flathead catfish

noun

flat·​head catfish ˈflat-ˌhed- How to pronounce flathead catfish (audio)
: 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

Illustration of flathead catfish

Illustration of flathead catfish

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 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

Time Traveler
The first known use of flathead catfish was in 1945

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.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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