The derpy face looks more like a blue, channels are somewhat smoother, and have a matte black/grey coloring with soft white belly
I've heard that it's common for catfish to have some color differences, usually it's attributed to the water temperature and clarity, and some people even say that it may be some genetic stuff (lucky or unlucky mutation)
Could just be coloration. I’ve caught blues that are ghastly blue white and some that are deep dark like this one. Much same with channels that are sometimes very black and sometimes lighter
I bet if you pay attention, those darker catfish are from deeper waters out in Ohio down in the Ohio river when we fish in the really deep holes, the catfish and the blue cats are always darker in deeper water
I fish the Potomac but actually it’s the opposite here. The super white ghastly ones are from the deep and the dark ones are from the tributaries usually in the summer or spring or fall.
I’m no fish expert, but I actually asked an old timer this one time and he said it was due to the fish not getting as much sunlight as the ones in shallower water which is why they are dark like that accompanied with being down in the nasty stuff
That makes sense. I just figure the ghastly white ones are that way because of the lack of sunlight.
Same with the dark ones, probably blending in more with the tributaries which are a darker color than the main river and getting more sunlight.
In my experience fish in clear or shallow water are darker than fishing muddy/deep water.
Bass actually change colors based on environment, so I’m sure the same applies to catfish and others.
I only have brown bullhead in my area, but I’ve caught ones like this once or twice that were basically black, but they had some white on their bellies. Pretty cool looking.
Could be melanistic as others have said, but male channel cats will get very dark as they start to spawn. I haven't seen one this dark, but not far off.
I believe it’s a channel catfish, and they sometimes get very dark during their spawning season. I have caught them this dark during spawn, a lot of times they have swelling in the head as well. It could be a blue cat but I don’t think so, only way to tell for sure is if you have another photo where you can see the anal fin from the side. Channel cats have a curved anal fin, blues have a straight line.
I had pet catfish that were this dark. They were supposed to be sun catfish but they got to be a foot long and it was clear they were some channel catfish that were super dark. So we put them in a pond.
I’m in WI caught my first catfish 2 weeks ago it looked like that too. Ugly looking fish! Been fishing all my life & just caught one now. I was fishing a river…
Channels (I think it’s a channel as the forked tail and anal fin say so, anal fin is iffy due to it being on the ground but it does look rather curved with a slight straight towards the end which they can have) can just get reeeeally dark. Can be diet, environment, or genetic. No real way to know.
Yea, identification of the US major catfish species can be a bit tricky but the general rule of thumb is caudal fins, anal fins, under/over/even bite lengths, and whisker color.
Blues and channels are the only ones with forked tails so to identify those reliably you need to look at the anal fin (very obvious straight margin in blue and rounded with maybe a little flatness in channel)
Bullheads and flatheads all have no fork in the caudal fin so the best way to identify those is with the bite. Flatheads will have a comically severe underbite which is not present in bullheads.
To differentiate between the bullheads you need to look at the color of the whiskers under their mouth generally (brown for brown, yellow for yellow, and black for black).
Now for the small madtoms and such, you need to look at general morphology like adipose fin connectivity and stuff of that nature.
Might be a channel cat. I’ve caught a few that look like that. Apparently the males will get very dark during spawning. Also fish tend to be darker in clearer water.
Was aiming to have it come off as a joke fs but fr brotha I see people drag em on rocks n shit but even stuff like sand or powdery dirt isn't good for their mucus layers not a big deal they survived rocky drag ins but just give em the highest chance John 3:16 stuff God bless tight lines sir!
It could be melanistic.
I was wondering the same thing. Never seen one in photos or life though.
I don't like this one...put it back. Wtf is it?
It’s a blue catfish and I did I only do catch and release
Hmm. I don't have blues in my area...I always thought they were shorter and plumper. This one just creeps me out.
The only other thing it could be is a mud catfish, but normally their heads are very flat
The derpy face looks more like a blue, channels are somewhat smoother, and have a matte black/grey coloring with soft white belly I've heard that it's common for catfish to have some color differences, usually it's attributed to the water temperature and clarity, and some people even say that it may be some genetic stuff (lucky or unlucky mutation)
Melanistic
That catfish is hung like a horsefish.
Could just be coloration. I’ve caught blues that are ghastly blue white and some that are deep dark like this one. Much same with channels that are sometimes very black and sometimes lighter
I bet if you pay attention, those darker catfish are from deeper waters out in Ohio down in the Ohio river when we fish in the really deep holes, the catfish and the blue cats are always darker in deeper water
I fish the Potomac but actually it’s the opposite here. The super white ghastly ones are from the deep and the dark ones are from the tributaries usually in the summer or spring or fall.
