Lots of guys selling catfish

[peter]

I went to a seminar a while back at the boat show at the Ky Fairgrounds. There was a guide there giving a seminar from the Mississippi River. He billed the seminar "Katfish Kollege". How could you pass that up!

He said a 50 pound blue cat would be 40 years old. If he was correct (maybe he exaggerated to make his point) that takes an awfully long time to replace. He was preaching conservation.

Here is a study from another state regarding weight/inches of blues.

http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/fi...ntresearch.pdf

There is another file attached if your browser cannot read the one at the link.

The growing season is longer on Oklahoma I would think.

[Lowerider]

Mr. Brooks - I appreciate you engaging with the public and I wish the Dept would chime in more often.

We eagerly await to hear the results from the study. I can let you know the angling catfisherman in this state will be extremely disappointed if a compromise consists of liberal regulations (4 over 40 and unlimited under).


This is a summary of a study done by KY itself, taken directly from their fw.ky.gov here's the summary from that study, which used the fish from the Ohio river in Kentucky. I think it was performed in 2004 and published in 2007.

The oldest male flathead catfish collected to date was a31-year-old fish that measured 41 inches and weighed approximately 38 pounds while the oldest female flathead collected was 21 years of age, measured 33 inches and weighed approximately 18 pounds.

Similar differences in growth rates for male and female blue catfish are also being observed in the Ohio River. By age 15, male blue catfish (36 inches) begin to outgrow female blue catfish (29 inches). The largest female blue cat collected was 24 years old, measured 33 inches and weighed nearly 15 pounds compared to a 24 year old male that measured 45 inches and
weighed just over 50 pounds.

Flathead
male 31 y/o = measured 41" and weighed only 38 lbs...... a female flathead 21 y/o measured 33" and weighed only 18 lbs!

bluecat

female 24 y/o measured 33" and weighed only 15 lbs..... a 24 year old male measuring 45 " weighed only 50.

Plenty of studies out there support a slow growth rate.

[Drew1233]

Mr. Brooks, I feel like the best way to catch these people that do not have the lisence and that are selling these fish is to have the pay lake owners fill out some sort of a forum or paper that shows the lisence number the amount and sizes of the fish. These pay lakes need to have a limit on how many fish they can buy and of what species because clearly a blue cat will not thrive in these environments because of the lack of flowing water. I know this probably won't change your thought but I hope it will. I hope to be able to fish the rivers and lakes of Kentucky when I'm old. I'm not one to often fish the river but I feel like its only right to keep the lakes and rivers in balance. I would also like you to look at the conversations on here about the dead fish in the river because of the dams. I was told there were many dead fish from a variety of species in the water. Thank you very much, drew

[steve douglas]

My representative Dave Floyd just called me back and assured me he will be at the October meeting.
How about your rep.

[KDFWR Fisheries]

Drew, I am answering this because I failed to state earlier that I rarely have time to scan the various discussion boards and almost never have time to get into a running discussion. Therefore, I will limit my posts to address issues in a fashion similar to the catfish response I gave yesterday. It's not that I do not want to talk to anglers, I simply do not have the time on these many forums. We are looking at possibly getting a person to keep an eye on the forums so that we can address at least some of the questions and concerns that a broad number of people may have - such as this catfish issue.

Having said all of that, I will try to answer your questions since i'm here. I agree that actually catching illegal sales of fish is not easy, but when it becomes as widespread as it sounds like this has, we do have resourceful Conservation Officers. I would reiterate that the most important factor in catching people who persist in breaking the law is the public who are willing to call us. If someone is really concerned about illegal selling of big catfish, then it should be no problem to turn the culprit(s) in.

I also want to tell you that there are several states talking together to address oversight of pay lakes given the popularity of the trophy catfish aspect of the business.

Fish kills below dams can occur if large amounts of water is released and the plunging below causes supersaturation of nitrogen in the water. The fish end up with nitrogen bubbles in their circulatory system which can be fatal. Not alot that can be done in those cases short of major renovations of the way water is released or by creating a situation where there is minimal plunge associated with the release. There has been some research dedicated to this issue. Google "nitrogen embolism in fish" for more information.

hope this helped.

Mr. Brooks, I feel like the best way to catch these people that do not have the lisence and that are selling these fish is to have the pay lake owners fill out some sort of a forum or paper that shows the lisence number the amount and sizes of the fish. These pay lakes need to have a limit on how many fish they can buy and of what species because clearly a blue cat will not thrive in these environments because of the lack of flowing water. I know this probably won't change your thought but I hope it will. I hope to be able to fish the rivers and lakes of Kentucky when I'm old. I'm not one to often fish the river but I feel like its only right to keep the lakes and rivers in balance. I would also like you to look at the conversations on here about the dead fish in the river because of the dams. I was told there were many dead fish from a variety of species in the water. Thank you very much, drew