Illustration of flathead catfish
flathead catfish
noun
flat·head catfish
ˈflat-ˌhed- 
: a large yellowish catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) of the central and Gulf states of the U.S. with the sides and back heavily mottled with brown or black
Examples of flathead catfish in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In June 2023, two Texas men caught a 98.7-pound flathead catfish by hand that might become a Texas state record since the fish was weighed on certified scales.
—
Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 15 Nov. 2023
Tim Barrett, coastal region fisheries supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources, said crews can only hope to hold down the population of flathead catfish in the Ogeechee.
—CBS News, 28 Sep. 2023
In 1998, a man in Kansas caught a record-breaking 121-pound flathead catfish.
—CBS News, 28 Sep. 2023
Neither channel, nor blue, nor flathead catfish have any teeth, though the interior of their mouths is rough and mildly sharp.
—Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 24 May 2023
Along with flathead catfish, blues are a top-of-the-food-chain species in many waters.
—M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 21 June 2023
In March, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore asked the federal government to declare the expanding population of blue catfish, flathead catfish and snakehead a commercial fishery disaster.
—G. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 11 May 2023
Cut herring, shad, and other baitfish, for example, are excellent options for flathead catfish.
—Pete M. Anderson, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023
Several record-breaking fish have been caught in the clear waters, including an 86-pound flathead catfish, a 44-pound freshwater drum and the biggest largemouth bass ever collected by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, weighing in at 14.1 pounds.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Chron, 25 Jan. 2023
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Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 15 Nov. 2023
Tim Barrett, coastal region fisheries supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources, said crews can only hope to hold down the population of flathead catfish in the Ogeechee.
—CBS News, 28 Sep. 2023
In 1998, a man in Kansas caught a record-breaking 121-pound flathead catfish.
—CBS News, 28 Sep. 2023
Neither channel, nor blue, nor flathead catfish have any teeth, though the interior of their mouths is rough and mildly sharp.
—Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 24 May 2023
Along with flathead catfish, blues are a top-of-the-food-chain species in many waters.
—M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 21 June 2023
In March, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore asked the federal government to declare the expanding population of blue catfish, flathead catfish and snakehead a commercial fishery disaster.
—G. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 11 May 2023
Cut herring, shad, and other baitfish, for example, are excellent options for flathead catfish.
—Pete M. Anderson, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023
Several record-breaking fish have been caught in the clear waters, including an 86-pound flathead catfish, a 44-pound freshwater drum and the biggest largemouth bass ever collected by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, weighing in at 14.1 pounds.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Chron, 25 Jan. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flathead catfish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1945, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near flathead catfish
Cite this Entry
“Flathead catfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flathead%20catfish. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
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