Altamaha Flatheads

Post by **Ken K** » January 10th, 2003, 11:24 am

Most everybody up here calls them Yellow Cats.

Dewey, you don't think they are native to the Flint?

Cranfield, have you ever had fried catfish on your trips to the States?

dewyafish · Post by **dewyafish** » January 10th, 2003, 11:42 am

They are NOT a native species.
I was told by a fisheries biologist the only reason the population doesn't explode and they haven't decimated the sunfish population is the flint is relatively small and gets a lot of fishing pressure from anglers, legal and illegal.
They are even caught commercially here.
There is a restaurant close to shoalbrothers house that has them as the house specialty.
I plan on targeting some very soon.
I'll let you know how it goes.

Post by **CSMarine** » January 10th, 2003, 12:08 pm

Official Name; PYLODICTUS OLIVARUS. Common names; Appaloosa, Appaluchion, Flat Belly Cat, Goujon, Mississippi Cat, Mud Cat, North American Flathead, Shoval Head Cat, Tabby Catfish, and Yellow cat to name a few.
Take your choice Cran.

dewyafish · Post by **dewyafish** » January 10th, 2003, 12:42 pm

Good job CSMarine.
Does your source have the history and ranges of the species??

Post by **Cranfield** » January 10th, 2003, 1:15 pm

Ken, we have eaten catfish on our visits, its one of my wife,s favourite fish.
Some places advertised that their catfish was "farmed", others claimed "locally caught".
I like most fish, but I especially enjoyed the mullet I tried.

Post by **CSMarine** » January 10th, 2003, 2:04 pm

Can't find anyone who knows where they originated. They now inhabit waters from Minnesota south to North Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and northern Mexico, and east to Pennsylvania. They have also been introduced in waters west of the Rocky Mountains.

Post by **Ken K** » January 10th, 2003, 2:26 pm

OK, supposedly they are only native to the Mississippi River drainage. Pretty much everything between the Rockies and Appalachians.

Post by **CSMarine** » January 10th, 2003, 3:02 pm

Native to the Mississippi basin, but now spread out through most of the country. (kinda like armadillos I guess) I've been told the Flatheads were not introduced to the Altamaha until the 1950's.

dewyafish · Post by **dewyafish** » January 10th, 2003, 4:19 pm

I've heard the same.

mrmike · Post by **mrmike** » January 14th, 2003, 9:44 am

I'm looking for any members of the Altamaha Catfish Club or anyone else who regularly targets catfish in GA. We are currently testing some Fishbites Freshwater Catfish baits and are looking for some folks who'd like to give them a test cast and evaluation. These baits are prototypes and are continuously being tweaked.

If interested please shoot me an email

mrmike@fishbites.com

Tight lines and safe journeys!!

Post by **wevans** » January 14th, 2003, 10:15 am

You guys&gals need ta jump on this oppertunity

I have tried to test the freshwater baits when possible, but I am having a problem staying out of the saltwater

These things need ta be tested by some folks who do some serious freshwater fishin

And I can tell ya that workin with Mike and Dr. Carr is just iceing on the cake!

dewyafish · Post by **dewyafish** » January 14th, 2003, 10:51 am

I'm game!!!!
Never afraid to try something new.

BigBendFishing.Net

Altamaha Flatheads

Fishbites is looking for catfish anglers to test new bait!