Walking Catfish
Clarias batrachus
Walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) is a hardy air-breathing catfish that can wriggle over damp land between waters. It is an invasive, opportunistic feeder in many places and is often caught as a nuisance or bycatch rather than a targeted game fish.
Identification points
- Long, eel-like body with no obvious forked tail and a flattened head
- Four pairs of barbels around the mouth, including long maxillary barbels
- Continuous dorsal and anal fins running much of the body length, with sharp spines on the pectoral fins
Habitat
Shallow, warm, stagnant to slow-moving freshwater such as ditches, canals, ponds, swamps, rice fields, and polluted backwaters; can survive low-oxygen water by gulping air and moving over wet ground.
Bait notes
Best on cut bait, worms, shrimp, chicken liver, dough bait, and oily fish chunks. Strong-scented baits usually outfish lures; it will also take small jigs or soft plastics slowly worked near bottom.
Behavior
Nocturnal and highly opportunistic, feeding on worms, insects, small fish, shrimp, carrion, and detritus. It often stays close to cover during the day and becomes more active at night or after rain.
Caution
Handled fish have sharp pectoral and dorsal fin spines that can puncture skin; grip carefully behind the head. It is invasive in many regions and may be restricted or illegal to transport or release.
Fishing notes
Fish at night or in cloudy, low-oxygen waters near weeds, mud edges, culverts, and drain outflows. Use bottom rigs with bait on light to medium tackle and expect hard, direct runs; secure your catch well because it can wriggle away on wet banks.