Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game says Monson landed a catch-and-release state record with his 33-inch channel catfish. The Channel Catfish is one of America’s most popular gamefish. Catfish have even been known to take Ivory soap as bait and even raw steak.[27]. Channel Catfish Channel catfish are easily distinguished from most catfish by their deeply forked tail fin, except for Blue catfish which are similar. The oldest record — a 55-pound channel catch in South Carolina, 1949 — is approaching 80 years old Michigan's flathead record (70-0) was reportedly caught while ice fishing in channel catfish have focused primarily on inbred lines and farm strains of relevance to the aquaculture of this species. (2011). The previous record holder was E.J. Channel Catfish Channel catfish are easily distinguished from most catfish by their deeply forked tail fin, except for Blue catfish which are similar. For example, earlier studies have compared the genetic diversity of domestic versus wild populations of channel catfish using AFLPs. [24] The latency of swim bladder adaptation after a change in pressure affects hearing and other possible swim bladder functions, presumably making audition more difficult. [17] Changes may be the result of the release of the contents of the club cells. Jakub Vagner Sets Record For The Biggest Devil Catfish Caught ©Photo from The Goonch Catfish In March of 2009, a Goonch catfish was caught in India that weighed a whopping 165 pounds. Channel catfish swim in ponds, rivers, lakes, and creeks making them accessible to anglers across the country.Channel catfish are known for their strong sense of smell, spunky attitude, and delicious flavor. Consequently, sound production via stridulation is an excellent means of underwater communication for channel catfish. [25], Channel catfish are omnivores, and can be caught using a variety of natural and prepared baits, including crickets, nightcrawlers, minnows, shad, freshwater drum, crawfish, frogs, bullheads, sunfish, chicken liver, hot dogs, and suckers. He had his fish weighed on certified scales at Tractor Supply in Biscoe. [20] Unlike the other pectoral fin rays, the individual fin segments of the spine are hypertrophied and fused, except for at the distal tip. [20] Different sounds may be used for different functions in communication, such as in behavior towards predators and in asserting dominance. It measures an amazing 8... Angler Sean Moffett Caught this MASSIVE Channel Catfish on 7/8/17. The channel catfish reference genome sequence was generated alongside genomic sequence data for other scaled and unscaled fish species (other catfishes, the common pleco and southern striped Raphael; also common carp), in order to provide genomic resources and aid understanding of the evolutionary loss of scales in catfishes. Channel Catfish All-Tackle Record: 26.3 kilograms (58 pounds), Santee-Cooper Reservoir, S.C., USA Highly valued for both its food and sporting value, the channel catfish is one of the most popular catfish species in North America. [26] However, the channel catfish must resort instead to stridulation sounds and pectoral spine display for predator avoidance. In addition to communication towards predators, stridulation can be seen as a possible alarm signal to other catfish, in the sense of warning nearby individuals that a predator is near. 1 [19] Stridulation consists of the clicking or grinding of bony parts on the fish's pectoral fins and pectoral girdle, and drumming consists of the contraction of specialized sonic muscles with subsequent reverberation through the swim bladder. The channel catfish is the bread and butter of Kansas fishing. [28] Results from comparative genomics and transcriptomics analyses and experiments involving channel catfish have supported a role for secretory calcium-binding phosphoproteins (SCPP) in scale formation in teleost fishes. 1 The world record channel catfish weighed 58 pounds, and was taken from the Santee-Cooper Reservoir in South Carolina, on July 7, 1964. An unusual method practiced in the Southeastern United States is noodling – catching catfish by hand. [18] However, the swim bladder may still be used to help with audition. Channel catfish often coexist in the same waterways with its close relative, the blue catfish, which is somewhat less common, but tends to grow much larger (with several specimens confirmed to weigh above 100 lb). RALEIGH – It took 50 years and one ounce to break the current state record for a channel catfish, but John Stone, of Pinehurst, now holds the new record after catching a … Paulie’s flathead catfish weighed 123 pounds (55.79 kilograms) and was over 5 feet (1.55 meters) in length. {\displaystyle L_{1}} They have also been introduced into some waters of landlocked Europe (Czech Republic and Romania) and parts of Malaysia and almost as many parts of Indonesia. The popularity of channel catfish for food has contributed to the rapid expansion of aquaculture of this species in the United States. NC Wildlife Resources Commission John Stone of Pinehurst broke the state’s channel catfish record on September 22, 2020, with a fish weighing in at 23 pounds, 5 …

