what is it?

[warmer]

looks like a hybrid catfish/bowfin

i have looked at snakehead pictures online and cant find one with whiskers.

this has skin, and whiskers like a catfish, tapered head like i have seen on snakehead, long dorsal fin like a bowfin. i have catfish in the pond and a (very) few bowfin.

2 of these were floating after the cold.

[VolFan]

Catfish, maybe a bullhead that's moving along in decomposition.

[warmer]

ive never seen a catfish with full dorsal and anal fins...

also the taper seemed too hard toward the nose to be a catfish to me.

[VolFan]

Alright then, you've got me.  Being as you're in FL, could it be some sort of exotic? CAtfish and bowfin can't hybridze, genetically speaking, if that's what you're hoping.  At least not without alot of lab help.

[Thai]

It's a type of walking catfish

[warmer]

thanks thai... thats it dead on. nasty little buggers, are they good eating?  im just glad its not a snakehead.

[Thai]

Go down to broward and dade, you'll see some 

[swilly78]

From what little I understand, you might be better off with snakehead.

[Krzkev]

Yeah, we used to have allot of them here in Palm Beach County.  In recent years they have been rare.  They used to literally walk across the streets after flood water would recede.  Very neat experience to see.

[Thai]

search walking catfish on youtube you'll see what Kev means

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

I caught one of those a few years back on some livers.Everyone I told about it said it was a bowfin. Well duh! I know what a dogfish looks like and this wasn't one. Thanks for the clarification.

[bass or bass ?]

Asian walking catfish. They're not uncommon in Florida. Too cold for them farther north. They're an invasive species that used to be imported for the tropical fish aquarium trade in albino form. Released fish thrived in Florida. They can crawl out of the water and "walk" to another water environment, making them difficult to impossible to eradicate.

[bobbyc]

I believe bowfin have visable teeth when the mouth is closed. If that helps..?

[little_stephen]

Bowfin was my first thought too......... but i didnt think they were native to waters that far south!?

I ran into a bowfin in my mudhole lake..... lol   FREAKED OUT! thought it was a snake head, they look alot alike in nasty water, and i had never heard of Bowfin before.

But i didnt think Bowfin had those big whiskers?!

IDK

Either Bowfin or an exotic Catfish!?

[J Francho]

Asked and answered above. Walking Catfish.

[little_stephen]

ok, i stand corrected, did somemore homework! Bowfin are really populus in ur neck of the woods! dont know what i was thinking!? Sorry.

(SO good to finnally get that 3rd star! 500 posts and counting! Full member!  ;D)