Is this a flathead cat?

[Blackmouth]

Identify by the fins

http://wildlife.tamu.edu/files/2010/04/2_Identify_Catfish.pdf

[mrc]

We call those chuckleheads, I believe they are a cross between a blue and a channel.

[duckmanep]

Male channel

Mating season.

Lips swell

Head swells

I thought if the 'lips' swell it was a female, and if the 'head' swells it was a male?!?!

[SaltwaterSlick]

The absolute easiest to tell if it's a flathead or not is to examine the fins (dorsal and pectoral)... Flatheads to not have hard spiny fins that can stick you like a blue or channel cat does. The one in the pic has hard fins, so no matter what it may be, it is NOT a flathead. Looks like a pond channel to me. If it's a bullhead, you need to get it to a certified scale, weigh it and contact TPWD records program because that is a world class bullhead.

[88 Bound]

Male channel

Mating season.

Lips swell

Head swells

I'd trust this answer over the others.

[jp77]

The absolute easiest to tell if it's a flathead or not is to examine the fins (dorsal and pectoral)... Flatheads to not have hard spiny fins that can stick you like a blue or channel cat does. The one in the pic has hard fins, so no matter what it may be, it is NOT a flathead. Looks like a pond channel to me. If it's a bullhead, you need to get it to a certified scale, weigh it and contact TPWD records program because that is a world class bullhead.

For sure had spiny dorsal and pectoral fins. I am going to have to agree and say it’s a pond channel, after seeing the pic from Fayetteville and then taking into account the still black water we caught it in, seems like we have a winner! Thank you everyone!


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[huntindude]

Channel cat


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[Passthrough]

Male channel

Mating season.

Lips swell

Head swells

Exactly!

[LFD2037]

I thought if the 'lips' swell it was a female, and if the 'head' swells it was a male?!?!

[TexasBowtech]

Blue

[OldRiverRat]

Channel


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[Dave]

[Thorcules]

Channel

[Thorcules]

Or maybe blue...I can’t decide. Haha

[Muskles]

If you want to find out if it's a flathead, stick your fingers in it's mouth. Flathead have sandpaper teeth, the others will likely leave your fingers bleeding or really sore. The channel cats in my tank are sometimes dark and ugly like that. Regardless of my input, I'd take fishndude's assessment to the bank.