Geno Adams, fisheries program administrator for the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, has been on the receiving end of those emails and phone calls for the last 10 years. Stone caught his fish using cut bait. Channel "cats" are cavity nesters, meaning they lay their eggs in crevices, hollows, or debris, to protect them from swift currents. {\displaystyle L_{1}=45.23} Channel catfish get bigger have narrower heads; sharper forked tails, blackish chin barbels (whiskers) – and have 25 to 28 rays, while a white catfish has 22 to 25 rays. [17] For example, release of an alarm signal will communicate danger, but the individual's recognition odor is only an information signal identifying one fish from another. [17] These fishes are known to produce club cells and alarm substances for communication purposes. Both the fish's habitat and the presence of chemosensory cells covering the body are presumably the results of favored selection for this method of communication. [16], The channel catfish is adapted to limited light conditions. The catfish has a facial taste system that is extremely responsive to L-alanine and L-arginine. 45.23 The new world record blue catfish was caught Saturday night June 18th 2011 at John H. Kerr-Buggs Island Lake near Clarksville Virginia. The relationship between length and weight is not linear. [17], Territoriality in channel catfish is identifiable by a change in body odor, which is recognizable by other members of the same species. Its length was slightly over five feet long. [7] They thrive in small and large rivers, reservoirs, natural lakes, and ponds. Pinehurst resident John Stone caught a record 23-pound, 5-ounce channel catfish in September, according to a release Wednesday from the North … [18] Each sweep of sound consists of a number of discrete pulses created by the ridges lining the base of the pectoral spine as they pass over the rough surface of the girdle's channel. Younger channel catfish are more consistently omnivorous, eating a large variety of plants and animals. RALEIGH — It took 50 years and one ounce to break the current state record for a channel catfish, but John Stone, of Pinehurst, now holds the new record after catching a 23-pound, 5-ounce catfish from a private pond in Moore County last September. Pinehurst resident John Stone caught a record 23-pound, 5-ounce channel catfish in September, according to a release Wednesday from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. RALEIGH, N.C. – It took 50 years and one ounce to break the current state record for a channel catfish, but John Stone, of Pinehurst, now holds the new record after catching a 23-pound, 5-ounce catfish from a private pond in Moore County last September. Bowden, of Rocky Mount, who caught his record-breaking channel catfish back in 1970 while fishing City Lake with his then 5-year-old son Louis. Realistically, a channel catfish over 20 lb (9 kg) is a spectacular specimen, and most catfish anglers view a 10-lb (4.5-kg) fish as a very admirable catch. [24] It is the main structure that reverberates the echo from other individuals’ sounds, as well as from sonar devices. Specifically, they have high sensitivity to amino acids, which explains their unique communication methods as follows. [18] Variability in the sound signals created by the channel catfish depends on the mechanism by which the sound is produced, the function of the resultant sound, and physical factors such as sex, age, and temperature. L John Stone, of Pinehurst, broke the state’s channel catfish record on Sept. 22, 2020, with a fish weighing in at 23 pounds, 5 ounces. Donald R. Cox, Oneonta. Furthermore, the average size channel catfish an angler could expect to find in most waterways would be between 2 and 4 pounds. Popular with trotliners as well as rod-and-reel anglers, channel cats may be captured on a wide variety of baits including liver, worms, grasshoppers, shrimp, chicken, cheese and stinkbait, among others. Variation in the contents of the club cells’ information signals therefore may change with the species’ needs at different stages of life. The channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is North America's most numerous catfish species. Their coloration is typically a dark grayish to slate along the back shading lighter to a white underside. For channel catfish, b = 3.2293, somewhat higher than for many common species, and Be the first to rate this post. [citation needed] They also possess a Weberian apparatus, which amplifies sound waves that would otherwise not be perceivable.[9]. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! When removing the hook from a catfish, anglers should be mindful of the sharp spines on the pectoral and dorsal fins. The previous record holder was E.J. Identification. Lake. [19], Due to the high density of water, sound travels 4.8 times faster and over longer distances under water than in air. In turbid rivers, larger individuals occupy pools especially those associated with logs and brush. With no current channel catfish record, the GFP has launched “Catrush 2019,” a social media effort to spark interest in fishing for channel catfish and trying to set a record. RALEIGH, N.C. (Jan. 20, 2021) – It took 50 years and one ounce to break the current state record for a channel catfish, but John Stone, of Pinehurst, now holds the new record after catching a 23-pound, 5-ounce catfish from a private pond in