The Ultimate Catfish Spawning Quiz

Catfish mature at around three or four years of age, although females may mature sooner and some can take six years. Most catfish are sexually mature once they reach a length of about 12 inches (5 centimeters).

The male builds a nest and then lures a female there to spawn. The female's only responsibility is to lay eggs in the nest.

The female catfish lays a mound of sticky yellow eggs held together by matrix tissue. The male fertilizes the eggs after the female finishes laying them.

The male drives the female from the nest once the eggs are fertilized, as he prefers to guard the eggs himself.

Catfish eggs take from six to 10 days to hatch. During this time, the male catfish eats almost nothing while he protects and aerates the eggs by waving his fins.

Spawning season is not generally the best time fish for catfish, as males do not eat much and females are preoccupied during spawning. It is best to wait until after the short spawn to go after catfish.

Catfish will generally wait to spawn until the water temperature reaches at least 66 degrees Fahrenheit (19C). Blue and Channel catfish wait until water temperature reaches at least 70 Fahrenheit.

According to Maryland Fish facts, Flathead catfish prefer the water temperatures to range from 66 F to 75 F (18.8C to 23.8C) when they spawn.

Spawning jars have been used since the 1950s to hatch catfish eggs and big soft drink bottles make good inexpensive spawning jars. In order for the eggs to survive the matrix has to be dissolved so individual eggs can get adequate water circulation.

You will see dark or black spots on juveniles or small adults. You may want to toss these fish back and let them mature enough to span thus helping to ensure a good population.

Brown bullhead catfish are found in fresh waters of eastern and central North America, from the Maritime Provinces to Florida, and westward to southern Saskatchewan, Missouri, and Texas. In Atlantic Canada where water rarely reaches ideal spawning temperatures, the brown bullhead exists only in New Brunswick and mainland Nova Scotia.

According to catfishingmag.com, catfish can live to be about 14 years old. The oldest Canadian catfish ever caught was estimated to be about 24 years old.

In the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay system, channel catfish will spawn between 2,000 to 21,000 eggs. White catfish only lay about 1,000 to 4,000 eggs.

Catfish prefer to nest in secluded dark cavities. Some examples are spaces under stones, between stones, undercut banks, hollow logs, and below heaps of debris from overhanging woods.

During spawning season catfish, migrate into tributaries because they warm up faster than larger bodies of water. Tributary mouths are a great location to catch catfish that are going to spawn or returning to a lake.

Catfish taste food with external taste buds located on their distinctive whiskers. They are bottom feeders that feed at night so catfish use their whiskers to find food in dark, muddy water.

Barbels are soft whiskers that are part of a catfish’s sensory glands and are not dangerous. Catfish possess three very sharp spines that can cut or puncture a person if they are not careful.

Bait casting is a popular way to catch a catfish. You will need a revolving spool reel that is placed on the top side of your fishing rod.

Bait casting requires larger and heavier lures that you cast a long distance. Make sure that the rod you use has adequate spring action and use a line with 10 to 15 pound test.

The current record for a catfish landed while sport fishing was in Georgia and weighed 32 pounds (14.5 kilos). A blue catfish, however, can weigh as much as 100 pounds.