Appearance
Scientific Name
Ictalurus furcatus
Market Forms
Whole, dressed, fresh, frozen, filet, steak. Size
Blue catfish usually grows less than two feet long, but can be as long as 5.5 feet and weigh as much as 100 pounds. They can live up to 20-25 years. Taste/Texture
The blue catfish is considered an excellent food fish with white, firm, delicately flavored meat. Seasonality
March to December in Virginia. Nutritional Value
116 Calories (100 grams, 3.5 oz.)
18.2% Protein
4.3% Fat
.37% Omega-3 Substitutability
Wild catfish can easily replace farm raised catfish, tilapia, haddock and cod in most recipes. Habitat
Adult fish have stout bodies with prominently humped back in front of the dorsal fin. They resemble channel catfish by having deeply forked tails, but are dissimilar because they are unspotted and have a large straight edged anal fin. The back and upper sides are blue to slate gray, and the lower sides and belly are white.
Harvesting
Catfish are generally harvested by day boats, in trap nets, haul seines, and trot lines. Harvest size ranges from ¾ lb. and up.
Safety/Quality
Virginia's waters and products are regulated by federal and state agencies including the FDA, the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, insuring that only safe wholesome seafood reaches our customers.
