Bearded brotula – Brotula barbata is a bottom feeder found over a variety of bottoms in water that ranges from as shallow as 50 to as deep as 1000! Bearded brotula range from Northern Florida in the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean and southward to Northern South America.
Bearded brotula are dark brown in color with a dorsal fin that continues to the anal fin forming a pointed tail. Like catfish the bearded brotula has barbels above and below the mouth. Bearded brotula is excellent table far and is caught and utilized by both recreational and commercial fisherman.
Bearded brotula reach weights of up to 20 pounds but 2 to 3 pounds is much more common.