Fish
Flathead Catfish
B tier
Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) is a predatory river catfish with dense, white flesh often ranked among the best-tasting wild American catfish when taken from clean water. The meat is firmer and less fatty than channel catfish, excellent in steaks and chunks. Grill or pan-sear thick pieces; stew or smoke larger fish. Flatheads are less common in industrial aquaculture, so supply is mostly wild or small-scale. Avoid fish from contaminated rivers—fat and liver can concentrate pollutants in long-lived individuals.
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History
Flathead catfish were valued table fish along Midwestern and Southern rivers.
Recreational and commercial fishers kept flathead as a premium wild catfish.
Catch-and-cook culture praised flathead flavour while noting local contamination advisories.