Either way tpwd is going to make their share off of it for sure. They got a license or permit for everything. i havent looked, but they may require a license to [censored] in the woods when your hunting. I hope not.

Hmm a few years ago I was looking into wild collection for the aquarium industry sales and it was quite a bit more expensive. Not sure why like I said its been a while.

Now try to find all the local suppliers, use a special to get your meat in the door over your competitors. Figure out the difference between wholesale fish and local fresh fish prices. Find a nice local notch market.

Then test the market. Don't get discareged when a buyer says firmly no. Just stay close and be friendly eventually they will be in a jam.

Since it is a food product make sure the FDA doesn't have strict regulations about storage, temps and packaging of the fish. Also if your processing then you will probably need licensing and a permit for that. If you do guarantee there will be regulations you will need to meet that will come along with it. These are only start up cost's and hopefully will only need to be purchased once with little future investment.

All of this is speculation as I have never been in your industry before. Just trying to help.

Good luck and tight lines!!!

I just went to go see how my math is so far off and I did see a wholesale fish dealer license that was $825.00. I'd make sure you don't need this license as well.

You may not since your more on the level of a local distributor but sell to a reseller and welcome to that license.

I think....

Gotta love the hoops and regulations.

FDA reg

Just found this, I was wondering myself....

Looks like you will be registering with the FDA as a processing facility somewhere down the line because you will have to keep the fish cold either on the vessel or at packaging.

You may also need a processing license from them not sure.

Good luck!!!!

I would imagine most resturants and such buy farm raised catfish, which comes pre filleted and in bags. I worked at a seafood market back in the day, and this is how we got ours. Most of the fillets were about the same size and with farm raised you have less worry about toxins etc.

I would imagine it would be tough to make much extra scratch selling catfihs, but best of luck to you.

General Provisions Sec. 1.226 Who does not have to register under this subpart?

This subpart does not apply to the following facilities:

(a) A foreign facility, if food from such facility undergoes further manufacturing/processing (including packaging) by another facility outside the United States. A facility is not exempt under this provision if the further manufacturing/processing (including packaging) conducted by the subsequent facility consists of adding labeling or any similar activity of ade minimis nature;

(b) Farms;

(c) Retail food establishments;

(d) Restaurants;

(e) Nonprofit food establishments in which food is prepared for, or served directly to, the consumer;

(f) Fishing vessels, including those that not only harvest and transport fish but also engage in practices such as heading, eviscerating, or freezing intended solely to prepare fish for holding on board a harvest vessel. However, those fishing vessels otherwise engaged in processing fish are subject to this subpart. For the purposes of this section, "processing" means handling, storing, preparing, shucking, changing into different market forms, manufacturing, preserving, packing, labeling, dockside unloading, holding, or heading, eviscerating, or freezing other than solely to prepare fish for holding on board a harvest vessel;


From the link from the above post. As far as I know fish are regulated more by Tpwd than USDA. The local health department will probably want to inspect your processing facilities though.

I suggest you start watching Storage Wars Texas......

I knew a guy who raised catfish in ponds. He owned an old closed up service station in town which he painted up and put tanks in the service bays. he had a butchers counter in the front room. Once a month, he filled up the tanks with big old catfish he sold them alive and would clean and filet them for you if you wanted. He had people lined up whenever he opened the doors, and sold out right away. He couldn't raise them fast enough to stay open all the time. I don't know what he charged. This was in Bakersfield California where people aren't tuned in to catfish as much as they are here.

forget about commercial fishing in texas my friends and i did it for years and its over!!!!!! texas parks and wildlife is taking away all commercial fishing or making hard enough for u to quit or make no money.they want u to keep eating sewer tilapia from china and basa catfish from china which is grown in sewer water.thats what heb and walmart sells including all .restaraunts. there is enough catfish in texas to feed the nation but they dont let us fish. the only state that does help fishermen is louisiana.thats where i am moving because texas took away my livelyhood.

Yes that Talipia from Wal Mart comes from China and they use pig feces to fertilize the ponds

You can go to Asian Grocery Stores in Plano, Like 99 Ranch off Legacy and 75.

They sell Black Bass for 3.49 a pound, and have hybrids, carp, buffalo, all for sale.

Yes that Talipia from Wal Mart comes from China and they use pig feces to fertilize the ponds [/quote]

Dang, I always new there Talipia tasted like Chit, now I know why.

Just come to Glen Rose they have a new Asian Resturant that if you bring them fresh fish they give you free food

I wonder if you could sell catfish out of the back of your truck like they do Shrimp down south.