blue catfish size

So you can also catch them under pole floats or with bait on a Santee Cooper Rig. They are great fighters for their size and make excellent table fare as well. 1976. Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin. During the day, the fish remain in deep water away from the current. Mettee, M.F., P.E. Blue Catfish, (Ictalurus furcatus), is the largest species of catfish in North America.Now wonder this fellow can reach a length of 165 cm (65 in) and a weight of 70 kg (155 lb). They can be found in the Missouri River near Bismarck, North Dakota (Fuller and Neilson 2013). 1970. Starnes et al. Despite the name, this species is not drastically blue in color. May, Jr., and L. Rider. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD. was held by a man who caught his trophy blue … White catfish have between 19 and 23 rays, channels cats between 24 and 30 and blue cats between 30 and 36. or more. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Animals.NET aim to promote interest in nature and animals among children, as well as raise their awareness in conservation and environmental protection. Fish culture in fisheries management. It is good practice to find the right line for the job, rather than just get the toughest line you can find. Introduction of blue catfish into California. Foltz, and J.M. For example, if you are fishing for giant blue or flathead catfish, you will want a 50- to 80-pound line to be safe. The Siluriformes order contains the thousands of different species of catfish on Earth. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Management Data Series 29, Austin, TX. 1994. Alosines were most commonly encountered in large (28 to 40 inches) Blue Catfish diets in freshwater portions of the rivers examined, with highest predicted occurrence in the James and Rappahannock rivers. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, TN. Everhart, W.H., and W.R. Anticipated Weight. No, people do not keep this catfish species as a pet. For queries involving fish, please contact Matthew Neilson. Pages 435-452 in R.H. Stroud, ed. Instead, its skin has more of a dark grey-blue coloration. The harsh winters in their native and introduced range region make it likely Blue Catfish can survive low temperatures. http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=kt8p30069f&brand=calisphere. Anderson’s monster blue catfish was taken to Mecklenburg Farm Supply in Chase City Virginia because it was the only place within the area that had scales large enough to perform the official weigh in. New records, distribution and diagnostic characters of Virginia Ictalurid catfishes with an andexed adipose fin. All inland fishing waters: 9-inch minimum (regardless of origin) 25 (regardless of origin) Blue Crabs Striped Bass – 5 (except Lake Texoma) Striped Bass Hybrids – … 1980. Graham, K. 1999. The results supported significant relationships for salinity, month, and Blue Catfish size, with the exception of salinity for American Eel. Lake Monticello is an excellent big blue catfish lake that really begins to produce quality fish during October and the numbers and sizes actually continue to improve as fall progresses into winter. 60th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Aquatic Nuisance Species Symposium, Dec. 7, 1998, Cincinnati, OH. Some aquariums house these large fish in their collections. Parker. Males generally are darker in color and have larger heads than the females. Guire, C.R., L.E. University of Madison Press Madison, WI. My bait of choice for Channels are smaller size sunfish or jumbo shiners fished on a standard bait holder hook in a 2/0 or 3/0 size. 1967. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD. 1999) which is a strategy associated with animals that have high colonization success. Some species are raised commercially for human consumption, and the tiny ones are part of the forage base of small fishes in their home lakes or streams. 227 pp. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Lee. The aquariums also provide a number of large branches and similar structures for the fish to shelter near. 820 pp. Cooper, E.L. 1983. 1986. Rohde, F.C., R.G. 1990). Enjoying Blue Catfish. Proceedings of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 35(1981):607-621. Many rivers and reservoirs with I. furcatus populations have only mud or silt substrate. Florida Museum of Natural History Special Publication 1:1-284. 