black bullhead
Ameiurus melas
Freshwater catfish, native to northern Mexico and the United States, caught on rod and also raised for food. In some countries where it was introduced, it causes ecological impact.
Also called: bagre-negro, bagre torito negro, black bullhead
- maximum
- 66 cm
- record/max.
- 3.6 kg
who is the black bullhead
Catfish of the family Ictaluridae, freshwater, that reaches 66 cm and weighs up to 3.6 kg. It lives in pools, backwaters and slow currents, over soft bottoms of streams, rivers of small to large size, lagoons, reservoirs and ponds. Young fish eat insect larvae, leeches and crustaceans; adults also eat mollusks, snails, plants and fish. It is a nocturnal feeder. In fishing, it is caught with baits intended for other species, and in some places it is considered a pest.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the black bullhead; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- The female prepares the nest, and both male and female care for the eggs.
identification
Scaleless catfish with barbels around the mouth and strong spines on the pectoral and dorsal fins. It is often confused with the brown bullhead, which looks very similar. Maximum size helps a little: this species reaches 66 cm, and the brown bullhead reaches 55 cm.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Native to northern Mexico and North America, and introduced to Chile. It is not recorded in Brazil.
Habitat: Pools, backwaters and slow currents, over soft bottoms of rivers, lagoons and reservoirs.
when to fish
best time of day
Nighttime. The source describes the species as a nocturnal feeder.
rules for the black bullhead
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
The spines on the pectoral and dorsal fins can cut. Handle it with care, holding it by the body. Because it is considered a pest in some places, do not release it into waters where it does not occur.
in the kitchen
It is edible.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00871, b = 3.12; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Ameiurus melas (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Ameiurus melasNames by country and language.
