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