Discussion of surf-fishing in the Panhandle and the common fish along the beaches leads to a consideration of this one - Ariopsis felis. The hardhead belongs to the Family Ariidae, unlike our freshwater catfish in the Family Ictaluridae. The primary difference between the two families? Ictalurids have a set of barbels adjacent to the nostrils - they're lacking in the sea cats. Hardheads are one of the most common fish off our Gulf beaches, and in our bays too, for that matter. At times, it can be difficult to fish with live bait for anything else, because the catfish will have it within seconds of it reaching the bottom. I can't vouch for them as table fare - I've always been told that they weren't any good to eat, although some folks say differently. It certainly wouldn't be a problem to find out. Hardheads can reach a couple of feet in length, and can weigh up to 10 pounds. Considerably smaller is much more common. They're known as hardheads because of a bone that extends rearward from the head toward the dorsal fin. They should be handled with care - the dorsal and pectoral fins are equipped with very sharp, serrated spines that can go through a glove or a tennis shoe. If they bury one of those in your flesh, the pain is excruciating. This is I can verify from personal experience. An interesting fact - they're mouth-brooders. The male carries the fertilized eggs in his mouth for a month or so prior to hatching.
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