Species profile
Black Bullhead
Ameiurus melas
Identify Black Bullhead (Ameiurus melas) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 14 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Black Bullhead (Ameiurus melas) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 17 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 10 (Michigan); the most generous is 100 (Missouri).
Confirmed by 2,203 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Texas, Minnesota, and South Dakota the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Among the most pollution-tolerant fish in North America, black bullhead thrive where others cannot.
- Both parents actively guard the nest and herd young fry together in a dense school.
- They feed primarily at night, using eight sensitive barbels to locate prey by smell.
- Adults typically measure 8 to 14 inches and weigh under 2 pounds.
- Native to central North America, they have been widely introduced across the continent.
Where Black Bullhead are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Black Bullhead
Background
The black bullhead or black bullhead catfish is a species of bullhead catfish. Like other bullhead catfish, it has the ability to thrive in waters that are low in oxygen, brackish, turbid, and/or very warm. It also has barbels located near its mouth, a broad head, spiny fins, and no scales. It can be identified from other bullheads as the barbels are black, and it has a tan crescent around the…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Black Bullhead article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Black Bullhead?
Black Bullhead (Ameiurus melas) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 17 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Black Bullhead?
Black Bullhead is Ameiurus melas.
Is Black Bullhead regulated for fishing?
Yes — Black Bullhead has fishing regulations in 14 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Black Bullhead?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Black Bullhead along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.