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Photo: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Ariopsis felis
How to catch Hardhead catfish in Florida
Hardhead catfish feed in 60–92°F water and bite best at 70–88°F.
3 pts · trophy at 16"Feeds 60–92°FBest 70–88°FIn season nowChannel edgeDock / pilingsBridgeGrass flat
About
The fish everyone catches and nobody wants: the bait thief of every dock and channel, with spines that mean it. It counts in the book; it just doesn't count for much.
How to fish it
You don't target them. Use the pliers, watch the spines, and go back to fishing.
What it eats
anything dead on the bottom
What to fish it with
the sizes that fish itLeader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
Hook#1–4/0
Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
Braid10–30 lb
The rule
not confirmed hereNo size or bag limit.
The current rule at MyFWC →Month by month, water by water
When hardhead catfish is the story
The Panhandle
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The Big Bend & Nature Coast
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Tampa Bay & Sarasota
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Charlotte Harbor & the Islands
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The Ten Thousand Islands & Everglades
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The Florida Keys
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Miami & Biscayne Bay
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Palm Beach & the Treasure Coast
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The Space Coast Lagoons
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The First Coast
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