The Hardhead Catfish (Arius felis), or Bait Rustler as I
call him, is a notorious bait stealer. Hardheads are considered by most fishermen to be a
nuisance very similar to fleas on a dog's back. They often occur in such numbers that you
can't catch anything else. The only good thing I've heard about Hardheads is that they
make excellent Cobia bait.
The dorsal and pectoral fins are each supported by an
extremely formidable weapon, a sharp slime-covered spine. Great care should be used when
removing him from your hook, since the slime on his spine is mildly toxic. Severe pain and
discomfort will follow after this fellow manages to nail you with one of his spines. The
dorsal spine is also barbed which makes it difficult to remove if your unfortunate enough
to get nailed with it.
The Hardhead Catfish (Arius felis), or Bait Rustler as I
call him, is a notorious bait stealer. Hardheads are considered by most fishermen to be a
nuisance very similar to fleas on a dog's back. They often occur in such numbers that you
can't catch anything else. The only good thing I've heard about Hardheads is that they
make excellent Cobia bait.
