Blue Catfish

Habitat

Physical Description

Like all North American Catfish Species, the Blue Cat possesses barbells (whiskers) about their mouth and tough scale-less skin. They have a deeply forked tail and their anal fin has 30-35 rays with a straight lower edge. Another noticeable trait on the Blue Cat is their dorsal hump on their back. The Blue’s coloration is a slate-blue on their back and sides shading to an off white on their underside.

Habitat

Blue Cats thrive in larger rivers, tributaries, lakes, and reservoirs. They are fond of sandy and rocky bottoms with close by cover such as submerged logs and large rocks.

Distribution

Blue Cats are indigenous to many of the larger rivers in the U.S., especially the Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio River Basins.

Diet & Feeding

Blues are opportunists when it comes to feeding. They are attracted to wounded or dead prey and are noted to feed underneath marauding schools of striped bass and below tailraces of dams. Items on a Blue Cat’s menu include fish, frogs, mussels, crawfish, and insects.

Baits

The majority of Blue Cat Anglers prefer fresh cut bait such as, shad, herring, blue gill, and chub minnow. However, it has been recorded that Blues have been caught on stink bait, dip bait, punch bait, worms, livers, hotdogs, and frogs.

Life History

Spawning begins in late spring to early summer as the water temperature rises. Blues will make their nests in dark, secluded hideouts such as logs, submerged timber, rocks, and crevices. Once hatched, the fry are extremely susceptible to predation. Most Blues are sexually mature at 24” in length.

Age & Growth

Blue Cats may live up to 25 years, weight in excess of 120 pounds, and grow to lengths close to six feet. In some waters, 20 - 50 pound Blues are not unusual. The current World Record is 143 pounds caught in 2011.