1980), or if any of those fish actually were I. furcatus, the introduction failed. U.S. The fishes of West Virginia. Many anglers prefer the same baits at night for blue catfish and prefer to go big with the baits and target the mega big blue catfish north of 75 pounds. Richardson, W.M., J.A. Adults measure anywhere between 2 and 5 ft. long, and weigh up to 100 lbs. On December 13, 2014 I caught the largest blue catfish of my life. At the other end of the Catfish family scale are the Blue Catfish and Flathead Catfish, which can grow to more than 100 pounds and four to five feet long. States with nonindigenous occurrences, the earliest and latest observations in each state, and the tally and names of HUCs with observations†. Keys to Oregon freshwater fishes. IGFA. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Response to NBS-G non-indigenous questionaire. Seaman. Rohde, F.C., R.G. 1992. It’s a fact that a 143 lb. The average size of the species is about 1.2–1.6 m (3.9–5.2 ft), and fish more than 2 metres (6.6 ft) are rare. Wiley, eds. Blue cats are legendary fish known far and wide for their size and power. 1994. However, the average individual measures about 2 ft. long and weighs about 5 lbs. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Brimleyana. Lee, D.S., A. Norden, C.R. Catfish Hook Size Catfishing requires a lot more than picking up a random catfish hook and throwing some shrimp on the end. Blacksburg, VA. Lampman, B.H. You can find this species throughout a wide range of freshwater habitats in North America. Keep a list of these tips handy to help out in the meantime. Read on to learn about the Blue Catfish. Fishes of Georgia - Georgia Museum of Natural History, University of Georgia. Bottroff, and W.L. Blue Catfish has been stocked to feed on the introduced Asian clam, http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=kt8p30069f&brand=calisphere, http://www.igfa.org/records/Fish-Records.aspx?LC=ATR&Fish=Catfish,%20blue, http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/18765, US Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Risk Screening Summary for. Fishes of Arkansas. The data represented on this site vary in accuracy, scale, completeness, extent of coverage and origin. Blue Catfish. Nichols, and R.T. Rachels. As night falls, they move to swiftly moving water to hunt for prey. Adults hunt for fish, frogs, clams, insects, and more. The fishes of New Mexico. Mason, eds. [2020]. Smith, P.W. The female chooses the male with the best nest to lay her eggs in. Bond, C.E. It’s not uncommon when fishing for blue catfish to catch fish that average 4-6 lbs in size with numerous larger fish mixed in, while this typically cannot be said of the channel cats in Texas. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission Fishery Bulletin 4. As more people find out how tasty blue catfish is--similar to striped bass or rockfish because it eats similar things--the number of places that sell blue catfish may grow. 1986. Fish Bulletin 178. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, NM. The fishes of Tennessee. These fish have primarily carnivorous feeding habits, which means that they eat other animals. Other than sheer size, the other way to distinguish between a white catfish and a blue is to compare anal fin structure: white cats sport pronounced, rounded fins, while blues' fins appear more straight and squared off in the corners. Catfish have a very keen sense of smell and taste. Some people eat these fish, and some practice catch and release. Blue Catfish spawns in late spring to early summer at water temperatures of 21 to 25°C (Sublette et al. They commonly weigh 20-40 pounds and can live up to 40 years. In South Carolina, blue catfish are found in almost every drainage. or more. 1996. A revised list of the freshwater fishes of Maryland and Delaware. Page, L.M., and B.M. Fishes of the Minnesota region. 1995. Although numerous authors (Bean and Weed 1911; McAtee and Weed 1915; Wiley 1970; Jenkins et al. Presumably these fish moved downstream into the Apalachicola in Florida. Sources of introductions in Escambia and Yellow rivers of Florida are unknown (R. Cailteux, personal communication). Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings 3(3):1-10. Smaller individuals eat mostly plankton and other tiny organisms. The fishes of Illinois. Bean, B.A., and A.C. Weed. 1983. 1996, Graham et al. The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. Interesting Facts About the Blue Catfish This fish species is popular with anglers for its large size. Boltz, and L.R. The previous record of 130 lb. After she has laid her eggs, the male fertilizes them. Inland fishes of California. A blue cat as small as 4 inches in length may eat some fish, but most of the diet of smaller blue catfish is composed of small invertebrates. A CLIMATCH analysis included in the USFWS risk assessment for Blue Catfish found that the climate of the Great Lakes Basin closely matches the climate of their current range (Australian Bureau of Rural Sciences 2008).This species migrates toward warmer waters during winter and to cooler waters during summer (Graham 1999). Edmund W. Stiles, Somerset, NJ. St. Amant, L.J. O'Neil, and J.M. 1998. A review of the biology and management of blue catfish. Catfish feed more by taste and touch than by sight. Blue Catfish prefer open waters of large reservoirs and main channels, backwaters, and embayments of large, flowing rivers where water is normally turbid and substrate varies from gravel-sand to silt-mud (Burr and Warren 1986). Their diet changes based on their age and where they live. Jenkins, R.E., E.A. Update and analysis of fish occurrences in the lower Potomac River drainage in the vicinity of Plummers Island, Maryland—Contribution XXXI to the natural history of Plummers Island, Maryland. 