? about catfish

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by tptrench

I know this board is mainly for saltwater stuff, but here is my ? about catfish. I love eating blackened catfish (southern style) and I remember getting "spiked" by one I caught when I was kid. It hurt, but nothing like a sculpin. I forget which fin got me, so when I ever catch another one, which fin or fins do I avoid? and how do you handle them? Thanks in advance, TP

Three fins: dorsal two pecs leading edge for each fin is a barbed bone like quill that is sharp on the ends.

Small catfish have the sharpest spines, as bigger ones tend to wear them down. Grab small ones from the front right handed in front of the dorsal with the top of the head in the palm of your hand thumb behind the right pectoral fin index finger behind the left, rest of the fingers in front of the left pectral fin. Don't be shy grab and hold on tight. This is they way to hold them when you skin them as well.

Bigger fish lift them by the gills, big flatheads stick your hand in their mouth and grab the lower jaw like a suitcase handle.

Whatever you do don't drop them on your feet, I once saw a guy get a spine stuck straight through the top of his foot, when he dropped a ten pound channel barefoot.


Jim