Catfish are now so widespread, different species of this fish species can be found in many parts of the world. The catfish has maintained its position as one of the most sought after game fish we know. Also, it is one of the most desirable fish species anglers like to hunt and catch.
Should Humans Wary of Catfish Bites?
Fishing is a wonderful experience, many people engage in fishing as a hobby, or to land enough fish that can be sold in the market. Regardless of the reasons, a trip to the rivers where people fish will make you understand that it is an activity that has attracted the young and older adults.
You can find parents and little children casting lines, or setting up their rigs, but are they in any danger when handling the catfish?
Handling a catfish
It is known that some species of the catfish are venomous, they can sting you and leave nasty bruises, and the venom from catfish can cause irritation on your skin and redness. Some people experience pain for a while, but it is not life-threatening.
The barbels on catfish look quite intimidating, some people claim they have been stung by the barbels, but this is not true. The barbels on a catfish are soft and cannot cause you any harm.
However, it is important to know the right steps to take to avoid getting stung by a catfish. The first thing to consider is its handling. There are many ways to handle a catfish after catching it, as you can see experienced anglers do, but new fishers can find this difficult because the catfish has no scales. The body of a catfish is very slippery, so it is best held by placing your hands behind the fins located just behind the catfish’s head. This way, your hand, and fingers are protected from the sharp pin-like fins.
It is also best to keep your hands away from the dorsal and pectoral fins of a catfish. These fins can prick your hand, and this feeling is what many people regard as a sting. They wouldn’t call it that if they realize it was just a contact with the catfish’s fins.
Anglers do not have any problems handling catfish because they usually catch the bigger ones; these grown catfish are quite docile. Also, the fully developed fins have become blunt at the tips. However, smaller catfish have strong and sharp fins so you must handle them with care. The smaller catfish are also restless and can turn in your hands without warning; they are also slippery to it may be difficult to hold the smaller catfish firmly behind its head.
We cannot directly say catfish have teeth when considering the popular and smaller catfish species. Although if you run your finger in its mouth, you will feel the presence of what seems to be a tiny row of teeth, but these are harmless.
What we should be worried about is the bigger catfish species such as the Mekong giant catfish; it is not advisable to put your hand into the mouth of bigger catfish species.
In conclusion, you should be wary of the pectoral and dorsal fins on a catfish instead of its almost invincible teeth to avoid getting stung.
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