Discover the best catfish destinations, guided trips, and lodge-based experiences worldwide. Explore remote waters and world-class angling with expert local hosts.
Catfish thrive in slow, murky rivers, deep channels, and vast tropical floodplains. From South America’s Paraná to Africa’s Rufiji, anglers pursue them for their brute strength, unpredictable takes, and the chance at truly massive fish.
Catfish fishing offers a raw, no-nonsense experience built around live bait, heavy tackle, and powerful fights. Species vary widely—from the iconic vundu of East Africa to surubí in Argentina and giant wels in Europe—but what unites them is a shared reputation for power, durability, and size.
Lodges that specialize in catfish often operate in remote or under-pressured waters, with expert guides targeting them by boat or from the bank. While fly fishing for catfish is rare, certain species like surubí and African sharptooth catfish are occasionally taken on flies in structured river environments.
Found mainly in the Paraná River basin, surubí (Pseudoplatystoma spp.) are fast-growing, ambush predators. Anglers target them with live bait or jigs near submerged cover. Santa Fe, Corrientes, and Buenos Aires are key regions.
The largest freshwater fish in southern Africa, vundu can exceed 100 pounds. These catfish live in slow-moving rivers and oxbows in Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Known for long runs and deep fights.
Native to the Danube, Ebro, and Po river systems, wels (Silurus glanis) grow to enormous sizes—often over 200 pounds. Night fishing with dead bait or live fish is the standard tactic.
Also known as African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), this species thrives in muddy, oxygen-depleted water. They’re highly adaptable and aggressive, often fished for in Tanzanian rivers and lakes.
Common in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, redtail catfish are colorful, strong, and aggressive. Most anglers fish bait near deep holes, especially in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia.
FishingExplora features lodge-based catfish trips in locations from Tanzania to Argentina—regions offering strong seasonal access to large, aggressive catfish. Whether it’s drifting the Paraná for surubí or battling a vundu from a jon boat in East Africa, these trips are tailored for anglers seeking true heavyweight freshwater action.
Wels catfish in Europe and vundu in Africa are among the largest, both capable of exceeding 100 pounds. In South America, redtail catfish and surubí also reach impressive sizes over 80 pounds in certain systems.
It’s rare, but possible. Surubí and sharptooth catfish are the most likely species to take flies, especially in deep channels or muddy rivers with good streamer presentations. Heavy gear and sinking lines are essential.
No. While many catfish thrive in murky rivers, some—like sharptooth catfish or redtails—can also be found in clear or tannin-stained systems. They typically favor deep cover, regardless of water clarity.
Catfish offer brute strength, long runs, and the potential for truly giant fish. Many species are active at night or in low light, and the fishing often takes place in wild, remote river systems with little pressure.
Heavy spinning or baitcasting setups with 50–100 lb braid, strong circle hooks, and large bait rigs are standard. For wels and vundu, specialized rods and bank alarms are common.
In many regions, yes. Day trips or lodge-based programs in Argentina and East Africa offer comfortable setups, safe boats, and experienced guides—ideal for introducing newcomers to big freshwater fishing.
