| Catfish are a hugely popular prey for | | | | be found statewide, there are certain |
| anglers across the United States, and | | | | areas of the state that have a high |
| luckily, the fish is widely available. | | | | concentration of catfish and provide the |
| However, in Florida, catfish fishing can | | | | best opportunity for anglers in search |
| be even better than many other locations | | | | of whiskered fish. |
| in the country, mostly because of the | | | | For example, The St. Johns River Basin |
| weather conditions maintaining warm | | | | is a great place to find a great number |
| waters throughout the year, which | | | | of yellow and brown bullheads, as well |
| produce fertile spawning grounds for | | | | as some channel cats and white catfish. |
| catfish. | | | | The best portion of the river for a good |
| In Florida, however, you'll find a | | | | catch lies between Lake George and the |
| different variety of catfish than in | | | | Buckman Bridge at Orange Park on |
| many other areas of the country. | | | | Interstate 295. However, for the best |
| Florida catfish fishing is most likely | | | | catfish fishing of all, pay a visit to |
| to produce either yellow bullhead | | | | Lake George itself. |
| catfish (referred to frequently as | | | | While the lake is only about 14 feet |
| buttercats) or brown bullheads. While | | | | deep, you'll find a large number of |
| these are not the largest species of | | | | bullheads and channel cats. Look for |
| catfish in the world (usually ranging | | | | your trophy fish in he grass beds around |
| from about one to four pounds), they are | | | | the edges of the lake, or find channel |
| plentiful in Florida. | | | | cats in piled up structures offshore at |
| In the same size range, though less | | | | depths of at least five or six feet. |
| common, you may come across white | | | | You may also want to check the various |
| catfish in some of the rivers to the | | | | holes, some of which reach as deep as 20 |
| north of Lake Okeechobee (in fact, these | | | | feet or more, for larger channel and |
| are often mistaken for channel cats | | | | white cats. |
| because of their size and appearance). | | | | Another great location for Florida |
| Other than these, the common channel | | | | catfish fishing is Oklawaha River. |
| catfish is also widely found in Florida. | | | | Here, you can expect success below |
| These fish are found in almost every | | | | Rodman Dam, as well as at Black Creek in |
| type of body of water and can reach | | | | the Middleburg area. Because of the |
| enormous sizes, with a world record of | | | | amount of timber, the number of holes, |
| 60 pounds. | | | | and the twists and turns of these |
| Also, while not native to the area, | | | | systems, you can find a decent number of |
| flathead and blue catfish (the two | | | | channel cats year-round, with excellent |
| largest species) have made their way | | | | results occurring in the early part of |
| into the panhandle. | | | | summer. |
| While good Florida catfish fishing can | | | | |