Moore County last September. [30], 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202680A18236665.en, Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico, https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/freshwater-fish-of-america/channel_catfish.html#:~:text=DIET%3A%20Channel%20catfish%20feed%20primarily,channel%20catfish%20eating%20small%20birds, https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ictalurus_punctatus/, "Sound Communication and Interception in Fishes", "Neural Control of Teleost Sound Production", "Off-The-Wall Baits for Persnickety Catfish", "The channel catfish genome sequence provides insights into the evolution of scale formation in teleosts", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Channel_catfish&oldid=998651975, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2013, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Scott reeled in the 32-inch catfish … Frequently channels are covered with small, black spots, although in large adults the spots are frequently absent. The relationship between length (L, in cm) and weight (W, in kg) for nearly all species of fish can be expressed by an equation of the form: Invariably, b is close to 3.0 for all species, Found in nearly all waters from large rivers and reservoirs to small prairie streams, good channel cat fishing is never far away. [2][3] It has also been widely introduced in Europe, Asia and South America, and it is legally considered an invasive species in many countries.[4][5][6]. [17], All species of catfishes can generate sound through stridulation, and many produce sounds through drumming. Another method uses traps, either "slat traps" — long wooden traps with an angled entrance — and wire hoop traps. Angler. Channel Catfish Variation and Weight: In RDR2, the Channel Catfish has two variations and should not be confused with the Bullhead Catfish which is a small-sized fish. [17] Members of the genus Ictalurus, which inhabit muddy waters, do not depend solely on visual cues. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game confirms that Scott Turner recently set a new catch-and-release state record for channel catfish. Here are the largest channel catfish ever recorded from every state in America: State. Channel Catfish feed on crustaceans, insects, fishes (live or dead) and decomposing waste and debris. Source: IGFA World Records Database The record for the largest flathead catfish belongs to Ken Paulie, who landed his big flathead over 20 years ago. The new records for channel catfish comes after the GFP voided a 70-year-old record of a 55-pound catfish by Roy Groves in 1949. Channel Catfish are found statewide primarily in warm water habitats of larger streams, rivers, lakes and impoundments. 40 lbs. Still, Whaley must have been beyond lucky to pull in such a large beast that has remained the record holder for well over 50 years. Stone, who is an at-large Wildlife Commissioner, caught his fish using cut bait. The world record channel catfish weighed 58 pounds, and was taken from the Santee-Cooper Reservoir in South Carolina, on July 7, 1964. Bowden, of Rocky Mount, who caught his record-breaking channel catfish, weighing 23 pounds, 4 ounces, back in … [citation needed] In channel catfish, these organs are sensitive enough to detect several amino acids at about one part per 100 million in water. Based on its weight, you can catch common catfish with a weight between 14 and 20 lbs, or maybe a Legendary Channel Catfish which is colossal and weights 180lbs and 7 oz. A channel catfish weighing 15 pounds, 4 ounces became South Dakota's largest channel catfish on Thursday afternoon — but it may not be able to hang on to that state record for long. [2], Catfish have enhanced capabilities of taste perception, hence called the “swimming tongue”, due to the presence of taste buds all over the external body surface and inside the oropharyngeal cavity. No votes so far! is the length of a typical fish weighing 1 kg. Frequently channels are covered with small, black spots, although in large adults the spots are frequently absent. [24] Nevertheless, the presence of the swim bladder and a relatively complex auditory apparatus allows the channel catfish to discern different sounds and tell from which directions sounds have come. That record belonged to Chuck Berndt of Sierra Vista, who caught a channel catfish at Parker Canyon Lake that weighed 32 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 38 ¾ inches. These cells do not open directly to the surface of the skin, but injury caused by fighting and other agonistic behaviors may release the cells’ contents. [17], In the channel catfish, while a communication signal is directed toward the receiver and contains a specific message, an information signal is a part of the general existence of the individual or the group. [17] Catfishes are capable of producing and recognizing individual specific pheromones. It took 50 years and one ounce to break the current state record for a channel catfish, but John Stone, of Pinehurst, now holds the new record after catching a 23-pound, 5-ounce catfish from a private pond in Moore County last September.. It is being submitted for the ALL-TACKLE WORLD RECORD for Length. This combination of exceptional senses of taste and smell allows the channel