Black Catfish
Black catfish are a native eel-tail catfish of northern Australia, found from the Kimberley across the Top End and down through Queensland's coastal and inland rivers.
They're a solid target for barra anglers who find them as bycatch, and a genuine pursuit for those chasing native species on light gear in tropical rivers and billabongs. Good eating, interesting to handle — carefully.
Scientific Name: Neosilurus ater
Also known as Butter Jew, Narrow-fronted Catfish, Narrow-fronted Tandan, Black Eel-tail Catfish
- Dark brown to blackish overall with a paler belly; some fish show a honeycomb-like mottled pattern in black, grey and blue tones, especially visible under certain light.
- Body is elongate and tapers toward the tail, which fuses with the dorsal and anal fins into a continuous eel-like fin — the defining feature of the eel-tail catfish family.
- Four pairs of barbels around the mouth; long snout, large eye set high on the head. Spawning adults can turn a paler brown with a yellowish tinge.
- Typically reaches around 25–35 cm in Australian rivers; wild fish recorded to 65 cm, though the species tops out around 47 cm in most references. Handle with care — the dorsal and pectoral fins carry serrated venomous spines.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to northern Australia; range runs from the Kimberley rivers of Western Australia (Lawley, Carson and Fitzroy) east across the Northern Territory and through Queensland as far south as the Burnett River near Bundaberg.
- Found in both fast-flowing reaches of rivers and streams and in the still or gently moving water of pools, side channels, floodplain wetlands and billabongs.
- Also recorded in acidic, tannin-stained lakes — tolerant of a wider range of water chemistry than many native species.
- Coastal and western-draining rivers of Cape York Peninsula are a stronghold; also present in the Dawson and Burnett catchments of central and southern Queensland.
Key Locations
- Kimberley rivers, WA — Fitzroy, Carson and Lawley rivers hold the species at the western edge of its range.
- Northern Territory river systems, including the upper Finniss River near Batchelor, where the species is regularly recorded.
- Cape York Peninsula rivers, Queensland — both coastal and western-draining catchments are strongholds.
- Dawson and Burnett river catchments in central and southern Queensland mark the southern limit of the range.
Specific Spots
- Deep pools and slow side channels during the day — black catfish are largely nocturnal and rest in cover through daylight hours.
- Submerged timber, undercut banks and rocky ledges give them the low-light shelter they prefer; work lures or baits tight to this structure after dark.
- Floodplain wetlands and billabong edges during and after wet-season inundation, when food is concentrated along the margins.
Black Catfish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Black Catfish?
Fresh or live bait accounts for most fish, worms, freshwater prawns (yabbies) and pieces of fresh prawn are the go-to options, fished on the bottom after dark.
When is the best time to fish for Black Catfish?
Wet season and its aftermath (roughly November–April across the north) brings fish onto floodplain wetlands and billabong edges as water spreads and food becomes abundant.
How do you catch Black Catfish?
Most anglers encounter black catfish while fishing for barramundi or other natives in tropical rivers and billabongs, but targeting them directly means fishing the bottom of deep pools and slow runs after dark with natural bait. Shore-based fishing with a simple running sinker rig is the most common approach.
What do Black Catfish eat?
Feeds on molluscs, aquatic insects and freshwater prawns, bottom-oriented prey. Baits that sit on or near the bottom, like worms, yabbies or fresh prawn, match this feeding style directly.
Where do Black Catfish live?
Native to northern Australia; range runs from the Kimberley rivers of Western Australia (Lawley, Carson and Fitzroy) east across the Northern Territory and through Queensland as far south as the Burnett River near Bundaberg.
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