Blue catfish

[[File:Blue catfish.PNG|thumb|left|Closeup of mouth]]

[[File:Blue catfish.PNG|thumb|left|Closeup of mouth]]

The ability of the blue catfish to tolerate a wide range of climates and brackish water has allowed it to thrive in Virginia's rivers, lakes, tributaries, and the Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately, the relatively low mortality rate, large body size, wide range of species preyed upon, and success as a predator has resulted in the blue catfish being considered a problematic invasive species in Virginia. Since their introduction in Virginia waters in the 1970s,Greenlee, R. S., and C. N. Lim. 2011. Searching for equilibrium: population parameters and variable recruitment in introduced Blue Catfish populations in four Virginia tidal river systems. Pages 349–367 in P. H. Michaletz and V. H. Travnichek, editors. Conservation, Ecology, and Management of Catfish, the second international symposium. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 77, Bethesda, Maryland. blue catfish populations have exploded. Recent electrofishing studies have documented capture rates in excess of 6,000 fish/hr, whereas studies from the native range show peak electrofishing capture rates of 700 fish/hr.Boxrucker, J., and K. Kuklinski. 2008. Abundance, growth, and mortality of selected Oklahoma Blue Catfish populations: implications for management of trophy fisheries. Proceedings of the Annual Conference Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 60(2006):152–156.

The ability of the blue catfish to tolerate a wide range of climates and brackish water has allowed it to thrive in Virginia's rivers, lakes, tributaries, and the Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately, the relatively low mortality rate, large body size, wide range of species preyed upon, and success as a predator has resulted in the blue catfish being considered a problematic invasive species in Virginia. Since their introduction in Virginia waters in the 1970s,Greenlee, R. S., and C. N. Lim. 2011. Searching for equilibrium: population parameters and variable recruitment in introduced Blue Catfish populations in four Virginia tidal river systems. Pages 349–367 in P. H. Michaletz and V. H. Travnichek, editors. Conservation, Ecology, and Management of Catfish, the second international symposium. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 77, Bethesda, Maryland. blue catfish populations have exploded. Recent electrofishing studies have documented capture rates in excess of 6,000 fish/hr, whereas studies from the native range show peak electrofishing capture rates of 700 fish/hr.Boxrucker, J., and K. Kuklinski. 2008. Abundance, growth, and mortality of selected Oklahoma Blue Catfish populations: implications for management of trophy fisheries. Proceedings of the Annual Conference Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 60(2006):152–156.

Clearly, blue catfish are a dominant species within the [[Fresh water|freshwater]] and [[Salinity|oligohaline]] portions of Virginia's tidal rivers. The introduction of blue catfish in Virginia's tidal rivers was thought to have negative impacts on anadromous [[American shad]], [[blueback herring]], and [[alewife (fish)|alewife]]; however, predation of these species by blue catfish has been demonstrated to be minimal.{{Cite journal|title=Predation and Prey Selectivity by Nonnative Catfish on Migrating Alosines in an Atlantic Slope Estuary|last=Schmitt|journal=Marine and Coastal Fisheries|volume=9|pages=108–125|display-authors=etal|date=2017|issue=1 |doi=10.1080/19425120.2016.1271844|bibcode=2017MCFis...9..108S |doi-access=free}}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{dead link|date=August 2023}} Researchers from Virginia Tech{{when|date=August 2023}} have found the species to be mostly [[Herbivore|herbivorous]] and [[Omnivore|omnivorous]], with diets consisting largely of ''[[Hydrilla]]'' and [[Corbicula fluminea|Asian clams]], both of which are invasive to the Chesapeake Bay.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chesapeakecatfish.com/|title=Research on Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay|author=Virginia Tech|website=Virginia Tech Fluvial Fishes Lab}} [[Callinectes sapidus|Blue crab]], the most valuable species in the Chesapeake Bay, was also found in the diet with some regularity.{{Cite web|url=https://chesapeakebay.noaa.gov/fish-facts/blue-crab|title=Blue Crabs in the Chesapeake Bay|website=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Chesapeake Field Office|date=11 July 2023 }}{{failed verification|date=August 2023}}

Clearly, blue catfish are a dominant species within the [[Fresh water|freshwater]] and [[Salinity|oligohaline]] portions of Virginia's tidal rivers. The introduction of blue catfish in Virginia's tidal rivers was thought to have negative impacts on anadromous [[American shad]], [[blueback herring]], and [[alewife (fish)|alewife]]; however, predation of these species by blue catfish has been demonstrated to be minimal.{{Cite journal|title=Predation and Prey Selectivity by Nonnative Catfish on Migrating Alosines in an Atlantic Slope Estuary|last=Schmitt|journal=Marine and Coastal Fisheries|volume=9|pages=108–125|display-authors=etal|date=2017|issue=1 |doi=10.1080/19425120.2016.1271844|bibcode=2017MCFis...9..108S |doi-access=free}}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{dead link|date=August 2023}} Researchers from Virginia Tech{{when|date=August 2023}} have found the species to be mostly [[Herbivore|herbivorous]] and [[Omnivore|omnivorous]], with diets consisting largely of ''[[Hydrilla]]'' and [[Corbicula fluminea|Asian clams]], both of which are invasive to the Chesapeake Bay.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chesapeakecatfish.com/|title=Research on Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay|author=Virginia Tech|website=Virginia Tech Fluvial Fishes Lab}} [[Callinectes sapidus|Blue crab]], the most valuable species in the Chesapeake Bay, was also found in the diet with some regularity, with blue catfish consuming an estimated 400.7 metric tonnes in the Chesapeake alone.Predatory impacts of invasive Blue Catfish in an Atlantic coast estuary

==Record-setting fish==

==Record-setting fish==