Alien Catfish Species Found in N.J. Canal (Flathead)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 8/25/04 | AP - Lambertville, NJ

[NormsRevenge]

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. - An alien species of catfish has been caught in the Delaware Raritan Canal, prompting fears among environmental officials that the voracious predator could devastate native catfish, sunfish and some sturgeon populations the way it has in southeastern states.

"The threat of the flathead is significant," Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell said in a statement Wednesday. "Anglers should report any catches or sightings of this fish to the Department."

In the southeast, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the flathead as its highest priority among invasive animal species, the DEP reported.

Flatheads, which are normally found west of the Appalachian Mountains, can grow to up to 100 pounds. The fish's color ranges from a yellowish brown to dark brown, with black or brown spotting. It has a flat head and a tail that appears rounded or square. A key distinguishing feature is that its lower jaw projects past the upper jaw.

The fish was caught in Lambertville July 23, near the Delaware River. Flatheads are known to consume large amounts of shad during spawning season.

[NormsRevenge]

This pic taken in James River, not NJ.

[SlickWillard]

An alien species of catfish has been caught in the Delaware Raritan Canal, prompting fears among environmental officials that the voracious predator could devastate native catfish, sunfish and some sturgeon populations the way it has in southeastern states.

And if the flathead tastes better than any of them, then remind me again why this is supposed to be a bad thing?

[NormsRevenge]

http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/ Oklahoma

[NormsRevenge]

[al baby]

COOL

[NormsRevenge]

[Free Trapper]

Article about flathead in NJ to add to the one about flathead in Pennsylvania.

They sure are spreading,makes me wonder if people are stocking them to get some good fishing started up back East.

[blackdog]

Exactly how is a species native to America an invasive species? Flatheads have been living in waterways for hundreds of years. There are some in the Catawba River the size of Volkwagens.

This panic brought to you by the same folks who shave Lynx hair from the ones at the zoo and then spread it around prefered realestate to declare it Lynx habitat, which by the way needs fourty more wildlife managers to manage it's habitat, while they are really in a zoo six hundred miles away..............

[eastforker]

Hey Trapper, thanks for the ping. One thing for sure an old flathead can eat up a bunch of bait fish.I have had many of 6/0 hooks straightened out by the biguns.

[blackdog]

I used to catch river catfish and then release them in a spring-fed pond in my back yard. The water was cool and clean. I'd feed the catfish a commercial pellet and grow-em up to a few pounds before the peanut oil swim. No mucky aftertaste at all that way. Even in the summer.

I've caught catfish that spent six hours out of the water, barkin like dogs before I got home to release them into my pond. Never had one die. The things are indestructable(sans peanut oil)

[Cacique]

ping

[blackdog]

The best bait for flatheads I've found is fresh water clams. Smash em open and put the flesh on the hook to the bottom. Don't eat a sandwich or light a cigarette......If you want a bigger catfish, just use a bigger hook with a few clams(along with a wire leader). It's like they have a code among the catfish that guarantees a meal to size ratio.

[Free Trapper]

Yep,I've stocked ponds of my own the same way.

Some big flathead or bluecat can help in a pond that's overpopulated with bluegill,etc.,too.

[blackdog]

The feared and stealthy tiger muskie will do a job on your unwanted panfish, carp, and other nussances. It's a hybrid/sterile and cannot breed, so one is all it takes.

[dr_who_2]

Bloody hell!

[dr_who_2]

Another good example. Only that species wouldn't be safe for human consumption even if he was farm raised.

[dr_who_2]

Went fishing with a friend of the family one evening. After getting bit by horseflies (and finding that they weren't very useful as bait), he proceded to wade out to the rocky, shallow areas, reach down into crevices, and pull them out. Lots of fun.

[NormsRevenge]

Here's link to a Pennsylvania flathead thread, is that the one you mentioned or is there a more recent?

100-pound catfish invade Susquehanna ^ - FR August 24,2002 thread

FR Search Results for catfish