Florida Fish Species: Blue Catfish

The following is courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:
 
Appearance: Adults have stout bodies with prominently humped backs in front of the dorsal fin. They resemble channel catfish by having deeply forked tails, but are lack the spots and have a longer, straight-edged anal. The back and upper sides are blue to slate gray, and the belly is white.
 
Habitat:  Originally found in the Escambia and Yellow rivers in northwest Florida, they are now also in the Apalachicola and Suwannee. Blues occur in big rivers and in the lower reaches of major tributaries. They prefer clearer, swifter water than other catfish, and are usually found over sand, gravel or rock bottoms.
 
Behavior: Young blues eat aquatic insects and small fish while larger blues prefer crayfish, mussels and other fish.
 
State Record: 61.5 lbs. Big Catch: 34 inches or 20 lbs.