Fish
Ictalurus punctatus
A tier
Ictalurus punctatus is the channel catfish, the backbone of North American farmed catfish—mild, moist white flesh with a fine flake and a gentle sweetness when raised on grain-based feed. Wild river fish can taste more mineral or muddy depending on habitat. Fillet, strip residual fat along the lateral line if strong, and fry, blacken, bake, or stew. The flesh is forgiving and stays juicy. Farmed channel catfish built the Southern US catfish industry and remains the species most people mean by “catfish” on American menus.
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Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
Grading systems
Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.
History
Channel catfish were fished commercially across Mississippi basin waters.
Pond aquaculture of Ictalurus punctatus industrialised in the southern United States.
US farmed channel catfish competed with imported pangasius under clear labelling rules.