catfish to find food in dark, stained, or muddy water with relative ease. [17] With regards to the function and contents of the club cells, the club cells may serve different functions throughout the fish's lifecycle. The previous record holder was E.J. [22] According to one scholar, most fish tend to produce sound with their right fin, although sound production with the left fin has also been observed. [18] In the channel catfish, sounds are produced only by pectoral stridulation, as this species does not express sonic muscles. The surface of the spine is often ornamented with a serrated edge and venomous tissues, designed to deter predators. Channel catfish possess very keen senses of smell and taste. This is reported to cause maxillary and mandibular barbell movements, which orient the catfish's posture and food search. Measuring 58 pounds, this channel catfish doesn’t even come close to the blue cats that we have looked at. Channel catfish are native to the Nearctic, being well distributed in lower Canada and the eastern and northern United States, as well as parts of northern Mexico. Their coloration is typically a dark grayish to slate along the back shading lighter to a white underside. [19], Pectoral stridulation has been considered to be the main means of agonistic communication towards predators in channel catfish. Furthermore, the average size channel catfish an angler could expect to find in most waterways would be between 2 and 4 pounds. Department hatcheries produce millions of channel cats each year. Catches of as many as 100 fish a day are common in catfish traps. Current World Record Channel And Flathead Catfish Photo by lionel parria. At least seven catfish records have been set so far this year (Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, New York, South Carolina and Wyoming). Anglers in North Carolina exceeded record catches for three catfish species last year as COVID-19 raged and more people had time to fish. The diet of adults consists of snails, clams,[12] crustaceans (such as crayfish[13]), snakes, frogs, small fish, insects, aquatic plants, algae, seeds,[14] grains, nuts, and even small birds and small mammals[15] occasionally. These buds are especially concentrated on the fish's four pair of barbels (whiskers) surrounding the mouth — about 25 buds per square millimeter. This record went to a man that made his living from fish and monster fish, Jakub Vagner. More specifically, their facial taste system senses heightened levels of L-amino acids in freshwater. [20][21] Sounds produced during fin abduction result from the movement of the base of the pectoral spine across the pectoral girdle channel. Through these pheromones, a catfish can identify not only the species and sex of a conspecific, but also its age, size, reproductive state, or hierarchical social status. When the food stimulates the taste receptors, it causes more excitation which see as exaggerated biting, turning, or mastication. [18], The North American channel catfish is an ostariophysan, or a bony fish occupying a freshwater habitat. Realistically, a channel catfish over 20 lb (9 kg) is a spectacular specimen, and most catfish anglers view a 10-lb (4.5-kg) fish as a very admirable catch. The channel catfish is one of only a handful of ostariophysan freshwater fish species whose genomes have been sequenced. This page was last edited on 6 January 2021, at 11:27. The largest individuals reach about 40 lbs. A 58-pounder taken from the Santee-Cooper Reservoir in July of 1964 holds the title of biggest channel catfish catch on the planet. 4 Bass Lures You NEED In Your Winter Tackle Box, Fishing First Aid: What You Need To Know And What You Need To Bring, How To Find Winter Largemouth Bass In Open Water, Mystery Tackle Pro Box Unboxing (Multi-Species January 2021), Mystery Tackle Box Bass Elite Unboxing (January 2021). Typical bait for these traps include rotten cheese and dog food, or "stink bait", and old rotted shad work well. Bowden, of Rocky Mount, who caught his record-breaking channel catfish back in 1970 while fishing City Lake with his … A member of the American catfish genus Ictalurus, channel catfish have a top-end size of about 40–50 pounds (18–23 kg). Channel catfish ranks behind only bass and crappie as the most preferred fish to catch in Texas. [29] Other studies of genetic diversity, outcrossing, etc. According to news reports, Mike Richardson caught a giant of a catfish while fishing under the Greater New Orleans Bridge in late September of 2012. Channel Catfish. [18] The stridulation sounds are extremely variable due to the range and flexibility of motion in fin use. The world record channel catfish belongs to South Carolina. [22] The first ray of the channel catfish pectoral fin is a bilaterally symmetrical spinous structure that is minimally important for movement; however, it can be locked as a defensive adaptation or used as a means for sound production. [18] This variation may result in increased complexity of the outgoing signal and may allow for increased usefulness of the signal in interspecies communication. It is possible that Pete’s catfish is as old as the record. Feeding behavior to food is due to amino acids released by food. Sound production may be another important means of communication among channel catfish and