New regulations encourage Kansas anglers to seek blue catfish

PRATT, Kan. (KCTV) – New regulations have been introduced to encourage Kansas anglers to seek out blue catfish at certain reservoirs.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has announced that Commissioners approved a new regulation for blue catfish caught in the following reservoirs:

• Clinton – Douglas County
• El Dorado – Butler County
• Elk City – Montgomery County
• Glen Elder – Mitchell County
• John Redmond – Coffey County
• Melvern – Osage County

Commissioners indicated that the new regulation, which has already taken effect, includes a creel limit of 10 blue catfish per day with no more than one fish that measures 30 inches or longer.

State wildlife officials noted that blue catfish are popular among Kansas anglers as the interest in the species continues to grow. They can reach large sizes which provide big fish opportunities previously unavailable in Kansas. Smaller sizes of blue catfish are popular table fare.

According to park officials, most of the reservoirs in Kansas that do contain blue catfish were stocked within the last two decades which makes the species relatively new to state fisheries.

“Many of our early blue catfish populations were initially protected with very restrictive harvest regulations to allow the stocked fish to mature and naturally reproduce,” said Craig Johnson, KDWP El Dorado District Fisheries Biologist. “Now that blue catfish numbers are being maintained at several lakes through natural recruitment instead of supplemental stocking, we can relax the regulations and anglers can benefit by harvesting more fish from these productive populations.”

Research has found that reservoirs with lower population densities show the best growth rates for the species which equals bigger fish available to anglers. A blue catfish can reach up to 30 inches in between 8 and 14 years which makes older fish quite valuable. The new regulation encourages anglers to take the bait to provide desired densities in state waters.

Meanwhile, KDWP indicated that those who fish for blue catfish should focus on smaller fish – less than 30 inches – especially between 18 and 28 inches, and release the larger fish to fight again.

“For the 10 blue catfish per day with one over 30 inches limit as well as protected slot length limits for blue catfish to meet the objective of improving fish size structure, anglers need to harvest legal length fish,” said Johnson. “Releasing the smaller blues with the idea that they’ll grow larger isn’t the best approach in lakes with limits encouraging harvest. Take your blues home, they make for a great fish fry, and you’ll know you’re helping improve the fishery.”

For more information on fishing in the Sunflower State, click HERE.

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