Fish

Gafftopsail catfish

Bagre bandera

Bagre marinus

Guide by Captain Big Joe (Joe Arias)

SaltwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

Most are around 20 in (50 cm).

Depth

From the surface down to 164 ft (50 m).

Best time

Dawn, dusk and the first hours of a moving tide are the best windows.

Found in

9 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Saltwater catfish with long whip-like extensions on the dorsal and pectoral spines and long flat barbels.
Typical size: Most are around 20 in (50 cm).
Maximum size: Up to about 27 in (69 cm) long and 10 lb (4.4 kg). Source: FishBase
Diet: The gafftopsail catfish eats whatever it finds over mud and sand; adults feed mainly on small fish and invertebrates.
Behavior: It lives mostly in the sea but enters salty estuaries, and is often caught from bridges and piers. Its back and side fin spines are serrated and venomous.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Florida Atlantic Coast, Florida Gulf Coast, South Florida & Keys, Northern Gulf (AL–TX), Mexico Gulf Coast, Mexican Caribbean & Belize, Central America, Colombia & Venezuela and Georgia & South Carolina.
Habitat: Bays, passes, surf and channels.
Depth: From the surface down to 164 ft (50 m).
Fishing depth: 1–8 ft on flats and shorelines; 6–20 ft in channels, holes and docks.
Best season: Fishable all year in Florida and the Gulf; cold fronts push fish into deeper creeks, canals and holes in winter.
Best time: Dawn, dusk and the first hours of a moving tide are the best windows.
Best tides: A moving tide — especially the last of the outgoing and first of the incoming — is best.
Best weather / conditions: Calm to light wind for sight-fishing; a light chop helps in clear water. Fish slow after cold fronts.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Cut fish, shrimp and squid.
Best artificial lures: Will hit jigs and spoons.
Tackle setup: 7 ft medium-light to medium spinning rod with a 2500–3000 reel.
Hook size: 1/0–3/0 circle hook for live bait; 1/8–1/4 oz jig heads for soft plastics.
Line: 10–15 lb braid.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Bays, passes, surf and channels.
Rig up: 7 ft medium-light to medium spinning rod with a 2500–3000 reel. 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Pick your bait: Cut fish, shrimp and squid. Lures: Will hit jigs and spoons.
Fish it: Bottom rig with cut bait; they also hit lures meant for redfish.
Time it: Dawn, dusk and the first hours of a moving tide are the best windows. A moving tide — especially the last of the outgoing and first of the incoming — is best.

Fishing techniques: Bottom rig with cut bait; they also hit lures meant for redfish.
BigJoe's tip: Covered in slime — keep a towel handy and watch those spines.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Cook fish to 145°F (63°C) — the flesh turns opaque and flakes easily. Fry, grill, bake or blacken.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Venomous serrated spines in the dorsal and pectoral fins cause very painful wounds. Step on the fish with a shoe and use pliers.
Regulations: Check local rules. A Florida fishing license is required unless you are exempt; Florida rules are set by FWC (myfwc.com). Federal waters fall under NOAA Fisheries. Other states and countries set their own limits — check before you keep fish.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.

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Sources & photo credits