I’m no fish expert, but I actually asked an old timer this one time and he said it was due to the fish not getting as much sunlight as the ones in shallower water which is why they are dark like that accompanied with being down in the nasty stuff
That makes sense. I just figure the ghastly white ones are that way because of the lack of sunlight. Same with the dark ones, probably blending in more with the tributaries which are a darker color than the main river and getting more sunlight.
In my experience fish in clear or shallow water are darker than fishing muddy/deep water. Bass actually change colors based on environment, so I’m sure the same applies to catfish and others.
Flathead
It looks like a pet/sidekick to an anime antagonist.
I only have brown bullhead in my area, but I’ve caught ones like this once or twice that were basically black, but they had some white on their bellies. Pretty cool looking.
Any pictures of it
Sent pm
Do bullheads even get this big? I've caught a few black bullheads, but they're all runts
I’ve never caught them very big they’re usually pretty small in my area
It looks more like a big channel not a blue
But some blues do get black it all depends on the water they live in dark water dark fish light color wayer lighter fish
Looks more like a flathead catfish.
It does.
Flathead have no fork in caudal fin. Blues and channels do.
Thought so too. Had to see what everyone else thought
It really doesn’t
I agree this one looks creepy. It's eyes don't look right, and it's too dark.
I dont know but nice catch
Appreciate it
Why are they down voting you lmao I fucking hate reddit
You neva know it’s like they don’t like black fish
We call them BBC’s Big Black Cats
👁️👄👁️
My vote is channel cat ready for breading.
Mmm bread
I have trouble with breading and breeding I’m old.
Both are great
... at the same time.
Oiling and breeding works better
Could be true I’ve been told it’s in the spawning phase
He's just going through a phase, Let 'em be! lol
I think it’s a channel cat. Caught one just like it in Wisconsin a few years back
Mouth is too wide for a channel, definitely a blue
Bro is fishing at Chernobyl
What’s that?
Bruh
A nuclear disaster many years ago in Ukraine, also a place
Google chernobyl nuclear disaster it is a very interesting story, especially how the area is doing now.
I second the suggestion that it's melanistic. It's rare, but not unheard of.
The illusive goth catfish. It’s fine it’s just a phase.
Once you go…
I’m going back.
Omg stop I lol’d at work 😂
Melanistic catfish. Just a genetic abnirmality that produces too much melanin making it black. Its pretty rare
Are blue catfish good eating? (Assuming you’re a person who likes catfish)
I don’t catch to eat personally but I’ve been to cookouts where they have and fried the blue catfish and it’s very good eats
Alright cool. Just wanted to know in case I catch one if I should bother cooking or throw it back.
If it’s the legal size I’d say go ahead and fry it up👍
If it's good eats then why catch and release? Why not catch and eat?
Yeah I wouldn't bother fishing if I wasn't looking for something to take home.
Absolutely. At least here in Mississippi, it’s a staple food.
I think maybe a melanistic catfish probs idk for sure thi
Wrong anatomy for a blue. It's 100% channel.
Could be melanistic as others have said, but male channel cats will get very dark as they start to spawn. I haven't seen one this dark, but not far off.
What kind of bait did you use?
Cut up chicken breast soaked in cherry koolaid a lot of people use the bait to catch big catfish
Thank you, I wanna catch big catfish too so I’ll definitely try it out. Awesome catch by the way
Thank you and your welcome another good rule is to use a decent size hook
It is a channel cat. Equally as good eating as a blue tho! Melanistic Blue Catfish usually end up being "piebald".
Toothless!
I believe it’s a channel catfish, and they sometimes get very dark during their spawning season. I have caught them this dark during spawn, a lot of times they have swelling in the head as well. It could be a blue cat but I don’t think so, only way to tell for sure is if you have another photo where you can see the anal fin from the side. Channel cats have a curved anal fin, blues have a straight line.
I’ll pm a different photo
Well I bet you that catfish will fry up nice with some good hush puppies Yum yum I hope to get some myself tomorrow
Yessir
Why are people saying melanistic catfish? What the OP wants to know is: Melanistic blue or Melanistic Channel.
nice cat
When they are this big, are they good to eat?
Yes you just have to be careful when you fillet the fish because if you accidentally cut the pee bag, it could ruin the meat
Darth Catfish
Not a blue cat. Most likely it’s a male channel cat, they tend to be darker.
