The gafftopsail catfish is a member of the sea catfish family. Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2007 5:26 am. Species Status Native; View All Species; Appearance. Gafftopsail Catfish. bigfost. A catfish sting causes severe pain and inflammation at the site of the sting. Those that become poisoned by these catfish will require immediate medical treatment. Catfish are naturally tolerant to pollution, eutrophication, and low . The gafftopsail catfish remains a fish of interest. Of the three catfish, only the sailcat and gafftop are the ones you hear about people eating, but even then, most anglers seem to dismiss catfish for their reputation of being . Bagre marinus. Size: Common at 1-3 pounds, but can . Brittany Leatherwood earned a $20,000 scholarship in 2011 with a S.T.A.R. This species will require to be kept in a tank that is very large. May 2016 #10. poonman wrote: . Place catfish fillets into a baking dish and allow to come to room temperature. The male of the species fertilizes the eggs of the female, and broods them in his mouth until they hatch. Look closely and you can see the sharp spines that support the dorsal, or back, fin and the pectoral fins on the fish's sides. The cold only makes the toxins more powerful and the pain worse. The first dorsal and pectoral fin rays are long and ribbonlike also, and the head is covered in rugose, bony shield. A close look reveals the sharp spines that support the dorsal, or back, fin and the pectoral fins on the fish's sides. Another name for the gaff-top is the "Crucifix Catfish". They . If you are stung by a catfish, you need to do several things: Get off the water. Two chin barbels and two long, flat, ribbon-like barbels at the corners of the mouth. Not recommended for classic aquariums. Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:39 pm. It feeds on crustaceans and other fish. Often, these fish are mistaken for the . But if you can't see the bottom of the live well then just cut em up and use em as tarpon bait. (Photo: CCA- Texas) For anyone who has never caught a gafftop, all of the talk about slime earlier in the story might seem unusual, but it is true. A large hardhead is generally not more than 3 or 4 pounds. Yes, it is safe to eat catfish. Hardhead and Gafftopsail Catfish are not poisonous to eat, at least not directly. The fish average 2.5 pounds, but can get as big as 15 pounds. The fish is low in calories and has a lot of vitamins and minerals. 2. The gafftopsail catfish enters turbid . Catfish, Gafftopsail. Their dorsal and pectoral fins each have a very sharp, toxic, slime-covered, barbed, and serrated spine. Catfish have whiskers protruding from the area around the mouth. Gafftopsail Catfish, Bagre marinus. Posts: 3392. In this catch clean cook video, we go inshore fishing in Stuart, Florida on our flats boat! Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP; Reviewed on 9/24/2021. Slime dries out and seals the wound, will stop it from . . Do not use ice. I never pass up an oppo. Bluish-green back, fading to a silver-white belly; Three prominent, sharp spines (one at beginning of dorsal fin and one on each pectoral fin) The three prominent spines have elongated, fleshy filaments; The Gafttopsail Catfish claims its name from the protruding spine from the top of its dorsal fin, which extends much like a mast from a sail boat. The Gafftopsail Catfish are found from Mid-Atlantic to South America including the entire Gulf of Mexico.The Gafftopsail reach a size of 42 inches average weight 15lbs.They are found inshore to water 100 feet deep.These catfish incubate their eggs and young inside their mouths.They occur largely in water 15 feet to 75feet in depth in open water, bays,and sand flats in the summer. For your own safety, head to shore right away. 1 specimen basically needs at least 8400cm 2 of water surface which is approximately 1302 square inch. Saltwater catfish usually fall into one of three main types of catfish. 