Recreational Fish for Recreational Fishing
Channel, blue, and flathead catfish species offer fun, food, and commercial value to the region. Credit: USFWS
A Proud Past A Bright Future
America's pristine waters once supported plentiful and robust fisheries. Our Nation's natural treasures appeared to be abundant without end. The United States fueled the industrial revolution with resources of water, timber, minerals and wildlife. Then the fish began to disappear...
We still raise largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish, but on a limited scale and primarily for stocking National Wildlife Refuges and other federal waterways.
Conserving America's Fisheries
Americans love fish. We catch them for food, income, and recreation. We photograph them, display them on walls, and watch them in aquariums. We pursue them in pristine wilderness and crowded urban waters. But America's vital fish resources are still threatened by habitat degradation, pollution, dams, competition from invasive species and over-harvest.
The Fisheries Program works for the public to conserve species and their habitats. By diligent application of sound science, effective management practices, and dedicated partnerships, the Fisheries Program helps ensure sustainable use of America's fish for today and tomorrow.
Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
Channel Catfish. Credit: USFWS
Channel catfish are members of the Ictaluridae family. Catfish lack scales and possess an adipose fin, as well as a single, often serrated spine in the dorsal and pectoral fins. There are four pairs of barbels ("whiskers") around the mouth, two on the chin, one at the angle of the mouth, and one behind the nostril. The channel catfish is generally gray to greenish-gray on the upper part of its slender body, silver to white on its lower half and belly and has a deeply forked tail. Small adults and juveniles have black or dusky spots on their body.
The sportfishing record channel catfish is a specimen from Georgia that weighed 32 pounds. Catfish have numerous external taste buds, many of which are located on the barbels. Consequently, they can taste something by simply touching it with their barbels.
Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Largemouth Bass. Credit: USFWS
The largemouth bass is indisputably the most sought-after freshwater game fish in North America, and this species commands the attention of resource management agencies primarily as a result of its recreational fishery value. Largemouth bass are an important predator species in the fish communities they inhabit. Wherever they are present, the condition of the bass population usually affects the overall quality of fishing more than any other factor. The hatchery raises over 1 million largemouth bass a year.
Bass are a favorite sports fish of anglers all over Louisiana . . . the "Sportsman's Paradise."
Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
Bluegill. Credit: USFWS
Bluegill are a freshwater fish, although they will venture into slightly salty water. Bluegill like quiet waters such as lakes, ponds and slow flowing rivers and streams. Bluegill have small mouths and an oval shaped body. The fish is olive green on the upper body and light yellow on its belly. Dark bands run up and down from the back fading into the belly. Bluegill are a member of the sunfish family.
Easy to catch, bluegill make a good pan fish. They are often the first fish that a young fisherman catches.
Bluegill often called sunfish or bream are found throughout Louisiana waters.
Other information on recreational fishing can for found on state wildlife and fishery sites and Recreational Fishing.gov.
For Louisiana hunting and fishing regulations see Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
