Forums36
Topics40,961
Posts557,957
Members18,500
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
7 members (Theo Gallus, Lake8, Sunil, J. R., FishinRod, Jason D, Perch Pond),
1,518
guests, and
448
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 182
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 182 |
what is the growth rate of Blue Catfish? I had some stocked in a pond and i want to know how fast they would grow.
Fight'n Texas aggie class of 09!
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973 |
Depends on feeding rate. Fed at a 2% of body weight diet you could expect over 3 lbs/yr easy.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,027
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,027 |
Man!
3 pounds a year??! are you sure?? Newbie does this sound right are? your blues 3 pound now after having them a year??
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 182
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 182 |
Thanks for the facts. I caught some fish already near 4 pounds. This was after a year being in the pond. Most of them averaged 3 pounds and one was 5 pounds. The fish i bought were from 4 inches to 7 inches long. I suspect the big one was one of the 7 inchers. Thanks for the help.
Fight'n Texas aggie class of 09!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 77
Member
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 77 |
Yea, that's about what mine are. They are getting so fat that their eyes are starting to bug-out. I will tell you this, they taste very good
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973 |
big pond, It depends on several things, but yes if you buy a fish that is already up to 7 inches then they start to put on weight quickly. If you have temps above 60 for 8 months of the year 3 lbs is a realistic goal.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 128
Member
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 128 |
Bluecatters:
Growth-rates confirmed by Greg Grimes, an active fisheries consultant based in Georgia, are consistent with what we see here in Texas and southern Oklahoma. The blue cat is nothing if not a predator.
Trouble is, blues are so effective, we have found they can become a significant player in the food chain, thus a negative factor when big bass are the No. 1 management objective.
Mark McDonald Editor, Pond Boss
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 182
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 182 |
Well, my goal is to have big blues and channels. There is enough shad and perch to fill an army with. The turkeys that roost along the water make a good "poo" source for the young channels. So, thanks for your help with my questions.
Fight'n Texas aggie class of 09!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,027
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,027 |
Mark McDonald: What did you mean by this Quote... Originally posted by Editor, Mark McDonald: The blue cat is nothing if not a predator.
I am trying to be a blue_catter but all I have now is Bass, Bluegill, Shellcracker, and Channel Cat. Want to get rid of the channel cat..I think.. Now when you said, "signifacant in the food chain" At what size and age would I expect them to start forageing like Bass on the bream? and then at what age and size would they start foraging on the Bass...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 128
Member
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 128 |
Blue catfish can reach weights of 50 pounds or more, which means they can be the dominant predator all other species. Channel cats, on the other hand, seldom exceed 10-12 pounds in a small, closed system.
When does a blue cat become a significant player in the food chain? Just as soon as its jaws will fit around a bluegill.
Mark McDonald Editor
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|