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Southern Company River Scout
Channel catfish
(Ictalurus punctatus)
The channel catfish occurs in North America from southern Canada to northern Mexico. It prefers the clean well oxygenated waters of medium to large rivers, streams and deep pools. It feeds from dusk till dawn and spends daylight hours under cover. The channel catfish is bluish olive, gray or black dorsally and its coloring fades to white underneath. Larger adults are darker with blue-black coloration along the back. The largest channel catfish caught weighed 58 lbs. and was a little over 4 feet long. See if you can find a channel catfish in the overhead river in the River Scout gallery.
Fun Facts
- Channel catfish are raised in large commercial fish farms for the retail food market.
- Farm-raised individuals are also sold to stock fish pond and farm ponds.
- This species spawns in late spring with the female laying 2,000 to 70,000 eggs in a nest. The male will guard the nest and young.
- After hatching, the young catfish form tight schools and leave the nest together to find suitable cover.
- They will continue to school together during the day and separate at night to feed.
- Download full fact sheet
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