Whatever Happened to Catfish

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Ranch 99 in Concord's Park N Shop, has live and fresh frozen catfish, and many time several types the choose from.
I personally can't stand fresh water fish, so I'm no help of the quality of the fish.
 
The USDA has w.. uh spent a lot of money developing Tilapia aquaculture.
Down here, Tilapia in the Florida fresh waters is an invasive species as they have escaped the fish penitentiary and breed like rabbits. Similar to silver carp in the Mississippi and Missouri river systems.
Lots of invasive species in and around Fl and most of them harm the viability of native species. I would guess some of those Tilapia came from aquaculture operations that after figuring feeding costs vs what they could sell the fish for decided they needed to get rid of a bunch of fish. What's worse is that people mostly universities and other sources usually with some kind of public funding are still trying to talk people into aquaponics and raising Tilapia. About the only way I've figured to maybe make money selling the fish from an aquaponic operation is to raise Koi, Goldfish, Orfes or some other "Pond Fish" to sell to the that have Backyard Ponds. Those species bring good money or at least they do now until more growers figure out they can actually make money selling them and flood the market.
Around here North Florida/ South Georgia still have private ponds that allow people to catch and keep catfish for a fee. There is one of those ponds about 10 miles from me and they let you catch your own fish or they will do it for you of course they charge for either option
 
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