Delaware Fish Facts for The Recreational Angler

Brown Bullheads are a smaller catfish and have a flatter tail with only a slight indent.

They are dark green to brown above and lighter-colored on their underside.

The four barbels ("whiskers") on the underside of the jaw are blackish. This distinguishes it from the Yellow Bullhead which has whitish barbels.

Catfish have four barbels that hang from the lower jaw, two from each corner of the mouth and two from the top of the head near the mouth.

Illustration by Duane Raver, Jr.

Season	Open Year-Round
Size Limit	No Size Limit
Daily Limit / Person	No Limit
Delaware Range	Statewide
Abundance in Delaware Waters	Abundant
General Habitat and Food Preferences	Brown Bullheads are found from murky shallow water in ponds and ditches to deeper ponds, streams, and rivers. They feed on aquatic insects, crustaceans, and vegetative matter.
Did You Know?	The Brown Bullhead is the most common catfish in Delaware. Catfish have no scales; their bodies are naked. Catfish have spines on the dorsal fin and pectoral fines near the head. Anglers often get punctured by these spines when handling catfish. The spines have mild venom, however it is not deadly. Be careful when handling. The barbels ("whiskers") have taste buds that assist catfish in finding food. The whiskers are harmless. Catfish possess excellent senses of smell and taste because their entire body is also covered in taste buds. They help the catfish find food in dark or muddy water. It is thought that Bullhead populations may grow as ponds age and water quality declines, since these fish are better than many other native species at living in warm water that has little oxygen.
Common Lures and Baits	Good baits for Brown Bullheads include any of the numerous "Catfish baits" that can be purchased, or worms.
Typical Sizes Caught	Brown Bullheads are commonly caught in the range of 6 to 10 inches in length by Delaware anglers.
Citation Minimum Length and Weight	Live Release Award Adult: 25 inches minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 23 inches minimum Sport Fishing Tournament Award Adult: 6 pounds minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 4.5 pounds minimum Brown Bullheads are eligible for the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament and Live Release "Catfish" awards, but due to their smaller size, catching one large enough to qualify is unlikely. Brown Bullheads are not currently eligible for an individual species citation.
Delaware State Record	36 pounds 3.2 ounces Jordan Walker 2017 Brown Bullheads are eligible for the general "Catfish" record, but due to their smaller size, catching one large enough to qualify is unlikely. Brown Bullheads are not currently eligible for an individual Delaware record.

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