Are Noodlers Needed in Southern Florida?

04/24/2012

US Army Corp of Engineers

Southern Florida has an unwelcome visitor - a species of armored catfish that are wreaking havoc by causing coastal erosion along the area's lakes.

According to Yahoo! News, this particular breed of catfish, the Loricariidae, are a "non-native and invasive species" with spiky fins and rugged scales along their back. While most breeds of catfish are more easily caught, this particular breed isn't baited by fishing hooks. Often nets and spears must be used.

But according to River Monsters host and extreme wrangler Jeremy Wade, a tactic familiar to many Animal Planet fans might be more conventional.

"When they're breeding you can catch them by hand in their holes; that's what they do in the Amazon, where they are considered a delicacy," he said. "The flesh has no bones to speak of but you have to be careful of the armour because when you cut the fish up this becomes like pieces of broken glass. [...] Send some noodlers from Oklahoma there, and they will clear them out!" 

To see Jeremy Wade wrangle other breeds of catfish, watch this related video.

To see some noodling in action, check out these clips from Hillbilly Handfishin'!

Learn more about other catfish species featured on River Monsters, click below!

• Flathead Catfish
• Kamba Catfish
• Candiru Catfish
• Piraiba Catfish
• Vundu Catfish
• Wels Catfish
• Goonch Catfish

- Jodi Westrick

Comments

[Zachary Peebels]

I'm not so sure about noodling in gator waters.

[Natisu]

Looks like a plecostomus to me...

[Amber]

I would so do it, even gator infested waters

[joe]

i had a foot and half pleco he was a mean f'er jumped out of my tank at me cause i was cleaning the tank near his home and i mean i had to duck they get big they get mean tempered and tertorial another time he and a big gold fish (13 inch) got into a fight over the same spot and they spit the side of a new tank open

[john nelson]

I have caught them by hand in Orlando, and put them in my pond

[Tracy Ruzga]

Jeremy Is such A BEAUTIFUL Intelligent man I trust you people to take the very best care of him?I am sure you give him his every wish and treat him like the Rock Star he is.

[Tracy Ruzga]

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[Marion Heintze]

This is a kind of a Panaque or Loricariidae or even a plecostomus, but I would say, more like a Panaque. They are not such killers as a flat-head catfish, they are more eating dead fish in water fallen fruits and they clean the ground, where they live. their only weapon are the ends of their breast fins and the long one on their back fin, so don't step on it, it will hurt :D

[Scott Werner]

Noodlers won't have much luck with armored catfish. But, they are a very easy target for bowfishermen, especially at night with spotlights.

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[Wynand]

These fish have even showed up in the Nseleni River South Africa, They recon not even the crocodiles eat them.

[kevon chanka]

These fish are PLecos, in my country we call them "mamateta"...they are not aggressive fish. they are nocturnal, they feed on algae...so ppl don't exaggerate yourselves plz....and they originate from south/central america and the Caribbean.

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[Tom]

While most breeds of catfish are more easily caught, this particular breed isn't baited by fishing hooks.
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