I was curious to know everyones opinion: My family loves to eat fish, regardless of what they are. I have heard that the bigger catfish don't taste as good and are not worth keeping. So my question is what size catfish do you return to the lake if you are planning on eating the fish you catch? I have seen lots of people keep huge fish, which leads me only to believe they are eating those as well. Curious on everyones thoughts.
Thanks.

i like to eat anything under 10 pounds

Largest I've taken home is a 27# blue....tasted fine to me. I've always heard the same thing....

It's not so much as bad eating, but the ten lb fish and larger are our main brood fish. Open a fish with eggs and see the amount difference in a three lb fish and a ten lb. my reason for not eating the bigger ones is that they are more trouble to clean and on top of that a ten year old fish has had lots of time to absorb a lot of [censored] like fertilizer etc that gets washed into our lakes and rivers. IMHO

+1

X2

I agree with not over 10#, I don't think they are as good for several reasons. What was said earlier about bigger / older fish having more time to absorb polutants made a lot of sence to me especially since I live in such an agriculural area. This may also contribute to why some people may not have as much problem with bigger fish. Ag. areas Bad, Non ag areas not so bad. Thanks for the info.

I personally keep 6lb to 10lb fish and throw back smaller ones, but I have filet"d a 60+lb a flathead and was great! I don't normally catch the big ones cuz, i'm still learning.

I agree with any over 10# goes back, also that our main brood fish are over 10#, if you fish much and listen to the guys here on the forum you will be able to catch more fish under 10# than you can eat, and after you turn the first big fish back it gets easier after that, my first big one was 36# that I turned loose, I had never caught a blue that big but the guy I fished with turned the big ones back, so I went along with it, after that it was ok and I have turned a lot of fish back since, I don't even think twice about it unless it's a flathead then I usually turn them loose too cause I don't want to clean fish when I get home!

Maybe you can catch it again, 3 years ago my son caught a 28# blue on Ray Bob I caught it twice after that before the lake got so low I couldn't fish there anymore, it does happen!

Good Luck to Ya!

would any of yall eat this size of fish

One to three pounds here. I usually use stink bait in the local river, and seldom catch one bigger than that.

A study of nitrogen polution on lake Austin a few years back, disputes that theory.

2-6/7 lbs is what I like just cause I don't want to mess with the big ones. Plus I feel the 15's and up are the real breeders and should be left.

I have eaten cats up to sixty pounds, just hang him up cut that tail off and get all the blood out. Thin slice the meat and it is good eaten!

ITS HOW YOU PREPARE IT ...WE CAUGHT A 64 POUND FLATHEAD LAST WEEK AND IT WAS GREAT. YOU NEED TO CUT OFF ALL THE FAT AND RED MEAT IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME BUT ITS WORTH IT.