Need some info.......

[TeamCatfish]

Hello everyone,

I am a brand new member from the USA. I would like information on the catfishing in your country.

We have had few requests for products from Australia and I know nothing about the catfish species your country has to offer.

Here are a few questions I have..........

Are there many catfish anglers in your country?
Freshwater or saltwater?
Are there catfish in lakes and rivers?
What are the best eating and largest species in Australia?
Is there a specific forum or area that anyone knows about that offers detailed catfish information?

I thank you for your time,
Jeff Williams

[TimD]

Are there many catfish anglers in your country?

I dont think many people target catfish in Australia


Freshwater or saltwater?

Catfish can be caught in fresh and saltwater


Are there catfish in lakes and rivers?

Yes


What are the best eating and largest species in Australia?

I dont know anyone who eats catfish


Is there a specific forum or area that anyone knows about that offers detailed catfish information?

Dont know



cheers tim

[Lovey80]

Maybe Kingtin will chime in here. I hear he loves to eat VERMIN, being an ex pom he can't help it.

To tell you the truth mate most of us consider catfish as vermin. They are annoying buggers that are the last thing you want to eat your bait when your targeting a decent species. Im sure some would eat them but certainly not a target species over here and I highly doubt there would be a market for those wanting to buy artificial lures for them.

Cheers

Chris

[rat_catcher]

I know the catfish industry in the US and I am also very familiar with catfish in Australia and they are two completely different situations.

Whilst they are plentiful in some rivers, there is no industry that surrounds them, nor is there anybody that targets them.

They are seen purely as a pest and not worth anything commercially. My grandfather used to eat catfish, but that was many many years ago and given he also used to eat mullet out of the local river I guess you can see what his palate was like!

There is also no concept such as noodling in Australia either.

[TeamCatfish]

Thats good info.......A little suprising, but good! I will have to pry a little when we get requests for products from Australia.......I was just curious and didn't know anytihng about them.

FYI........

Catfish are the #2 sought after fish in the USA and #1 in other countries by freshwater anglers.

They are the #1 freshwater fish when it comes to table fare in restrurants and supermarkets.


Is there a specific reason why anglers look down on the catfish there?

[rat_catcher]

Is there a specific reason why anglers look down on the catfish there?

Because there are so many other far better options to chose from in Australia when you need a feed of fish!

[Laurie Schulz]

Thats good info.......A little suprising, but good! I will have to pry a little when we get requests for products from Australia.......I was just curious and didn't know anytihng about them.

FYI........

Catfish are the #2 sought after fish in the USA and #1 in other countries by freshwater anglers.

They are the #1 freshwater fish when it comes to table fare in restrurants and supermarkets.


Is there a specific reason why anglers look down on the catfish there?

Hi,
I think if any of the guys who love catfishing in the USA came to Australia, they would be in Catfish Heaven!

At Awonga Dam in Central Queensland there is a very healthy Population of Catfish as it seem no one is game to put a bait on the bottom due to the Catfish population.

So you guys in the USA, who enjoy Catfishing would be welcome to come over and help yourselves.

There are also quite large salt water Catfish available.

We are quite spoilt when if comes to fishing, as there are still good numbers of Coral Reef Fish to be caught and eaten.

Cheers

Laurie

[Swindells]

I catch a lot at Wivenhoe dam (fresh) and in the logan river (salt)

I'll sometimes target them when the day is slow and i'm bored, reason being there is no real sport in them, you basically skull drag them to the surface, then you have to handle the slimey buggars and avoid the spikes to release them.

I've never once seen catfish on offer at a restaurant or fish'n'chip shop. maybe our catfish here are different from the USA models? or as other guys have mentioned, we have such an abundance of fantastic sport and eating fish here we don't need to bother with snotty big lipped vermin.

Still, i'd like to hear from someone here who has eaten one. Hey Teamcatfish, how do they taste??

[Dicko]

I've never once seen catfish on offer at a restaurant or fish'n'chip shop.

Coles and Woolies are full of catfish, except it they gave it the smoother, more palatable name of Basa.

No doubt is in some fish and chip shops as well.

[finga]

We target catfish especially in clean freshwater.
In fact I like to eat catfish...but it all depends on where they come from.
Freshwater Eel tailed catfish from Lesley dam is just good tucker as the bottom is gravel not mud. They seem to taste like mud if they live in mud.
In salty water the catfish (or dogfish as they're known as in NSW) has a nice white flesh if caught in clean water like our Bay and I'm sure if people threw the catfish stigma away they would eat them.
The first link is the freshwater eel tailed version
http://www.nativefish.asn.au/tandanus.html
and this is one of our salty versions...the forky tailed
http://www.ausyfish.com/cat_fish.htm
and a few more varieties http://www.ausyfish.com/cat_fish.htm

[Swindells]

Coles and Woolies are full of catfish, except it they gave it the smoother, more palatable name of Basa.

Oh, well in that case i know what catfish taste like and i'm not a fan, i refuse to buy Basa having tried it a few times and it tastes weird and muddy.

[Dicko]

Oh, well in that case i know what catfish taste like and i'm not a fan, i refuse to buy Basa having tried it a few times and it tastes weird and muddy.

Weird and Muddy ?

Getting off the original topic, but watch this and see why.

[deepfried]

Some of those catfish in the US would be fun. They are in a different league size wise compared to ours. But like others have said, better fish here to target. The bulk of our population is also very close to the ocean which offers better fishing.

[Swindells]

Weird and Muddy ?

Yes, you read correctly, weird and muddy.

[Swindells]

Here's the local Cats.
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