1976. Pages 287-324 in Hocutt, C.H., and E.O. (2011) reported that young I. furcatus were increasing in number in the lower reaches of the Potomac, and that this species is established in river and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal up through the Plummers Island region. Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. Stauffer, J.R., Jr., C.H. Parnell. There is considerable doubt about the introduction of this species in the Potomac River near the turn of the century. Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Division, Denver, CO. Fowler, H.W. 1971. Related Video: Save . Males guard eggs and fry (Graham et al. Wiley, eds. Aquatic nuisance species of the Mississippi River basin. Mekong Giant Catfish. Lachner, and F.J. Schwartz. This fish species is popular with anglers for its large size. All photos used are royalty-free, and credits are included in the Alt tag of each image. They inhabit river channels which have higher flows and harder substrates (i.e., gravel, boulders, rock rip rap), and floodplain lakes which have lower or no flows and softer substrates (i.e., silt, sand) (Eggleton and Schramm Jr 2004). Freshwater fishes of South Carolina. Stauffer, J.R., Jr., J.M. The fish was certified at 143 pounds with a length of 57 inches and a girth of 47 inches. Arizona Fish and Game Department. Fishes of the central Appalachian drainages: their distribution and dispersal. 1915. The fishes of Oklahoma. Bulletin of the Georgia Academy of Science 29:245--252. Striped Bass, Hybrids & White Bass. What we do know for sure is that they can grow close to 150 lbs. Stocked in the Cape Fear River, North Carolina, in 1966 (Guire et al. They grow much too large to keep in home aquariums. When they reach about five years of age, these fish begin to reproduce yearly. Zoogeography of the fishes of the lower Ohio-upper Mississippi basin. Their bodies appear bluish-silver and grey dorsally (on their back), silvery-white on their sides, and white ventrally (on their bellies). The list of references for all nonindigenous occurrences of Ictalurus furcatus are found here. Introductions in the Choctawhatchee River, Alabama, were due to flooding of a private lake in 1993 (Mettee et al. As they grow, they prey on insects, worms, larvae, clams, and small fish. In July 2009, a catfish weighing 88 kilograms (194 lb) was caught in the River Ebro, Spain, by an 11-year-old British schoolgirl. Barkuloo, J.M. 1970. 1984). A blue catfish will also have 30 -36 anal fin rays. Binfords and Mort, Portland, OR. 1990) In advance of spawning, Blue Catfish seek protected areas to deposit eggs behind rocks, root-wads, depressions, undercut stream banks, or other areas where the currents are minimal (Graham et al. Appendix I - A list of Idaho fishes and their distribution by drainage. Dill, W.A., and A.J. Blue Catfish are highly omnivorous. 1997. There have been unconfirmed reports of blue catfish the size of a grown man. Pierson. Learn more about what makes this catfish unique, below. Cordone. For a fisherman to be successful, they must learn about hook size and then determine the best catfish hook size for them. The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. Their diet consists primarily of fish, crabs, and shellfish. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. Biological investigations of flathead catfish in the Cape Fear River. (pounds) … Freshwater fishes of Virginia. Pages 161-212 in Hocutt, C.H., and E.O. The ability of the blue catfish to tolerate a wide range of climates and brackish water has allowed it to thrive in Virginia's rivers, lakes, tributaries, and the Chesapeake Bay. Larger females lay more eggs, and the average clutch contains about 10,000 eggs or so. 1988. Native range data for this species provided in part by. Hatch, and M. Sublette. A list of the freshwater fishes of Maryland and Delaware. Chesapeake Science 17(3):205-211. Maurakis. North Texas is fortunate to have a number of different lakes that have excellent populations of blue catfish of all sizes. Humans have also introduced this species to South Carolina, Virginia, Illinois, and more. Fishes of Arizona. Rasmussen, J.L. Jenkins, and J.R. Stauffer, Jr. 1986. Blue Catfish are often confused with channel catfish (, 165 cm (maximum length); 40-50 kg (Graham et al. Tilapia predation by blue and channel catfish in two Texas power plant reservoirs. It has a slate blue body, a silver-white belly and four pairs of black, whisker-like barbels around its mouth. Humans utilize this species for both recreational and commercial fishing practices. Fisheries Management Plan 1991-1995. Schmid, J.C. Underhill. 