Flathead catfish

US fish and state coverage

Pylodictis olivaris

A state link is a recorded source association, not a catch guarantee or confirmation that targeting is legal. Check current regulations with the responsible state agency.

Peak months
Typical depth
Typical size
Catch minimum
36 inches or 25 lb
National record

See state records · Browse all fishing records

Biology, seasons and size reflect the canonical source record, which may contain Florida context. They are not state-specific guidance for every linked state. Missing fields remain unfilled.

Overview

Habitat summary
Flathead are found in the Apalachicola and Escambia rivers, where they recently arrived from Georgia and Alabama. Flatheads prefer long, slow-flowing, moderately-turbid rivers.
Diet
They feed on other fish, especially catfish and sunfish.
Water type
freshwater

When to fish

Good months
Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
Seasonality
Spawning occurs in late spring.
Bite time of day
They bite best at night while in shallow water looking for food.

Where to fish

Habitat summary
Flathead are found in the Apalachicola and Escambia rivers, where they recently arrived from Georgia and Alabama. Flatheads prefer long, slow-flowing, moderately-turbid rivers.
Habitat zone
freshwater
Fishing zone
freshwater

How to catch

Techniques
Their solitary lifestyle makes them more difficult to catch than other catfish. They bite best at night while in shallow water looking for food. To catch flatheads, anglers typically fish on the bottom using heavy tackle with live or freshly cut fish. Image Credit: © Duane Raver, Jr.

Bait & lures

Preferred bait
To catch flatheads, anglers typically fish on the bottom using heavy tackle with live or freshly cut fish.

Size

Catch minimum (source context, not current legal advice)
36 inches or 25 lb

Records

Recorded catches retain their source scope; state and world catches are not national records.

state record evidence

Source context: Florida

Record type
florida state
Record weight lb
69.9
Record length in
48.5
Record location
Yellow River, Santa Rosa
Record date
8/26/2020
Record angler
Lavon Nowling
Record catch text
69.9 lb; 48.5 in; by Lavon Nowling; on 8/26/2020; at Yellow River, Santa Rosa

Browse sourced catches for this species

Related states & places

Place links are planning context, not proof of local species presence. Florida city links marked local context follow existing directory relationships, not catch reports.

Source-linked directories

Real local listings currently cover Florida only. Boat-ramp, charter and creator links below follow existing Florida species relationships. Bait-shop links are city context only, not species-targeting evidence.

Boat ramps — Florida

Selected examples from 357 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida boat ramps directory

Bait shops — Florida

Selected examples from 97 source-linked city-context records.

Browse the Florida bait shops directory

Fishing creators — Florida

Selected examples from 6 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida fishing creators directory

Related species

Navigation links share a recorded scientific genus or a source state and water-type grouping. This is not a claim of identical habitat or legal targeting.

Source evidence by state

Florida

State guide · State species

common name local
Flathead Catfish
scientific name local
Pylodictis olivaris
water type local
freshwater
enrichment status
enriched
waterbodies
Escambia river
geo regions fl
Panhandle
range precision
waterbody
record catch text
69.9 lb; 48.5 in; by Lavon Nowling; on 8/26/2020; at Yellow River, Santa Rosa

Legacy Florida source profiles

LoveToFish is a national fishing guide. Fish species coverage spans all 50 states. Ramp, charter, bait shop, and creator directories currently cover Florida. Verify current local regulations with the responsible agency.