Catfish are extremely adaptable and they have one of the most highly evolved sensory systems in the fish world. For starters, they have great hearing. This is because they have a bony structure called a Weberian apparatus, which connects their ear drum to their swim bladder. The swim bladder acts to amplify sound so that catfish can hear sounds that are inaudible to most other fish. Catfish also have a superior sense of taste when compared to other species of fish. Believe it or not, they have taste buds covering their entire bodies. The highest concentration of taste buds however, is found on their whiskers, also known as barbels. They often use their barbels to search the bottom when foraging for food sources.
As if these adaptations aren’t cool enough, catfish even have a 6th and 7th sense! The 6th sense is known as the lateral line, and is present in almost all species of fish. This is a special set of sensory organs that allow fish to sense movement and vibrations in the water. This is useful for finding prey in the depths where there is little or no light available. But perhaps most interesting, is a 7th sense known as electroreception. This is the ability to perceive the world via electricity. Tiny electrical reactions are happening in our bodies constantly. This is what makes our hearts beat and our muscles work. Catfish are thought to be able to detect these minute electrical reactions, helping them to locate prey in the dark.
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Guided catfishing trips on Kerr Lake
Cap't Redbeard is a licensed fishing guide on Kerr Lake (Buggs Island). He takes people on guided catfishing trips on Kerr Lake.
