Adult flatheads are opportunistic feeders, and it eats only other fishes like gizzard shad, bullheads, and carp. It ambushes its prey by waiting for it undercover-the fish usually feed at night. What do Flathead Catfish Eat?įlathead catfish are predators. Nicknames are not uncommon due to their appearance, also known as the mud or yellow catfish.
Just like the other catfish, flatheads too come with sharp and heavy dorsal and pectoral spines. It tapers to a whitish or lighter mottling on its belly. Because it varies with the environment, usually, it is mottled with different brown sides with yellowish on the sides. Compared to the other catfish species, this one has an anal fin short along the base. The lower jaw sticks out further than the upper, which further accentuates the head. As they near a medium to large size, they establish a potbelly. Other than having a flat head, it has a forked tail and a relatively long body. One common ingredient is good water quality seems to help the bigger ones grow.įlathead catfish have a distinctive appearance, and you cannot confuse them with other fish species, and we’ll cover that here. A 70 lb flat could be 40 or 50 years old, 123-pound fish could be older, but it could merely be in a fishery with more food. Flathead catfish reach sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 6 and have an average life span of 20 years. In some southern rivers and reservoirs, cats have grown as much as 30 pounds in 10 years. Monster cats grow upward of 10 pounds a year. However, adults can reach three to four feet in length and weigh over 100 pounds well on another day, becoming a record.įlatheads put on 2-5 pounds a year between 3 and 8 years old. Usually, it weighs around 10-15 pounds when it is young. We will cover everything you need to know about the iconic flat! How much does a flathead catfish grow per year?įlatheads are one of the fastest-growing fish in the country except for grass carp. Flathead catfish is crucial for recreational and commercial use and often done at night.
You will find them giving a good fight on the hook and line.
However, it is one of the ugliest freshwater catfish clan members because of its larger sizes. Flathead catfish is a much larger and common fish species.