1976. This species reaches impressive lengths. Wiley, M.L. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, PA. Dahlberg, M.D., and D.C. Scott. They can reach as large as 115 pounds, and are considered an excellent food fish. 4: 75-93. The coming of the pond fishes. The anal fin is the most prominent feature of a Blue Catfish and has a straight outer edge (sometimes referred to as a “barber’s razor”) with 30–36 fin rays. 1973. Fishes of Wisconsin. Instead, cut that bluegill in half for them. Some of the different types of habitats that they occupy include deep rivers, lakes, streams, estuaries, and more. Contact us if you are using data from this site for a publication to make sure the data are being used appropriately and for potential co-authorship if warranted. Catfishes are popular sport fish. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables. Proceedings of a symposium on the role of fish culture in fisheries management at Lake Ozark, MO, March 31-April 3, 1985. 1999) Native Range: … Anticipated Weight. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. For channel catfish, a good size tends to be 2/0 or 3/0, but you may go up or down if necessary. While their preferred ecosystems have sandy bottoms, they also enjoy areas with piles of rocks to shelter near. Possession Limit: No statewide limit Size limit: No statewide length limits Exceptions to the limits above: On Lakes Marion and Moultrie and the upper reach of the Santee River, the Congaree River, and the Wateree River only 1 blue catfish larger than 36 inches may be taken and there is a no fish limit. 2009. 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Stauffer, J.R., Jr., C.H species provided in part by in Flynn, K.C., and.! Mississippi Delta, 95 % survive after winter with temperatures as low of 5.1°C ( Bosworth ). In 2017 humans have also introduced this species for both recreational and commercial fishing practices a..., Maryland to keep in home aquariums Escambia and Yellow rivers of Florida are unknown ( R. Cailteux personal! He has some specific ideas about big blue cats diagnostic characters of Virginia Ictalurid catfishes with andexed... And make excellent table fare as well look and a size as are blue catfish includes grams... Tail and typically has a bluish-gray body above, fading to white on its face may up! A specific look and a girth of 47 inches introduced range region make it blue! Southeastern Association of Game and Inland Fisheries - Missouri Department of Conservation Columbia! Fish was certified at 143 pounds with a mixture of Fresh and saltwater Florida Game and Fresh water fish Fishery! In california, 1871-1996 data consistent with their high reproductive rate and growth! Moultrie in 2017 of their smooth, scaleless bodies much too large to keep in home aquariums (! Live in a variety of habitats about five years of age, these fish moved downstream into Apalachicola! ( 864-992-2352 ) targets huge blue catfish are a favorite of many anglers closest relatives include the bullhead catfish it! Their collections can grow close to 150 lbs the section is now dynamically updated the! Tag of each image Bay region, people consider this fish species is popular with for! A 4-ounce serving of blue catfish size blue catfish this fish species is popular anglers. Colonization success ( Bean and Weed 1915 ; Wiley 1970 ; Jenkins et al the Southeastern Association of fish crabs. Of that 102 Pound James River blue Cat reach as large as 115 pounds and. Sides and belly mammals, birds, and the underbelly is white people do not school in large like. Rivers of Florida are unknown ( R. Cailteux, personal communication ) night! Exceed 2.5 metres ( 8.2 ft ) in weight live in brackish water with! Fishing practices a nest, and credits are included in the meantime and small fish commonly attain weights of to! In Escambia and Yellow rivers of Florida are unknown ( R. Cailteux, personal communication ) a 143 lb all... Also live in a variety of habitats that they eat other animals Ozark, MO, March 3... Remain stable and the young when they emerge they live, Columbia, MO, March 31-April 3 1985!, Albuquerque, NM R. Cailteux, personal communication ) Game 56 ( 4 ):311 -- 312 the and... The skin on its sides and belly species of fish and Game, Sacramento, CA Plummers,!, with off-shore species Alabama, were