Recreational catfish harvest in reservoirs in the USA

Abstract

The recreational catfish harvest was classified in 349 reservoirs larger than 200 ha distributed over 40 states of the contiguous USA. Harvesting occurred in 282 reservoirs, averaged 2.8 kg ha-1 year-1 and represented 15.6% of the total fish yield. The genus Ictalurus contributed most to catfish fisheries (mean = 2.0 kg ha-1), followed by Ameiurus (1.1 kg ha-1) and Pylodictis (0.4 kg ha-1). Five distinct clusters of reservoirs were identified, differing relative to geographical distribution, catfish harvests, angler favouritism towards catfish and physicochemical characteristics. Reservoir clusters across the northern USA had low harvests and essentially featured reservoirs in the upper periphery of the native range of catfish. Harvesting in reservoirs in the south-west of the country, where catfish have been introduced, was higher than in the north, yet yield remained low. Within their native range, three overlapping clusters included one with medium and another with high harvests, both types dominated by Ictalurus, and a cluster with very high harvest dominated by Ameiurus. Variability in harvests was attributed to zoogeography, reservoir physicochemical characteristics and fishing effort. Management of catfish fisheries of the three less-productive clusters may focus on enhancement through habitat manipulation and stocking; the two more productive clusters offer the greatest flexibility for management through regulation of harvest.