over inshore mudflats during a relatively short time span (10 days) from May to August; they are mouthbreeders. The eggs are about in diameter. Males keep up to 55 eggs in their mouths until they hatch. Young are about 5 cm (2 inches) long when they hatch, and the male may continue to brood them until they are up to long. The males do not feed while they are carrying the eggs or young. Fishing The gafftopsail catfish is a common catch in the Southeastern United States, although it is also caught as far north as New York. They are taken from piers, jetties, reefs, and the surf, as well as bottom fishing or flats fishing. They are caught with cut bait and shrimp, or lures such as plugs, spoons and spinners, as well as soft plastic lures resembling shrimp, worms, and shad. They are attracted to the sound of struggling fish, like a popping cork creates. Catfish trapping is also used to capture them, but is regulated in some states. Catfish traps include "slat traps," long wooden traps with an angled entrance, and wire hoop traps. Typical bait for these traps includes rotten cheese and dog food. Gafftopsail catfish are good eating; the red lateral line should be removed to prevent "muddy taste"; however in gafftopsails taken from southern Florida mangrove estuaries, this is seemingly unnecessary. The pectoral fins and dorsal fin contain venomous spines; care should be used when handling this fish. Weight and length The largest recorded weight for a gafftopsail catfish is and in length. A more common weight and length of gafftopsails caught is and . As gafftopsail catfish grow longer, they increase in weight, but the relationship is not linear. The relationship between total length (L, in inches) and total weight (W, in pounds) for nearly all species of fish can be expressed by an equation of the form: Invariably, b is close to 3.0 for all species, and the constant c varies between species. Data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission indicate, for the gafftopsail catfish, c = 0.000493 and b = 3.075 The relationship described in this section suggests a 12-inch gafftopsail catfish will weigh about one pound, while a 20-inch fish will likely weigh about five pounds. References External links Gafftopsail Catfish Texas Parks and Wildlife page for gafftopsail catfish Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Report 2008 Smithsonian Marine