwater fisheries biologists as being the most likely to be highly productive during for channel , flathead , blue , and white catfish , and yellow and brown bullhead.
Most of the larger catfish are found in the northern portion of the river within deep bends and holes or where large woody debris is present. Try live bream on the bottom for flatheads up to 30 pounds. Stink baits or nightcrawlers fished on the bottom will do the trick for channels. The Escambia River generates quality opportunities for blue, channel and flathead catfish. Fishing for channel catfish and big flatheads peaks from April through October. The best stretch lies from the Alabama line to the I Bridge.
Savvy anglers will fish live bream on the bottom for big flatheads and stink baits or nightcrawlers for channel cats. The St. Try the hole on the north side of Buffalo Bluff Bridge, but bring plenty of hooks and weights because there are many snags.
The Ochlocknee River offers excellent fishing for bullhead, channel, flathead and white catfish. The best angling begins in April for flathead catfish and mid-May into early summer for channel cats.
Both channels and flatheads will continue to bite until the water turns cold in October or November. Small catfish can be readily caught throughout the year, but fishing slows down in colder months.
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