CATFISHES

Stock Status - Unknown - Due to budget and personnel constraints the Division of Marine Fisheries has not had a directed sampling program since 1980.  Federal aid project F-80 began March 2004 to fulfill data needs for the upcoming FMP.  Landings are 30% below 10-year average.  Data are not yet sufficient to evaluate status.

Average Commercial Landings and Value 1997-2006 – 611,581 lbs./$164,917

2006 Commercial Landings and Value – 429,948 lbs./$121,288

Average Recreational Landings 1997-2006 - Unknown   2006 - Unknown

Average Number of Award Citations 1997-2006 - N/A   2006 - N/A

Average Recreational Commercial Gear Landings 2002-2006 – 6,220 lbs.  2006 – 5,835 lbs.

Status of Fishery Management Plan (FMP) - No state or federal plan. A state plan is scheduled to begin in 2010.

Research and Data Needs – validation of juvenile indices, size, age and sex composition of recreational and commercial harvests, fecundity estimates, updated maturity estimates, gear selectivity estimates gut content analysis, characterize species composition of commercial harvest, characterize species composition between water bodies, spawning area surveys, identify movement and migration patterns, evaluate similarities of age, growth, and productivity between water bodies
                                               
Current Regulations - No regulations in place

Harvest Season - Open year round.

Size and Age at Maturity - White and channel catfish - 7-12 inches Total Length (TL)/3-4 years; Bullheads- 8-10 inches TL/3 years

Historical and Current Maximum Age – 20 years/19 years

Juvenile Abundance Index Average 2004 – 2006 – 1.1 2006 – 1.0 (not validated)

Habits and Habitats - Spawning occurs in nests over sand, gravel, and mud, and under protection of logs, roots, vegetation, from late March through June depending on the species.  Males of some species protect the young once hatching occurs.  Juveniles utilize the rivers and sounds as a nursery area, within the same area as adults.

For more information, contact michael.loeffler@ncmail.net (800-338-7805 or 252-264-3911)