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