No, we’re not talking about internet dating disasters—National Catfish Month is all about the real, whiskered kind that swim in our rivers and lakes.

August is National Catfish Month, and it turns out these bottom-dwelling fish have quite a legacy in New Jersey. Long before catfish tacos or weekend fishing trips, catfish were a staple in the diets of the Lenni Lenape people, who skillfully fished them from rivers and creeks using spears, traps, and nets. They valued catfish so highly that they named the area now known as Wissahickon (just across the river in Pennsylvania) after them. The word is believed to mean “catfish stream” in the Lenape language.

When European settlers arrived, catfish remained a vital food source—easy to catch, hardy, and abundant. By the 18th and 19th centuries, catfish were a regular feature at local markets and on family tables. Fishing for them became not just survival, but tradition.

Today, catfish, especially channel and white catfish, still thrive in lakes and rivers across the state, from the Delaware River to Mercer Lake, and even right here in Plainsboro. Thanks to our local park rangers, Mill Pond Park is regularly stocked with fish, making it a great spot for families and anglers to try their luck—maybe even with a catfish.

But they’re more than just a catch of the day, catfish help keep our waterways clean by eating algae and organic debris, playing a critical role in the ecosystem.

So, whether you’re casting a line this summer or just appreciate a good fish fact, National Catfish Month is the perfect time to celebrate these humble, whiskered swimmers that have helped feed and shape New Jersey communities for centuries.