  AKA: catfish, eel-tailed catfish, dewfish, jewfish, tandan, landau, eelfish, kenaru.
MINIMUM LEGAL SIZE: 30cm.
BAG/POSSESSION LIMIT: 2.
Freshwater
catfish can only be taken from waters within the Wimmera Basin. Taking
of freshwater catfish is prohibited in all other Victorian waters.
Landed whole or as a carcass.
Note: a total bag/possession limit of 40 fish applies to all scale fish species.
The catfish family has more than 1000 species around the world, in both marine and freshwater. According to Native Fish Australia,
these catfish were once common throughout the warmer waters of the the
Murray-Darling basin, though populations now are severely reduced. It
is believed by some that the introduction of carp is implicated in this
decline due to direct competition for feeding sites (as carp and
eel-tailed catfish have similar feeding habits) and due to disruption
to catfish breeding sites. It is still common in a number of smaller
lakes in north-western Victoria and western New South Wales.
Along
with its eel-like tail, other distinguishing features of the catfish
include the absence of scales, "whiskers" around the mouth and the
presence of painful spines on the first dorsal fin and each pectoral
fin.
SIZE: Commonly up to 50cm and 1.8kg, monsters to 90cm and 6.8kg.
WHERE:
Can be legally fished only from waters within the Wimmera River Basin.
Bottom-feeding fish, often sheltering near covered banks.
TACKLE: Light to medium river gear, will occasionally take lures.
BAIT: Shrimp, scrubworms, yabbies.
BITE: Will take bait freely but will become sluggish on heavy tackle.
EATING: Despite its appearance, the catfish has good table qualities. White flesh with a delicate flavour.
Some information on this page used with permission from Native Fish Australia.
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