OLD-Blue Cat Record-Up For Grabs-World Record?

New state record fish category opened for Blue Catfish

The Ohio Division of Wildlife recently removed the Blue Catfish from the state endangered species list, therefore making it legal to catch and possess.

According Division of Wildlife fisheries biologists, joint research conducted with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources concluded that Blue Catfish populations in the lower Ohio River were substantial enough to warrant down listing the Blue Catfish from endangered to “species of special concern”.

“Our studies indicated that the numbers of Blue Catfish were more abundant then first thought,” said Rich Zweifel, fisheries biologist with the Ohio Division of Wildlife. “Our sampling on the Meldahl pool found good numbers big Blue Catfish between 40 - 42 pounds, with a few over 50 pounds.”

Ohio’s largest populations of Blue Catfish are found in the Markland and Meldahl pools of the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Portsmouth. Blue Catfish can attain a weight of over 100 pounds. The current Kentucky State Record is 104 pounds and was caught from the Ohio River.

At one time Blue Catfish were common in the Ohio River, but after construction of the locks and dams their numbers were reduced significantly. According to biologists, populations of Blue Catfish in the Ohio River above the Greenup Dam are low in comparison to the populations in the Meldahl and Markland pool. Only West Virginia is currently rearing and stocking Blue Catfish.

The Outdoor Writers of Ohio State Record Fish Committee, the organization responsible for Ohio’s state record fish program, has enacted a set of guidelines for submitting a potential new state record Blue Catfish. These guidelines were drafted after consultations with fisheries biologist and members of the State Record Fish Committee and go into effect January 1, 2008.

WORLD RECORD?
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_120615.asp

That's great news. Whenever a species has rebounded in population enough to be removed from the ESL It just seems to make the whole outdoors seem a better place. Preservation of our outdoor resources is one of mankinds greatest responsibilties.