Bad catfish?

[bbq_esq]

I’ve purchased or ordered catfish many many times, and always really enjoyed it. Typically its thin, light pink filets. I believe it is typically farm raised, as I understand it's a fish that takes well to the "farming process".

The other night I needed to pick something up for a quick dinner, so I figured I'd blacken some fish. I stopped at our new Whole Foods (not my usual but its now on the way home from my office) and I saw wild-caught blue catfish for $9.99/lb. Grabbed a big 1lb filet that was quite thick in the middle compared to other ones, but nothing wrong with that.

Did my usual blackening process and cooked to around 135-140 as I normally do. Looked great but the moment I cut into it, something seemed wrong. It didn't flake easily like it normally would, but rather was very tough, and felt like cutting through undercooked dark meat chicken. Really unpleasant and ended up in the garbage.

So, can any catfish experts chime in? Is farmed really better? Is there something about catfish where its just better some months vs others, or was this just a bad piece?

[Uncle Bob]

Due to your size description it may have been an old, tough geezer...

[dpearce]

+ 1 Ate a lot of fresh caught catfish growing up. Filet thin, when grilling, you could technically leave the skin on, I preferred skin off (liked to season both sides). And of course, fully skinless when putting it into a stew, chopped. I'm guessing he got a tough ol' bird. Probably a good candidate for breading and frying.

[HawkerXP]

+2

[Jerod Broussard]

Some catfish can be really tough. Some of the tray pack stuff, which doesn't seem to be catfish but more like Siluriformes from another country, I have fried to 165-170 to get it really good.

Many a catfish back home cooked in a white gravy slow cooked to tenderness.

[Oak Smoke]

Wild caught may de a worthwhile clue. Some of those old big blues could very well tuff or a different texture. I don’t keep blue cats above 20 pounds but if I were selling the meat I’d definitely keep big ones. Farm raised channel cat blackens nicely if you don’t have time to catch them.

[dpearce]

Panhead John that should go without saying! Just sayin'

[Oak Smoke]

As Panhead John just said buy American. I just stopped getting fish at one of my favorite local restaurants because they switched to Vietnamese Swai fish. It taste great but the list of warnings on it is terrible.

[texastweeter]

Big flathead/yellow cats can still be great as long as you cut out the red stripe of meat. Channels are my favorite though.

[HawkerXP]

Blue Cats are considered invasive in some parts. I saw a video where they are now found in the

Blue Catfish
The Blue Catfish is native to the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio River basins but has been introduced to many U.S. states for recreational fishing. In Virginia, they were stocked in the 1970s–1980s and have since spread to surrounding waters, including the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware River delawareinvasives.net. They are opportunistic bottom-feeders, consuming native fish, eggs, and other aquatic life, and can outcompete or prey on native species. Because of their rapid growth, high fecundity, and ability to survive in varied conditions, they are classified as invasive in some states, such as Delaware, where a 2013 regulation bans their transport, sale, and possession delawareinvasives.net. They are not native to many of the waters they now inhabit, and their spread is considered ecologically damaging.

Domestic (Blue) Cats
Domestic cats, including blue-eyed or blue-shaded varieties, are not native to North America and were introduced by European settlers. They are now considered invasive in ecological terms because they prey on native wildlife, including birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, and can spread diseases like toxoplasmosis and rabies iere.org+2. Studies estimate that free-ranging and feral cats kill billions of native animals annually in the U.S., contributing to species decline or local extinctions Biodiversity Center. Wildlife managers classify them as invasive species due to their non-native status and harmful ecological impacts.
Commercial and Recreational Targeting


Because of their abundance and size (some exceeding 100 pounds), commercial and recreational fishermen are actively targeting them. Maryland has no recreational creel limit and encourages anglers to catch them, while commercial operations use haul seines and trot lines Wired2Fish. In Virginia, the state has created a Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Program to expand processing capacity, paying businesses to buy and sell more catfish to markets Virginia Mercury. This “if you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em” approach aims to reduce their numbers while creating a new seafood industry.


Summary

• Blue Catfish: Invasive in many states where they were introduced; regulated in some (e.g., Delaware) due to ecological harm.
• Domestic Blue Cats: Invasive in ecological terms; regulated in some areas to protect native wildlife.

If you are referring to a specific “Blue Cat” in your area, check local wildlife or fisheries regulations to confirm its invasive status.

[Oak Smoke]

RiverJeff Good point! Since I don’t skin domestic cats that would be with fur on. It should help limit sticking to the skillet.

[Panhead John]

I prefer orange tabby roughy…..

[DaveD]

Oak Smoke And as we all know, there is more than one way to do that...

[SheilaAnn]

Panhead John ☹️☹️☹️

[Panhead John]

No way I could eat that cutie pie! 😂

[DaveD]

I don't know from catfish, but "Bad Catfish" is a great band name waiting to happen...

[Purc]

What type of rod does a cat fish with?

[Oak Smoke]

A rat rod of course.