C - December 14, 2020

CATFISH, FRESHWATER

Scientific Name:

Tandanus tandanus

Fish Group:

Catfish

Salt/Fresh:

Fresh

Also Known As:

Freshwater Catfish; Cattie; Freshwater jewfish; jewfish; freshwater cobbler; CATFISH, FRESHWATER

Rating:

Countries:

Australia

Description:

Freshwater Catfish area popular inland fish, easily distinguished by it eel like tail

How To Identify:

Usually a dark brown but can also be a dark grey. Easily distinguished by its eel like tail and whiskers around its mouth. Can grow to almost a meter and weigh towards 6 kgs but commonly caught around the 1 kilo mark

How To Catch:

Fished mostly for almost exclusively with bait, however I have caught one on a lure when it was guarding a nest in a clear coastal stream. Baits include worms, yabbies, shrimps and grubs. A few methods that are popular and I have caught using all, 1. Bottom fishing (since they basically feed on the bottom), small running sinker down to a 1/0-3/0 hook baited with worms or small yabbie. 2. Under a float, have a small cork or bubble float about 1 meter above a 1/0-3/0 hook again with worms or small yabbies are best. 3. "bobbying" - same as 2 above but bobbying the float so that it makes small rings of water (without lifting the float out of the water) - usually when fishing for yellowbelly or cod but catfish love it as well. Actually quite good eating when from clean water, but can be muddy tasting if from very muddy water.

Where Found:

Throughout the Murray / Darling system of inland rivers and streams. Also in southern WA