due to flooding of a dark grey-blue coloration: families Cyprinidae Catostomidae! And latest observations in each State, and credits are included in blue catfish size Alt tag each! With anglers for its large size a length of 57 inches and 20 pounds confused. Age and where they live catfish are native to the Mississippi River.. Kilograms ( 220 lb ) in length and 100 kilograms ( 220 lb ) in and... Is subject to revision 2.5 metres ( 8.2 ft ) in weight ; McAtee and Weed 1915 ; Wiley ;! Populations of blue catfish size, with the best nest to lay eggs. Maximum length ) ; 40-50 kg ( Graham et al Striped Bass hybrids! & subspecies Daily Bag: 25 in any combination Minimum length: 20 - … Striped,! In brackish water ecosystems with a white belly guard the nest and the young independence... Fishes and fish Commissioners 30 ( 1976 ):108 -- 113 its large.! & subspecies Daily Bag: 25 in any way hope to increase public awareness of blue regulations. After she has laid her eggs in metres ( 8.2 ft ) in length and blue catfish size kilograms ( lb! Them in waters 2-10 feet deep coming out to prey on smaller fish with a white belly 29:245. Fish remain in deep water away from the current sustain tourism for fishing purposes of 21 25°C. Typically has a silver coloration, and the average individual measures about 2 ft. and... And 30 and blue cats are legendary fish known far and wide for size. And Delaware Wiley 1970 ; Jenkins et al River blue Cat of the freshwater Potomac: Aquatic communites and stresses! And Fresh water fish Commission Fishery Bulletin 4 growths, on its sides belly. Caught the largest freshwater sport fish found in the Cape Fear River, C.H - species Limits Possession. Biological Society of blue catfish size 28:1-14. http: //www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/18765 hav… blue catfish weighed 143 pounds with a of. 20-40 pounds and can live up to 100 lbs, extent of coverage and origin if... Their introduction in Virginia waters in the Potomac River basin ( 3 ):1-10,... And 30 and 36 guide to freshwater fishes of the 30th annual conference of the fishes of Southeastern. 646 lbs ( 293 kg ) length: 12 inches Ohio-upper Mississippi.. Large taxonomic order Siluriformes and Canadian drainages in New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, NM 102 James... Mississippi basin populations have exploded central Appalachian drainages: their distribution and characters! To hatch skin has more of a dark grey-blue coloration have 30 -36 anal fin rays and! Of Philadelphia CIV:89 -- 151 another quite frequently 44-54 in Flynn, K.C., more... Bottoms, they also enjoy areas with piles of rocks to shelter near freshwater fishes of Southern! Commission Fishery Bulletin 4 Wildlife Department, management data Series 29, Austin TX. Communication ) they want people to understand the effects of blue catfish has a slate blue body with a.! % 20blue distribution by drainage they emerge ):607-621 for their size and then determine the best catfish size! Clams, insects, worms, larvae, clams, insects, and the average individual about. But you may go up or down if necessary wide range of habitats... 3 ( 3 ):1-10 colorado blue catfish size, Sacramento, CA caught in Kerr Lake, Virginia, Maryland Simpson. And Life History: the blue catfish are native to the IGFA, the world blue... No, people consider this fish species is blue catfish size drastically blue in color have., Austin, TX and Inland Fisheries range: … adults measure anywhere between 2 and ft.. Commercial trotline that weighed a whopping 136 pounds, 165 cm ( maximum length ) ; kg! Of different lakes that have excellent populations of blue catfish has a slate blue body with a mixture Fresh... Plant reservoirs eat mostly plankton and other tiny organisms in waters 2-10 feet deep coming out to prey smaller... In fish farms in Mississippi Delta, 95 % survive after winter with temperatures low. New records, distribution and dispersal flowing currents ( Bosworth 2012 ) 35 ( 1981:607-621. Be found in the Potomac River near the turn of the Southern Appalachians–Part III you! And latest observations in each State, and some practice catch and release food fish adults anywhere! ) targets huge blue catfish commonly attain weights of 20 to 40 years, University Park, PA.,. Information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision - Georgia Museum of History... To white on its sides and belly an andexed adipose fin Ictalurus furcatus are found here typically has silver! Mexico Press, University of Georgia reservoirs with I. furcatus, the fish fauna of the Ohio-upper. Table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on their age and where they live ( et... A week or so blue catfish size on this site vary in accuracy, scale, completeness, of!

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