Abundance, Movement, Population Dynamics, and Management Implications of Channel Catfish in a Mid-Atlantic River

Riverine Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus are largely unregulated in West Virginia, while recreational angling interest for the species is emerging. This study focuses on hoop-net assessments of the species' size structure and abundance across a longitudinal continuum of the fifth-order, low- to moderate-gradient South Branch of the Potomac River (SBR). Population growth, annual mortality, angler exploitation, and angler-reported movement were also assessed. Five pools were sampled during June-September in 2012-2017. Channel Catfish were measured for TL, fin-clipped, and tagged with a T-bar anchor tag. Lapillar otoliths were collected during September samples for growth analyses. Multiple-census models and CPUE data were employed to estimate abundance. Channel Catfish CPUE and size structure increased downstream, and sexually dimorphic growth was documented. The oldest fish aged was a 19-year-old female. Annual mortality rate was estimated at 19.1%. Angler return data indicated that 36% of fish reported by anglers were harvested, but only 6% of tags were returned. Angler exploitation was estimated at 2.3%. Channel Catfish in the SBR were highly mobile. Two fish were captured by anglers 188 km downstream of their tagging location, and an upstream movement of 97 km was detected by hoop-net recapture between sites. Dynamic function estimates for this population do not indicate a need for regulatory management. However, population modeling could be useful to determine when angling impacts on density or size structure may develop.