Night fishing for catfish is its own subculture and I’m officially part of it now

[Penny_wise]

A buddy convinced me to head out at midnight to fish for flatheads using live bait. At first, I felt ridiculous. Then I hooked into a 30 pound fish and fought it in the dark for 15 minutes. I was yelling like a different person. Now it’s something I look forward to every summer.

 

[Mokaa]

Midnight fights with flatheads are unforgettable for sure.

 

[Blackstone]

Night fishing has a way of pulling you in fast, one big catch and you’re hooked for good.

 

[Howard]

I've heard some refer to catfish as 'seafood'.

That's a big negatory.

 

[Ammo warrior]

Catching my first flathead catfish at two in the morning really changed something in me. There was that profound silence, and then, suddenly, pure chaos. Ever since then, I've been completely hooked.

 

[Billinthedesert]

I've only fished for cats during daylight. The last time I fished at night was more than 50 years ago while in high school in Arcata, CA. We fished waist-deep in the surf off the beach with A-frame nets for five-inch "nightfish," which are related to candlefish, very oily and simply delicious fried on a Coleman stove behind the sand dunes (any artificial light tends to keep them from running close to shore). I had never heard of an A-frame net before, but they are very simple. You hold the apex toward your abdomen and when a wave approaches, you put the two legs -- the wide part of the net opening-- down on the sand, then lift it up when the wave passes to scoop up your catch.
Tangling with an ornery, gape-mouth monster cat in the dark does have a certain appeal. Do you fellas keep the big ones to eat? I have heard you really don't want a cat much bigger than a couple of pounds for best flavor and texture.