Maryland DNR have designated Flatheads a invasive species. Fisherman are encouraged to not release them back. Watched several YouTube’s where folks are catching 30”+ flatheads in numbers below the Conowingo dam off the Susquehanna. This is roughly 15-20 minutes from my house and want to really go after them. Seems like live lining white perch is the method of choice. Curious how these things cook up? I don’t know what I would do if I brought home 10 of these beasts. Figured I could fillet them out and vacuum seal them and give it away to co-workers at the hospital.

Bleed them good and they're quite tasty. Could also brine over night and wash thoroughly then fry in cornmeal/flour seasoned to taste, yummy.

They are very good eating. Cut out the little bit of red meat and the rest of the fillets are white and firm. Fine flavor. I like to soak them in saltwater for a day or two before I freeze them, then give them 2-4 hours in milk before I roll strips in seasoned cornmeal & fry. Sounds like a good opportunity to put some good eating in the freezer. Enjoy!

look at some videos on fillet big cat fish . I fillet from ribs back to tail MUST MUST remove RED meat along outsides of fillets . it is fat turns grey when fried and has all the nasty . river cats have less fat than lake cats . next cut ribs off slice between every 2 or 3 ribs you get a piece kinda like a lamb chop .last the stomach can be 1/2 " or more thick , its tougher or firmer I try to skin the silver off gut side and use the meat in gumbo or chowder will stay together not flake like fillets

You guys only fry these monsters? Anyone grill them over charcoal?

Can't quite understand Flathead being listed as an invasive species. IMHO the flathead is the best of the catfish. He's a gamer that will bust a spinnerbait in the spring when you're bass fishing and make you think you've hooked a record size bass. Best eating of all the catfish.

That’s very exciting to hear.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o0MHBGslpRc

woodson they are so good fried when I get a big one The wife calls daughters and before I have it cleaned I have about 25 people planing a fish fry . I have been wanting to smoke some or grill on ceder planks just dont have any left
Mogc ; the flathead is an apex predator , they eat all other catfish / sunfish /bream .they can destroy an ecosystem and it can take 20 or more years for the flatheads to be cannibalizing enough of their young before other fish can make a comeback , we dont catch bullheads or mud cats like we use too Like you said flatheads ain't nothin but good eating

Looks like I need to get the old fry daddy out of the garage that’s been there 10 years....

Try blackening it. I do mine outside in a cast iron skillet to keep from smoking up the house.

I agree they are the best eating of all the catfish! Don't leave the belly meat or the cheeks because it's the best of all!

X-VERMINATOR

Well they ain't crappie or walleye, but done right they're good enough. As mentioned above, cut the red strip out and trim the fat off the top and bottom of the fillets. Then slice them into chicken tenderloin size pieces. I soak them in light / medium saltwater in the fridge overnight and rewash. I dunk them in 2/3 egg : 1/3 milk mixed. Then shake them in a bag full of crushed saltine crackers before a swim in 375* peanut oil. I like them drowned in ketchup after on the dinner plate. Yeehaw

This^^^ I have watched people filet them and leave both behind. I would take the belly and cheeks over the side meat anyday.

Flathead catfish are very good to eat. Best of the catfish. As others have said skin the belly and keep it.

Not being an experienced catfisherman I once landed a really nice flathead (didn't know what the hell it was) from my kayak. It was a tremendous battle. The fish was about 30" and bit on a black plastic lizard. It came out from under a tree about midday like a torpedo. Created a friggin wake!

The fish was so ugly with it's black and brown splotchy skin, I thought it was sick! Threw it back...

Dan Chamberlain,

BIG MISTAKE on your part!!! = I'm an ex-commercial trotliner/set-hooks guy & paid both my GF & my college expenses from peddling catfish. = I ran the lines & April sold the fish out of the back of my old International Scout, either still alive or dressed to order.
(All these years later, I still don't know if the customers liked our catfish better than looking at lovely April in crop top & short-shorts but she was very successful at selling our fish.)

MY FAVORITE is the little "single servers" (under 3# live weight & cooked whole, after being dressed), simply dredged in yellow cornmeal with salt/pepper, fried until flaking & served with fried potatoes.

NOTE: Catfish are EASY to undercook or overcook. = WATCH them in the skillet carefully.

just my OPINION, tex

The belly on a flathead is the best part.

Also the breast bones and the heads on the ones ten pounds and under.

I'm with you, the littler ones are the great ones to eat.
Others can have all the big ones they get

I have smoked many of them. My wife also grilled them. She put the fillets in butter, onions, red & green peppers, salt and whatever over a grill. Seshwan sauce too. Very good. I dont go for them anymore cause they mostly bite at night.

Here in Texas the flathead is the very top of the eating list. They can only be kept if over 18" in length and you can only keep 5 per day. They are considered a game fish so you cannot sell them. I used to keep a trotline out 24/7 for them but got old and lazy. Not unusual to catch a 25-45 lb fish and that will dress out several lbs of good eating but till you get some practice you will earn every ounce.

Nailed it. FINE eating. We fish for them every year. Caught a 76# one 2 years ago that was fantastic eating. I share all the Blue Cats and Channel cats but the FlatHeads come home with us..

The best tasting catfish bar none. You can eat the bellies of the flathead. Awesome tasting.