Catfish: Freshwater Monsters and Trophy Giants

Catfish are absolute monsters lurking in freshwater systems around the world. These bottom dwellers

are pure opportunistic eating machines. Their diet includes literally everything from smaller fish,

crayfish, insects, and mollusks to plant matter and even carrion.

They use their sensory barbels, those whisker-like organs around their mouth,

to taste and smell food in murky water where visibility is zero. Spawning season

hits when water temperatures climb between 70 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit, typically late spring

through early summer. Males prepare nests in secluded spots like hollow logs, undercut banks,

or rocky crevices. After females deposit eggs, males guard them aggressively until