Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Also called channel cat, catfish
A popular freshwater gamefish with a deeply forked tail and barbels around the mouth. Known for excellent eating quality and strong fighting ability.
Channel Catfish at a glance
- Scientific name
- Ictalurus punctatus
- Typical size
- 14-28 inches
- IGFA world record
- 58 lbs
- State record
- 44.5 lbs, caught in 2019
- Water
- Freshwater
- Habitat
- Freshwater
- Rarity in the Fishdex™
- Common
Habitat
Rivers, lakes, and ponds. Most popular catfish species in North America. Bottom feeders.
Catch one and it is yours
Log a channel catfish through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your photo, your personal best, and the exact conditions on the day. The app also carries the slot and season rules for wherever you are standing.
How the Fishdex™ worksWhat to throw for channel catfish
The lure classes that produce for channel catfish, drawn from the same species map Cobia reasons about. Each one opens a full page on what it is, when it works and how to fish it.
Which one, in which color and which weight, depends on the water in front of you today. That part is the app.
Channel Catfish questions people ask
Channel Catfish is Ictalurus punctatus. Anglers also call it channel cat, catfish.
A typical channel catfish runs 14-28 inches. The IGFA all tackle world record stands at 58 lbs. Cobia records the length and weight of every channel catfish you log and keeps your personal best on its Fishdex entry.
Rivers, lakes, and ponds. Most popular catfish species in North America. Bottom feeders. It is a fresh water species, filed under freshwater in the Fishdex.
The IGFA all tackle world record channel catfish weighed 58 lbs. The standing state record on file is 44.5 lbs, caught in 2019.
Jigheads and soft stickbaits and worms all produce. Which one, in which color and which weight, depends on the season, the water temperature and the tide on the day, which is the part Cobia works out against the lures you already own.
Yes. Log one through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your own photo, your personal best, and the conditions on the day you caught it. The app also carries the slot limits and season dates for wherever you are standing. It is free.
Tomorrow morning starts tonight
Set your home water, pick a drive radius, and wake up to a plan.
Android coming soon
iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Setup takes about a minute.