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Relative Harvestability by Angling of Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, and Their Reciprocal Hybrids
Author(s) -
Tave Douglas,
McGinty Andrew S.,
Chappell Jesse A.,
Smitherman R. O.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1981)1<73:rhbaob>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - ictalurus , catfish , stocking , fishery , fishing , hectare , biology , hybrid , ictaluridae , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology , ecology , botany , agriculture
One hundred and eighty‐seven each of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, and their reciprocal hybrid crosses were stocked communally in a 0.1‐hectare pond (7,480 fish/hectare) in April 1977. Each group was heat‐branded prior to stocking for subsequent identification. The fish were grown for 181 days, after which the pond was fished for 35 man‐hours (350 man‐hours/hectare) on October 16 and 17. The pond was drained on October 19 and the remaining fish were harvested. A total of 290 kg (518 fish) was harvested by fishing and draining. Seventy‐five (14.5%) of the fish were caught by the anglers in the two days. The hybrids were more susceptible to angling than the parent species. Heterosis for catchability was 158.6% by number and 203.6% by weight of fish caught. Channel catfish ♀ x blue catfish ♂ hybrids were more catchable than the reciprocal hybrids. Average length of all fish that were caught was greater than for those that were not caught. Fishing success in fee‐fishing catfish ponds could be improved by stocking the channel catfish ♀ x blue catfish ♂ hybrid.