Open Year-Round

Catfish

Families Ariidae and Plotosidae

Also known as: Catty, blue catfish

DPIRD Category Nearshore / Estuarine
Peak Season Year-round
Difficulty Beginner
Fight Rating ★☆☆☆☆
Catfish

Regulations & Limits

NEARSHORE / ESTUARINE

Limits by Bioregion

West Coast N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
South Coast N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
Gascoyne N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
Pilbara N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
North Coast (Kimberley) N/A
Species not commonly found in this region

ℹ️ Regulations can change. Always verify current rules at rules.fish.wa.gov.au

Size & Weight

Typical Size25-40 cm
Max Size60 cm
Typical Weight0.5-2 kg
Max Weight5 kg

Habitat

Where: Estuaries, rivers, muddy bays and harbours statewide

Depth: 0-20m

ID Features: Whisker-like barbels around mouth, smooth skin without scales, venomous dorsal and pectoral spines

Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak Available Poor

Peak: Year-round | Water Temp: 16-30°C

How to Catch Catfish

1

Bait fishing

Setup

  • Line: PE 0.6-1
  • Leader: 10-20lb fluorocarbon

Best Baits

  • Prawns
  • Chicken
  • Fish pieces

Eating Quality

★★☆☆☆ Fair

Flesh: White, soft flesh with muddy flavour in some areas

Best cooked: Battered and fried, curry

The Fight

★☆☆☆☆ 1/5

Minimal fight. Main challenge is avoiding the venomous spines when handling. Part of the Catfish and Estuary Cobbler group.

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