![]() That being said, it should be noted that every single fish studied had at least some toxins within! It is true that bottom feeders are more readily exposed to whatever chemicals happen to be in the water than other species, including toxins if they are present.Ī Serbian study from earlier this year examined how different species of fish in the Danube River accumulate toxins over time, and researchers found that bottom feeders tend to have a higher toxin accumulation rate relative to other species. The short answer is that it depends on where you’re fishing. However, that doesnt stop many folks from enjoying them! Are Bottom Feeders Safe to Eat?Ĭatfish do bottom feed a fair bit (though not always), so this question is still relevant. So even if the mud irks you, don’t let catfish fillets from the store do the same!Ĭonversely, smaller catfish that often inhabit small ponds and swampy wetlands like the yellow bullhead have a reputation for tasting muddy and feeding on the bottom. They scavenge when necessary but will hunt when they can, and the Wels has even been seen launching itself out onto river banks to eat resting birds!īoth species have been recorded at well over 100 pounds, and heavy-duty tackle is required if you hope to land one without snapping your rod in two.įarmed catfish are even further removed from the bottom, and actually feed primarily on the top of the water as they’re fed with floating pellets. Some species, like the flathead catfish ( Pylodictisolivaris) and Europe’s feared Wels catfish ( Silurus glanis), are full-blown apex predators. This is the very same food source that striped and white bass feed on for their protein, and anglers have no qualms about eating those fish by the boatload. The fish are said to hit hard and fast if they see a twitching morsel, so get ready for a fight!īlue catfish ( Ictalurus furcatus) have been known to chase down schooling bait fish like shad and herring when they run up the rivers where the catfish live, and will bite readily if a live one is hooked and cast out. Topwater lures like propeller baits can attract catfish in the same way if grasshoppers are hard to find. Wild channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus) are known to slurp down insects such as grasshoppers that get stuck on the water’s surface, and you can even fish for them using this topwater strategy. Nothing is true 100 percent of the time, however, and some catfish come up off of the bottom much more than one would expect. Yes, this means that if you’ve ever held a catfish, it knows what your hands taste like! Their ‘whiskers’ are sensory barbels that allow them to feel around for food in the sediment, and their smooth skin is actually completely covered in taste receptors that clue them in if they brush up against anything edible. Catfish do exhibit many common bottom-feeder traits, and their bodies are even adapted for this lifestyle. ![]()
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