4. Like burbot, they also produce slime as a defense and stress response, which is especially copious on a hooked gafftopsail . If the water is crystal clear ill eat catfish all day long. Dorsal and pectoral fins have serrated spines that are coated with a venomous slime that can inflict a painful puncture wound. Incorporating baked or broiled catfish into your regular diet can help you promote a healthy weight and reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. TKF 3000 Club. Can't thank you enough. These spines are not only sharp, they're coated with toxic slime, too. The reason for this can be seen when the catfish carcass is boiled clean of all flesh leaving a skeletal replica of Christ on the Cross. Length: 28 cm (11 inches). However, If caught in polluted water, saltwater catfish may have unhealthy toxins or heavy metals. Hey Tex! It must be the same fish that you use to scrape the slime off. texnomad wrote: Back in galveston fresh cut mullet were my best bait during the gafftopsail catfish runs. . Health Topics Symptoms and Signs Supplements Medications Slideshows Images Quizzes. Location: Hammer Whisperer, TX. Sailcats. gafftop. Is poisonous and will eat smaller fish. Plus if you over cook em they taste so bad the dog doesn't eat them. greyloon wrote: Get stuck by a hard head or gafftop, rub some catfish slime on the wound. Location: Westhiemer and Sam Houston TW; Channel 69 on VHF; "THE DUDE ABIDES" "NICE MARMOT&. Gafftopsail Catfish Bagre marinus. When catfish is not cooked, it is not safe to eat it. Apart from their dangerous spines and poisonous barbs, a thick and toxic slime also covers the body of a sail cat. Preheat oven to 350F. first Aid & injuries center Topic Guide. Spawning seems to take place in May, with the male holding up to 55 eggs in his mouth until they hatch, and then holding the young fish for several weeks thereafter. Catfish Sting. Tight lines. Gafftopsail catfish are named for the dorsal fin that rises from their back like a sail. This slime is toxic and can cause a significant amount of harm to handlers. Depends on how you cook em and the water color. They can be found near beaches, canals, mangroves, under docks, and around river mouths in brackish . It is a blue-grey or dark brown in color and can be found in various parts of the world. Immerse the injury in hot water. Bay Animals Gafftopsail catfish are covered with copious amounts of mucous and when hooked, will leave a generous amount on the fishing line above the hook. by ShotMagnet Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:12 pm. The Where and Why of Gafftopsail Cats. This is the saltwater "Hardhead" catfish. Fish caught in the Cooper River, South Carolina, March 2011. The slime can get all over the place, making it such a pain if you happen to catch one accidentally. Hardhead catfish. Add 2-parts cilantro to 1-part mayonnaise in a bowl and blend. Average size is about 2.5 pounds with larger fish caught in the . These spines are not only sharp, they also have a coating of toxic slime. Grab your pesto or make your own by combining cilantro, almonds, a squeeze of lemon, garlic, salt, and oil. 5. They are dimorphic with females having larger pelvic fins than males. Gafftopsail Catfish. . . A sting can cause nausea and leave you feeling lightheaded. Its been documented that catfish slime has healing power. The gafftopsail catfish (Bagre marinus) is found in the waters of the western central Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.It has long, venomous spines which can cause painful wounds. Loving that Mini-X. Gafftopsail Sea Catfish can grow up to 70 cm what is approximately 27 inches. It has one pair of mental barbels as well maxillary barbels that extend beyond pectoral fin base, and are long and ribbonlike. The gaff-top also exudes a protective slime when caught that can be offensive to some and hard to handle by anglers. These fish have more slime on them than any other . Here are some unique characteristics that can help you identify a gafftopsail catfish: Tall, sail-like dorsal fin; Silver-white . Saltwater catfish have venomous spines, so this may be the source of the misinformed rumors. Brown to olive green back that fades to a silvery side then to a yellow to white belly. Can grow up to 10 pounds. Gafftopsail catfish were named for the tall fin that rises from their back like a sail. Beautiful day inshore saltwater fishing and we start the day live. Gafftopsail catfish (Barge marinus) generally grow quicker and larger than hardheadsa big gafftop can reach 24-plus inches and weigh in the 10-pound range. Gafftopsail Catfish, Bagre marinus. 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