Purple catfish????

[FHB]

Folks,

I caught this at Smith Mountain Lake in south-west Virginia yesterday. It was in 15 feet of water near the bank.

The thing was nearly purple in color and the belly was that mottled pattern. Has anyone seen one like this before?

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: Purple catfish????

Looks like a brown bullhead to me. They can vary in color accordingly to location, habitat, season and spawning. Here in my neck of the woods, I've only seen one's colored like the one you posted...maybe someone else has more, or something different to add. I've heard stress can cause the purplish color and or the blotchy-ness changes, and sometimes it occurs during the spawn, again...this is hearsay.

Here's a few variations...

 

[dooma_Flatchy]

Re: Purple catfish????

Yup, Bullhead/mud-cat

 

[PGFISHER]

Re: Purple catfish????

We catch a lot of catfish here; chanel and bullhead. It seems that there is no set color for cats. they come in grey, purple green, black and white, and tan. Some are plain and others are spotted, but they all taste good.

 

[Pontoonfoon]

Re: Purple catfish????

ive seen some pretty goofy colored flatheads especially the ones that lurk around deep rocks..

never a purple one, i would put down what i was drinking if I did.