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Brown Bullhead

Brown Bullhead

The Brown Bullhead is a native catfish species widely distributed throughout Maine, occurring in 851 lakes and ponds comprising 756,604 acres across all management regions.

These hardy catfish are extremely tolerant of poor water conditions, surviving temperatures up to 90°F and dissolved oxygen levels below 1 ppm.

Scientific Name: Ameiurus nebulosus

Physical Characteristics:
  • In Maine, adult bullheads typically measure 8-10 inches and weigh less than one pound, though specimens up to 14 inches are occasionally caught, with fish over 18 inches being rare.
  • These hardy catfish have dark brown to olive green backs with mottled sides and creamy white bellies, featuring distinctive whisker-like barbels around their broad, flattened heads and sharp saw-tooth spines on their dorsal and pectoral fins.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Brown bullheads thrive in sluggish waters with muddy bottoms, seeking out sheltered bays and coves in larger lakes and rivers.
  • Their preferred habitat includes shallow weedy areas, and they can be found in everything from large oligotrophic lakes to small warmwater ponds.

Key Locations

  • Principal fisheries exist in southern Maine's Management Regions A and B, with the Belgrade Lakes chain providing significant fishing opportunities.
  • In Maine, the southern regions (Management Regions A and B) provide the most productive fishing based on catch rates, with Region A showing 1.93 fish per angler day and Region B at 1.00 fish per angler day.

Specific Spots

  • Target shallow areas near structure like logs, rocks, or vegetation where they seek shelter.
  • Fish in water less than two feet deep around submerged structures, focusing on areas with abundant aquatic vegetation.

Brown Bullhead FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Brown Bullhead in Maine?

Effective natural baits include nightcrawlers, chicken liver, minnows, cut bait, and even bread or dough balls. Since bullheads have poor eyesight, they rely heavily on their sensitive barbels to locate food through taste and smell, making scented baits particularly effective.

When is the best time to fish for Brown Bullhead in Maine?

Avoid fishing during spawning period from late spring to early summer when water temperatures rise above 65°F in spring.

How do you catch Brown Bullhead in Maine?

Use bottom-fishing techniques with slip-sinker rigs to keep bait near the muddy bottom where bullheads forage. Still fishing and drift fishing are the most effective techniques, along with basic bait casting.

What do Brown Bullhead eat?

These bottom-dwelling omnivores feed primarily at night on a diverse diet including algae, aquatic insects, crayfish, small fish, worms, and fish e.g.gs. In Maine lakes where both species are present, 51% of bullheads examined during lake trout spawning season contained lake trout e.g.gs.

Where do Brown Bullhead live in Maine?

Brown bullheads thrive in sluggish waters with muddy bottoms, seeking out sheltered bays and coves in larger lakes and rivers. Their preferred habitat includes shallow weedy areas, and they can be found in everything from large oligotrophic lakes to small warmwater ponds.

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