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Noodling for Catfish
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| Guts |
Posted on 06/12/09 - 1:35 PM
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Question: I saw a story on a morning news show this week talking about
“noodling for catfish” in Oklahoma. This reminded me of when I lived
in South Carolina where it was legal to "noodle." I know it sounds crazy
but it is a lot of fun. I would like to try it again but cannot find
anything in the California fish and game laws covering this. I do not
want to be in violation if it is illegal. Any information you could
provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. (S. Freeman,
Riverside)
Answer: Good question. I have both good news and bad news on this one
for you.
First the bad news ... despite how much fun it probably is, noodling
for catfish is not legal in California because catfish (and nearly every
California fish in inland waters) may only be legally taken through
angling. That means: "To take fish by hook and line with the line held
in the hand, or with the line attached to a pole or rod held in the hand
or closely attended in such manner that the fish voluntarily takes the
bait or lure in its mouth" (CCR Title 14, Section 1.05).
The following are the only exceptions allowing for freshwater fish to
be taken by hand: 1) bait fish, 2) lamprey, 3) crayfish, 4) live carp in
the Colorado River District that will be used for bait, and 5) suckers,
but the exceptions only apply to you if you’re a registered member of
the Pit River Indian Tribe in Shasta County.
Now for the good news ... you get to keep your fingers!
What is Noodling? “Noodling” is a type of hand fishing for catfish
that is legally practiced in rivers, lakes or ponds in a handful of
southeastern states. Noodling is when a person wades or swims into water
at least chest deep and inserts a hand down into holes under mud banks,
rocks, or inside of hollow logs. Then, using bare hands as bait, the
noodler wiggles their fingers in the hole in hopes that they find what
they’re looking for. If the noodler is lucky, a monster catfish will
strike and attempt to swallow their hand. The noodler then must pull the
fish out onto land or onto a waiting boat without being pulled under
water.
Such fish are most aggressive during the nesting season when the males
will chase the females off their nests, and then take over. The males
then lurk protectively over the nests, guarding them intensely while
waiting for their brood to hatch.
In the states where noodling is common, catfish can weigh more than 100
pounds, making this a very dangerous sport. People in pursuit of these
enormous whiskered fish have drowned trying to land them, or have lost
fingers or been badly bitten when they’ve tangled with snapping
turtles or snakes encountered in the murky waters by mistake.
By the way, there are goliath-sized catfish in our state, too - you
just have to use a hook and line to catch them. The largest California
state record blue catfish was taken by an angler from San Diego in July
2008. The fish weighed in at more than 113 lbs.!
(Photo of an angler with a large channel catfish available at
www.dfg.ca.gov/QandA/2009/20090611.asp)
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| ioptfm |
Posted on 06/12/09 - 3:36 PM
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I live in SC and and have actually seen it done and let me tell you! THOSE GUYS ARE NUTS!
Tom
1979 Sport 15' |
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| Binkie |
Posted on 06/12/09 - 3:51 PM
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I bet some of those "good 'ol boys" are shy a few fingers.
Rich |
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| MW |
Posted on 06/13/09 - 6:17 AM
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Oh man, that's really "Hangin it out there" (risky).
Matt |
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| CES |
Posted on 06/13/09 - 6:37 AM
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I always thought those 'ole boys were a little "off".
Cliff
1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker |
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| stumpfatc |
Posted on 06/13/09 - 6:58 PM
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Noodling is actually on a percentage of participation basis one of the most dangerous outdoor activities there is. Spearing (with pneumatic guns) is just as much of a rush and a heck of a lot safer. as long as there aren't gators. And your lookout is not your wife with a big insurance policy on you.
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| Binkie |
Posted on 06/14/09 - 5:48 AM
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Do they noodle for gators in Louisiana?
Rich |
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| DeltavilleWhaler |
Posted on 06/14/09 - 6:57 AM
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They recently caught the Virginia state recod catfish in Richmond weighing 104 lbs. I would hate to stick my hand in his mouth!
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| kurtpaulrobinson |
Posted on 06/14/09 - 6:33 PM
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I work in the hydroelectric field and see a lot of people fishing for big cats in the dam areas. I have seen some people in Arkansas noodling near a dam last year, the water was full of snakes. When we dewatered a unit there were at least 3 30+lb cats and several snakes. There is no way in hades heck that I would get in that water!! Another amusing method for pulling in the big cats there was to attach a huge sinker and bare treble hook and try to snag a cat as it comes out the discharge of the turbine. Apparently it works because these people had stringers full of fish.
1984 Super Sport 17 |
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| Binkie |
Posted on 06/15/09 - 9:18 AM
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I guess to some people, if you ain`t skeered they ain`t having fun. I wold rather use a rod and reel, but don`t want to catch catfish at all.
Rich |
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