Contents
All about ways to catch catfish, lures, spawning and habitats
A family of fish that includes two genera, consisting of five species. At the same time, one species belongs to the genus of eel catfish, and the remaining four are combined into the second genus. All catfish live in temperate and cold waters of the northern hemisphere. Fish have a peculiar appearance: a large head, powerful jaws with large teeth, an elongated body with comb-shaped fins. The fish is called a sea wolf or a fish – a dog, this is due to the fact that the front teeth resemble the fangs of predators. At the same time, on the palate and the back of the jaws are tuberculate teeth, necessary in order to crush the hard parts of the bodies of the victims. This appearance is directly related to lifestyle. The main food of catfish are benthic inhabitants: molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms. In addition, fish are quite capable of hunting fish or jellyfish. Teeth are changed every year. The size of the fish can reach more than 2 m in length and weight, about 30 kg. Catfish lead a benthic lifestyle. In summer, they mainly live near the coast on rocky ground, and also prefer thickets of algae, but in search of food they can also stay on the sandy-muddy bottom. Most often, catfish can be found at depths up to 1500 m. In summer, the fish stay at relatively shallow depths, and in winter they go below 500 m. A catfish caught by an inexperienced or careless angler can cause injuries – the fish strongly resist and bite. At the same time, the jaws that crush the shells of mollusks can cause serious injury.
Fishing methods
Taking into account the fact that the fish lives in the bottom layer and at sufficiently great depths, the main method of fishing is bottom gear. It is worth noting here that some fish may grab lures when catching cod or other fish that live in the same region. When fishing from the bottom, anglers use tackle with a lead sinker, which they “bale” along the bottom. It has been noticed that the catfish are attracted by deaf, soft taps on the stone bottom. This probably reminds her of the movements of the main food. At the same time, some anglers even try to feed catfish.
Catching catfish on bottom sea gear
Fishing takes place from boats of various classes at great depths of the northern seas. For bottom fishing, anglers use spinning, sea rods. For gear, the main requirement is reliability. Reels should be with an impressive supply of fishing line or cord. In addition to a trouble-free braking system, the coil must be protected from salt water. Bottom fishing from a vessel may differ in the principles of baiting. In many types of sea fishing, fast reeling of gear may be required, which means a high gear ratio of the winding mechanism. According to the principle of operation, coils can be both multiplier and inertial-free. Accordingly, the rods are selected depending on the reel system. When bottom fishing for marine fish, fishing technique is very important. To select the correct wiring, you should consult experienced local anglers or guides. The use of steel lures such as a jigsaw or other is possible, but less effective than using rigs. In the case of fishing with tapping on the bottom, such gear is quickly destroyed, and most importantly, they create a louder sound than lead, which is less suitable for catching catfish. For fishing, various rigs with lead sinkers of various shapes are best suited: from “cheburashka” to curved “droplets”, sufficient weight for use at great depths. The leash, most often, is attached sequentially and has a length, sometimes up to 1m (usually 30-40 cm). The use of a “retractable” leash is also possible. In order to exclude breaks in the equipment from the teeth of the fish, thick monofilament leader materials (0.8mm) are used. Accordingly, the hooks must be selected in relation to the intended production and sufficient strength. Some anglers find it better to use long shank metal leaders and hooks. Many snaps are supplied with additional beads or various octopuses and other things. It is worth noting here that the use of various accessories increases the versatility and ease of use of the equipment, but requires a more careful attitude to the reliability of the equipment. It is necessary to use only high-quality products, otherwise “unexpected” losses of trophies may occur. The principle of fishing is quite simple, after lowering the sinker in a vertical position to a predetermined depth, the angler makes periodic twitches of tackle, according to the principle of vertical flashing. In the case of an active bite, this, sometimes, is not required. “Landing” of fish on hooks can occur when lowering the equipment or from the pitching of the vessel.
Baits
For catching catfish, various baits are used, both artificial and natural. For baits on hook rigs, silicone imitations, cuts from local fish or shellfish are used. Before amateur fishing, consult guides or experienced anglers about the tastes of local fish. In some cases, some food preferences or equipment features are possible. Fishing options are known when anglers used crushed mollusks to attract catfish.
Places of fishing and habitat
As already mentioned, catfish are inhabitants of the seas with cold and cool waters of temperate and northern latitudes. The catfish is found in the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic, White and Barents Seas.
Spawning
Spawning dates for catfish depend on the region of residence and species. They can be, both in autumn – winter, and in spring. Catfish caviar is bottom, fish spawns in nests, which males guard, while they can attack anyone approaching. Larvae develop for quite a long time, especially in the case of winter spawning. Young fish begin to live in the water column, feeding on plankton. Having reached a size of 5-8 cm, they move to dwelling at the bottom.