blue catfish

American  

Or blue cat

noun

1. a large freshwater catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, that is a popular food fish in the states of the Mississippi River valley.

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Etymology

Origin of blue catfish

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

Fishing for the invasive blue catfish in the Potomac downstream of D.C. has skyrocketed in recent years, and there is concern about how the fishery will be affected.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

His preference for blue catfish, or snakehead when he can get it, is Amendola’s way of “helping out the bay” by ridding local waters of invasive species.

From Washington Post • Mar. 3, 2023

Eugene Cronley reeled in a 131-pound blue catfish from the Mississippi River, shattering the Mississippi state record by a whopping 36 pounds.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 22, 2022

Joey Baird of Lawrenceville, Virginia, caught a 121-pound, 9-ounce blue catfish in Lake Gaston in July.

From Washington Times • Jan. 22, 2021

I watched them one day when they caught a blue catfish out of Birdsong Creek.

From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson