fishrmans Loc: Waushara Cnty Wisconsin and Port Charlotte Fl

I know all about hardhead salt water catfish. I have caught plenty of them, and I know gafftopsail catfish. It is the one you call a “flathead “ salt water catfish that I have never heard of.

Paul britton Loc: Carlsbad nm

Well yall have different species my buddy called this one coastal cat

Paul britton Loc: Carlsbad nm

believe me I k ow my cats

FinFisherman Loc: Born in Ohio - 40 yrs Florida- Clearwater,Fl

Did you Google "saltwater hardhead catfish"? That maybe different name for same fish. Ill bet the boys in Louisiana have their own name for hardhead saltwater cats. They are not sail cats.

fishrmans Loc: Waushara Cnty Wisconsin and Port Charlotte Fl

No, a hard head and a sail cat are two different fish. I have caught many of each. I just never caught what you call a flathead salt water catfish. I think in your earlier post when you said flathead saltwater catfish you meant hardhead saltwater catfish. Check your earlier post.

FinFisherman Loc: Born in Ohio - 40 yrs Florida- Clearwater,Fl

I talk backwards sometimes. Not ment as different fish. Hardhead saltwater or Saltwater hardhead is same catfish. At least it's in English not Fin.

ECarl Loc: STURGIS, Michigan

I’ll be darned! I just bought a Sailboat with a Gaff Top Sail, but I sure don’t want to try eating that bugger.
Ecarl

FinFisherman Loc: Born in Ohio - 40 yrs Florida- Clearwater,Fl

I'll trade you one you can eat for the one you ride in

Just1Fish Loc: Woodstock, GA

Of all these years I didn't know saltwater cats were edible. The ones we used to catch on the east coast of Florida were thrown back. Their barb produced a wicked nasty venomous sting where the pain lasted for days and often produced a wart on the skin. We also threw blowfish back but now I hear they are a delicacy. Like the old lady on the Wendy's commercials used to say, "where's the beef?"

FinFisherman Loc: Born in Ohio - 40 yrs Florida- Clearwater,Fl

You learn something new everyday! I was fortunate about 45 years ago staying with my brother in Safety Harbor on Tampa Bay we meet a couple of old timers fishing in the bay and they were catching hardhead catfish. Asking them if they were edible. The 2 of them were pleased to fill us in on many pieces of info. How to catch, dehook, clean and their favorite ways of cooking. 1 even ask if we wanted to supper with him. He had a spare rod that he said we would have to share and catch our own supper. We caught a few and learned more. We learned you don't eat them right out of the water. You fillet the fish soak the fillets in salt water refrigerated for no less than 12 hours. Then the cooking starts. He also told us about smoking the cats which wasn't much different than my great grandpa did to catfish we caught as kids. Anyway the old guy rinsed the fillets in fresh water, dried them ,dipped them in egg said that made the breading stick, flopped the fillets around in breading and slid the fish into frying pan. He used Crisco which I've gotten away from. Fried them golden brown and shoved plates at my brother & me. Kept saying good huh. They were great so been hooked on cats since. And anytime since I see an old timer fishing I look to see what they're catching. If there's cats I bend their ears. Most talk some don't but now I'm an old timer sooo you got it.

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

One trick I learned fishing the canells of Arizona growing up. If they are still alive when you get home, fill a Washtub with water from the hose. Put the cats in the water for 2-3 hours. Now they won't taste like the water you caught them in. They will swim around and clean themselves. The wife will not let me use the bathtub for some silly reason. LOL

FinFisherman Loc: Born in Ohio - 40 yrs Florida- Clearwater,Fl

I just throw them in a 5gal bucket of fresh water I then dump the water over my cleaning board. I did bull frogs in the bathtub once and found out they weren't dead. Chased frogs around the house for 2 hours. Learned bathtub was off limits for anything but people

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

Bet that was a Hopping good time. LOL Women are so sensitive about bathtubs. LOL

FinFisherman Loc: Born in Ohio - 40 yrs Florida- Clearwater,Fl

I taught my daughter & grand daughter by marriage right. They both fish, bait they're own hook, take the fish off. I still clean the fish by choice.