Ariopsis felis - Whats My Bait

Hardhead Catfish

Saltwater Catfish, Tourist Trout, Seacat

Ariopsis felis

Description:

The hardhead catfish has six barbels. It has one pair of long round barbels on the sides of the mouth and two pairs of short white barbels on the chin. Its head is flat with a slight incline towards the dorsal fin. It has a forward-oriented mouth. The hardhead catfish has a silvery scaleless body that tapers to a forked tail. The upper half of the fish’s body appears dark gray/brown, olive-green, or silver-blue/green and fades to white near belly. It has a single dorsal fin. Both of its pectoral fins have spines. It also has a single adipose fin.

Average Maximum Size:

24.5 cm (10 in)

Adults Distinguishing Characteristics:

The Hardhead Catfish can be discerned from the White Catfish and Blue Catfish by the shape of its pointed anal fin which contrasts to the White's rounded edge anal fin and the Blue's rectangular anal fin. The Hardhead Catfish differs from the Gafftopsail Catfish in its lack of both a greatly elongated first dorsal ray and barbels which are long enough extend backward beyond the base of the pectoral fins.

Juveniles Distinguishing Characteristics:

Range:

Massachusetts to Gulf of Mexico.

Habitat:

Found in turbid coastal salt and brackish waters with soft muddy bottoms. They may be found in estuaries and has been observed to travel upstream into freshwater.

Notes:

Spines in pectoral and dorsal fins mildly venomous. Handle carefully.

Regulated Species:

Regulations Website:

Species: Ariopsis felis

Family: Ariidae

Family Description: Sea catfish

Mouth Type: Terminal

Tail Type: Forked

Dorsal Type: Single

Similar Species

Click on the image below to view details.

White Catfish

Gaftopsail Catfish

Blue Catfish