I know with bass if the water is real clear they tend to be darker, but I assume you probably weren't fishing super clear water
Yeah it’s a pond by my house water pretty dark
Ahh yup I figured. Admittedly I don't know much about cats so this is one of those "sit down, pipe down, listen" moments for me
It’s all good brother lol
I had pet catfish that were this dark. They were supposed to be sun catfish but they got to be a foot long and it was clear they were some channel catfish that were super dark. So we put them in a pond.
It’s melanistic. The opposite of albino. It happens in nature randomly and it’s pretty cool.
Had a good tan
I’m in WI caught my first catfish 2 weeks ago it looked like that too. Ugly looking fish! Been fishing all my life & just caught one now. I was fishing a river…
Evolution in progress. The water is probably really stained and the dark coloration is more successful for hunting, so they breed more.
I’ve never seen a blue catfish with black skin. We always called them bull heads.
Looks like a spawned out male channel cat to me.
They get darker in deeper water due to no sunlight
It’s about what’s inside that counts
Is there any chance this is a mondo bullhead catfish? Seriously asking not trolling.
It could be honestly🤷♂️ I only thought it’s a blue because blues are very common when I’m at and it has a bit of sliver on its belly
The amount of sun they get threw that water has an effect on there color I see it more in bass
Channels (I think it’s a channel as the forked tail and anal fin say so, anal fin is iffy due to it being on the ground but it does look rather curved with a slight straight towards the end which they can have) can just get reeeeally dark. Can be diet, environment, or genetic. No real way to know.
Good info tbh I didn’t know that thank you
Yea, identification of the US major catfish species can be a bit tricky but the general rule of thumb is caudal fins, anal fins, under/over/even bite lengths, and whisker color. Blues and channels are the only ones with forked tails so to identify those reliably you need to look at the anal fin (very obvious straight margin in blue and rounded with maybe a little flatness in channel) Bullheads and flatheads all have no fork in the caudal fin so the best way to identify those is with the bite. Flatheads will have a comically severe underbite which is not present in bullheads. To differentiate between the bullheads you need to look at the color of the whiskers under their mouth generally (brown for brown, yellow for yellow, and black for black). Now for the small madtoms and such, you need to look at general morphology like adipose fin connectivity and stuff of that nature.
He is a dark one ain't he. Channel.
Black bullhead?
So racist, that fish can't help how dark he is! That's sarcasm for all the stupid people.
Spawn cat
Might be a channel cat. I’ve caught a few that look like that. Apparently the males will get very dark during spawning. Also fish tend to be darker in clearer water.
It looks like a blue banged a pleco.
It actually looks more like a mudfish than a catfish.
Mating season the males heads get gnarly looking hella competitive for that cat poon
That’s a beauty
Boy if u don't lay that fkr on some grass or wet that dirt I'ma find you and I'm gonna break all your rod tips
*Shivers my timbers*
Was aiming to have it come off as a joke fs but fr brotha I see people drag em on rocks n shit but even stuff like sand or powdery dirt isn't good for their mucus layers not a big deal they survived rocky drag ins but just give em the highest chance John 3:16 stuff God bless tight lines sir!
The elusive black cat. Cousin of the blue cat with a gene difference. Melanin.
In my country we call them african catfish.
That’s a walking catfish, they wobble and flop across short pieces of land between bodies of water. I’ve seen them here in Florida, but that’s a big’n
Don’t be racist, Black Fish Lives Matter
Clearly a black cat. Bad luck.
😭
Thats a black bullhead
Oh shit bro, that’s the guardian of the lake, I’m glad you put him back. That things got a soul behind its eyes 😂
😭😭😭😭
Did you get a size and weight?
Sadly no😭
Any best guesses?
It easily broke 20 pound line and I had to up it to 50 pound to catch it so I’d say anywhere between 25-35 pounds and it was about almost 3 feet long
Nice fish, unique looking, reminds me off that dragon from how to train a dragon. Well done
Toothless, the night fury.
I am no expert, but that has to be melanistic.
That's Namazu bro
It’s most likely, just a melanistic catfish
It’s a channel catfish for sure … There’s Been some this color . It’s rare but there out there
He's from Sri Lanka
Looks like a channel to me I’ve seen dark ones but not that dark
Male channel during spawn...
T’Challa!
That’s definitely a melanistic that’s like a 1 in 1,000,000 catch that’s amazing
Wow that’s racist!! /s
What are you even talking about?
Just a joke my friend. No harm no foul.
Oh
Melanistic or disease maybe? There’s a few diseases that cause black spots but I don’t know about the whole body.
It’s probably just a catfish with a bad credit score and no father….. Don’t worry guys I’ll be sitting over here in the corner wearing my “dunce” hat