620 South Meridian Street Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum. Gafftopsail Catfish are distributed throughout the southeastern USA as north as New York and throughout … ... but pay attention to size limits … Life History: Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: The head is bigger and the mouth is larger but the coloration is similar to that of the Hardhead Catfish.Long, soft streamers extend from the dorsal and pectoral fins. Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Dania Beach, Florida 33004 Bagre marinus Sailcat. Gafftopsail Catfish are bluish on top and silvery below with long, fleshy filaments on the dorsal and pectoral fins. The hardhead catfish has 3 pair of round barbels (gafftopsail has 2 pair of flattened barbels), its 1st dorsal and pectoral fin rays are not elongated; the blue catfish, a freshwater catfish that ventures into brackish waters, has 4 pair of barbels. One of the best times for bow fishing the marshes is after the sun sets. listed in Florida Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations. Between them, the gafftopsail is perhaps more desirable as table fare because it is meatier, but neither is generally considered a prize catch. For additional information on licensing and fishing regulations visit www.marinefisheries.org or www.myfwc.com, or call 888-FISHFLO (347-4356). See the Florida Recreational Saltwater Fishing It's been introduced to Texas and throughout the west coast. Gafftopsail Catfish. Saltwater Catfish Size . Saltwater catfish are not as large as their freshwater cousins, and rarely weigh much more than 3 pounds. Dietary Habits of the Gafftopsail Catfish, Bagre marinus, m Tarpon Bay and Pine Island Sound, Florida PAUL J. RUDERSHAUSEN AND JAMES V. LOCASCIO A total of 507 gafftopsail catfish, Bagre marinus, were captured by hook and line in Tarpon Bay and neighboring Pine Island Sound, Florida … ^ Other size and bag limits may apply outside the Everglades National Park and Gulf waters. ... One nasty that is hated by shrimpers is the gafftopsail catfish, which has a tall dorsal spine that can give a very painful infection-prone sting. The Hardhead Catfish has six barbels or "whiskers," two long ones just above the rear corners of the mouth and four under the chin. The only limitation I see with this fish is the fillet size, but clever marketing and placement can use this to your advantage. ... Would love to fill it with about a thousand gafftopsail catfish and have it as a fishing spot for dads who want to fish with their kids. The White Catfish inhabits coastal waters of the western Atlantic from New York to central Florida. They have a barbel (“whisker”) at each corner of the mouth that is flattened, band like, and very long. The maximum reported size of a Hardhead Catfish is 27.6 inches (70.0 cm) total length and 12.2 pounds (5.5 kg). They also have 2 barbels on the chin. Mailbox MF-OAE 300 Gulf Stream Way. Data and formulas are from studies conducted by TPWD and other scientific groups All lengths are total lengths unless fork length (FL) or lower jaw to fork length (LJFL) is indicated. Garrett demonstrates how to fillet a Gafftopsail Catfish caught from the waters of Goodland, Florida. Photo by John E. Phillips. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission International Game Fish Association.