channel catfish

noun

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of channel catfish

: a large black-spotted catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) that is an important freshwater food fish of the U.S. and Canada — called also channel cat

Recent Examples of channel catfish from the Web

The young biologist had watched the eaglets through a scope from across the water for weeks as the birds' parents brought them striped bass, channel catfish and what looked like a ringtail.

— brandon loomis, azcentral, "For Arizona's once-dwindling bald eagle population, recovery starts in the nest," 1 Apr. 2018
Horseshoe Bend Mill Pond is known to produce monster channel catfish.

— jordan rodriguez, idahostatesman, "If you don’t want to travel far to fish, try these five local hotspots | Idaho Statesman," 7 Mar. 2018
Most of the blue and channel catfish hauled in by Choke Canyon anglers tend to be under 20 inches in length.

— ralph winingham, San Antonio Express-News, "Winter Action: South Shore Ramp Back in Play for Choke Canyon Anglers," 21 Dec. 2017
Fortunately for anglers after Mr. Whiskers, the blue and channel catfish that thrive in the lake are not as susceptible to fluctuating water levels as other fish species.

— ralph winingham, San Antonio Express-News, "Winter Action: South Shore Ramp Back in Play for Choke Canyon Anglers," 21 Dec. 2017
Outlook: Jayhawk Marina reports: Crappies good (but small) on jigs or minnows off the docks; channel catfish good on variety of baits lakewide.

— bruce janssen, kansascity, "Fishing report for Sept. 14," 13 Sep. 2017
Anglers caught 10 non-natives: Yellow perch; black and white crappie; largemouth and smallmouth bass; pumpkinseed; bluegill; bullhead and channel catfish, and walleye.

— bill monroe, OregonLive.com, "Sewage spill may threaten some sturgeon fishing Thursday," 25 Oct. 2017
Rock bass and channel catfish also were dominant species in the lake trap net survey in 2014.

— christina hall, Detroit Free Press, "Health, safety of Lake St. Clair water has ripple effect on tourism in southeast Michigan," 1 Oct. 2017
In Northeast Ohio, that includes channel catfish from the Portage Canal and Summit Lake, and Flathead catfish 26 inches or longer from the Tuscarawas River from New Philadelphia to the Muskingum River.

— debbi snook, cleveland.com, "How much fish is too much: Ohio consumption advisories," 13 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'channel catfish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.