Species profile
Yellow Bullhead
Ameiurus natalis
Identify Yellow Bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 16 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Yellow Bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 20 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 3,486 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Texas, Ohio, and Florida the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Its pale, whitish chin barbels are the easiest field mark separating it from the brown bullhead.
- Tolerates low-oxygen, murky water far better than most warmwater fish.
- A nocturnal forager, it uses eight sensitive barbels to detect prey in complete darkness.
- Both parents guard the nest, and the male often herds fry for days after they hatch.
- Typically reaches 6–14 inches; most adults weigh well under a pound.
Where Yellow Bullhead are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Yellow Bullhead
Background
The yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) is a species of bullhead catfish that is a ray-finned fish that lacks scales.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Yellow Bullhead article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Yellow Bullhead?
Yellow Bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 20 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Yellow Bullhead?
Yellow Bullhead is Ameiurus natalis.
Is Yellow Bullhead regulated for fishing?
Yes — Yellow Bullhead has fishing regulations in 16 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 Yellow Bullhead?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Yellow 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.