Gafftopsail Dad!

   Finally, the fish have returned to the Bay.  The waters are teeming with mullet and menhaden which in turn attracts the larger fish.  This is all fine and dandy except for the fact that those larger fish are mostly catfish.  Both the hardhead catfish and the gafftopsails are following the smaller fish as they come into the Bay to spawn.  Every spring, thousands of these large fish enter the Bay.  Most of the ones we are catching are females and are full of eggs. Soon, the female will spawn (lay the eggs).  The male fertilizes the eggs after the laying and then scoops up the orange, marble-sized eggs.  He  will carry the eggs in his mouth until they hatch which can take up to 65 days.  During this time, the male does not eat.  His whole existence is to protect those eggs until they hatch.  Once hatched, the babies (called fry) still stay with dear, old Dad until they can feed on their own.  Male catfish make good daddies!

  The gafftopsail catfish is named because its dorsal fin resembles a sail of a ship.  This fin rises tall on the back of the fish but can be laid flat.  Both the dorsal fin and the pectoral fins are supported by a sharp spine that can quickly injure an unsuspecting predator (or angler).  It is best to be careful when unhooking one!  While both the hardhead catfish and the gafftopsail are edible, not many folks around here use them for anything other than crab bait. Personally, I unhook and release them unless I am in dire need of bait.  Live and let live is always a good mantra.