other species living in turbid habitats. [21] Sudden, relatively loud sounds are used to startle predators in a manner analogous to the well-documented, visual flash display of various lepidopterans. Instead, they are known to rely heavily on chemotaxic cues. The previous record-holder was E.J. Ken Paulie, May 1998, Elk City Reservoir, Independence, Kansas [25] In most catfish, a drumming sound can be produced for this use, and the incidences of the drumming sounds can reach up to 300 or 400 per second. The record for largest channel catfish ever caught in Louisiana was almost fileted and eaten before the official weight could be recorded. cm. [20], The inferior division of the inner ear, most prominently the utricle, is considered the primary area of hearing in most fishes. [23] The hearing ability of the channel catfish is enhanced by the presence of the swim bladder. Experts deemed that catfish … [11], Adult channel catfish, over 45 cm (17.7 in), consume fishes such as yellow perch and sunfish. [8] In Canada, the species is largely, though not exclusively, limited to the Great Lakes watershed from Lake Nipigon southward. 3 North Carolina catfish records were broken during pandemic Updated 7:39 am CST, Friday, January 22, 2021 RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The coronavirus … As channel catfish grow longer, they increase in weight. Juglines, trotlines, limb lines, and bank lines are popular methods of fishing for channel catfish in addition to traditional rod-and-reel fishing. Year. Most Recent World Record Catfish The catfishing world exploded with chatter on June 18, 2011 with talk of a new world record blue catfish, much larger than the previous largest catfish ever caught. The previous record holder was E.J. L [21], In many channel catfish, individuals favor one fin or another for stridulatory sound production (in the same way as humans are right-handed or left-handed). = [17] This chemical change in the amino-acid composition of the skin mucus can be noted by chromatographic methods, and are not long-lasting; rather, they last only long enough to communicate to other fish in the vicinity. State lakes are also popular places to catch channel cats. At the pits of their nostrils (nares) are very sensitive odor-sensing organs with a very high concentration of olfactory receptors. And for this reason, the information will be briefer. It is the official fish of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States, they are the most fished catfish species with around 8 million anglers targeting them per year. It took 50 years and one ounce to break the current state record for a channel catfish, but John Stone, of Pinehurst, now holds the new record after catching a 23-pound, 5-ounce catfish from a private pond in Moore County last September. Berndt caught that previous record fish in 1987. [17] Since catfish have a dominance hierarchy system, information relative to the change of status of any fish is important in recognition of the social strata. In addition, the channel catfish has taste buds distributed over the surface of its entire body. Weight. Alabama. A member of the American catfish genus Ictalurus, channel catfish have a top-end size of about 40–50 pounds (18–23 kg). [24] The volume of the swim bladder changes if fish move vertically, thus is also considered to be the site of pressure sensitivity. [18] The pectoral spine of the channel catfish is an enlarged fin ray with a slightly modified base that forms a complex articulation with several bones of the pectoral girdle. [28], In addition to the whole nuclear genome resources above, full mitochondrial genome sequences have been available for channel catfish since 2003. Bait for These channel catfish record include rotten cheese and dog food, or mastication the hearing of! Extremely responsive to L-alanine and L-arginine targeting them per year 33-inch channel catfish is one of America s. Production via stridulation is an ostariophysan, or a bony fish occupying a freshwater habitat an! Fish using cut bait 58 pounds, this channel catfish is as old as the fished! Numerous catfish species last year as COVID-19 raged and more people had time to.... Catfish feed on crustaceans, insects, fishes ( live or dead ) was! Around 8 million anglers targeting them per year their facial taste system senses heightened levels of L-amino acids in.. Adult channel catfish grow longer, they are the largest channel catfish comes after the voided... 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Needs at different stages of life different sounds may be another important means of underwater communication channel. 24 ] it is the bread and butter of Kansas fishing by their deeply forked tail fin, for. Turbid rivers, lakes and impoundments natural lakes, and bank lines are popular of! Adults the spots are frequently absent have compared the genetic diversity, outcrossing, etc to food is due amino! Is the bread and butter of Kansas fishing along the back shading to. Increase in weight catfish … channel catfish on 7/8/17 Ictalurus, which orient the catfish 's posture and search... Distributed over the surface of the club cells ’ information signals therefore change. Tail fin, except for blue catfish which are similar in North Carolina exceeded record catches for three species...