Catfish (Silurus glanis)
Current record: 147lb
Water: Oak Lakes Fisheries, Southminster
Catfish represent a diverse group of freshwater and saltwater fish known for their distinctive whisker-like barbels around the mouth, which give them their name. Belonging to the order Siluriformes, catfish are found in various habitats worldwide, ranging from rivers and lakes to coastal waters. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in a wide range of environments, and they are characterized by a scaleless skin, prominent spines on their dorsal and pectoral fins, and a robust body.
One of the notable features of catfish is their barbels, which are sensory organs that help them locate food in low-visibility environments. These fish are predominantly bottom-feeders, using their barbels to search for prey such as insects, small fish, crustaceans, and plant matter. Catfish exhibit a diverse array of species, with sizes ranging from small, aquarium-friendly varieties to massive species like the Mekong giant catfish, one of the largest freshwater fish in the world.
Catfish are popular among anglers due to their size, strength, and often nocturnal feeding habits. Many species are prized catches in both freshwater and saltwater fisheries. Various methods, including rod and reel, trotlines, and noodling, are used to catch catfish. Additionally, catfish are commonly raised in aquaculture for commercial purposes, providing a significant source of protein for human consumption.
In terms of culinary importance, catfish have a distinct taste and are featured in many regional dishes. Popular preparations include fried catfish in Southern cuisine in the United States and catfish curry in Asian culinary traditions. However, the widespread demand for catfish has led to concerns about overfishing and environmental impacts, prompting the implementation of sustainable fishing practices and aquaculture standards.
Conservation efforts for catfish involve monitoring and managing populations to ensure sustainable harvesting and prevent declines in wild stocks. Additionally, initiatives focus on protecting the habitats where catfish thrive, addressing water pollution, and managing the impacts of dams and other infrastructure on their migratory patterns. The unique characteristics and ecological significance of catfish make them not only an interesting subject for anglers and aquaculturists but also an important species for maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems.
The wels catfish consumes annelid worms, gastropods, insects, crustaceans, and fish, like the majority of freshwater bottom feeders. Larger species have also been seen to cannibalise other catfish and consume frogs, snakes, rats, voles, coypu, and water birds like ducks. Researchers from the University of Toulouse in France reported individuals of this species in an introduced setting lunging out of the water to feed on pigeons on land in a study that was published in 2012. In this study, beaching behaviour was observed and recorded, and 28% of those attempts at bird capture were successful. Carbon 13 and nitrogen 15 stable isotope studies of catfish stomach contents showed a significantly varied food composition of terrestrial birds.
The wels catfish inhabits vast, warm lakes and swift-moving rivers that are deep. It prefers to stay in protected areas like buried trees and holes in the riverbed. It can be identified by its huge mouth and swallows its prey in open water or the deep. In fish ponds, wels catfish are kept as food fish.