The channel catfish (Ictalurus lacustris) was designated the official Tennessee state commercial fish in 1988. Channel catfish are bottom feeders (sometimes called spotted cat or fiddler) and can be found in most Tennessee streams and lakes.

The large-mouth bass and small-mouth bass have also been designated as the state sporting fish and state game fish of Tennessee.

The most numerous catfish species in North America, with an average size between 2 and 4 pounds, the channel catfish can grow to 50 pounds or more (the world record was a channel catfish caught in South Carolina weighing 58 pounds).

Found in rivers, reservoirs, natural lakes, and ponds throughout the United States. Omnivores with a very keen sense of smell and taste, a channel catfish actually has taste buds distributed over the entire surface of its body, especially concentrated on the 4 pairs of barbels (whiskers) surrounding the mouth. These sharp senses allow the channel catfish to find food in dark or muddy water.

Source:

Channel catfish: Wikipedia.org

Links:

State Fish & Water Life Symbols - 50 States