Hello, I am Andrew. I'm 14, I plan on attending VIMS and getting a Doctorate in Ichthyology. I have been studying it for years, as well as fishing(several times a week I might add) for 11 years. My main quarry of research revolves around Pylodictis olivaris(flathead catfish). I plan on conducting a otolith study on the James rive P.Olivaris r come spring.
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Started by
Guest_pylodictis_*
, Nov 09 2010 10:49 AM
15 replies to this topic
#6
Guest_pylodictis_*
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Posted 11 November 2010 - 02:36 PM
Welcome. Nothing better than flatheads. Great fish to catch, and the best catfish to eat!
We will just have to see about that. I have seen no hard and fast studies showing a drastic decline in native sunfishes, bullheads, or anything else. Not to mention most of the people complaining are complaining about their effect on other non-natives like smallmouth and largemouth bass.
Edited by pylodictis, 11 November 2010 - 02:36 PM.
#8
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Posted 11 November 2010 - 06:31 PM
Blues are worse than the flats and the channels were here so much longer there is no way to ever know who is worst. There is some emmerging evidence that the blues are really hammering the clupeids and crabs.
I disagree, blues are far less predatory than flats, thus less bad. I have yet to see any evidence, if it's there I'll look at it, but it's not there, that's the problem.
The James river for example, probably has the best hickory and american shad population on the easter seaboard, it also has the largest blue catfish population of a tidal river on the eastern seaboard. Now, if the shad hadn't gone anywhere but up since their introduction, I'd agree, but the shad populations in the river have been drastically rising.
#10
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Posted 11 November 2010 - 08:22 PM
Could the shad population be rising in response to a decline in sharks and other predators in continental shelf waters?
Perhaps, but I doubt it because they are rising at widely different rates in different(near by) rivers.
#11
Guest_gerald_*
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Posted 12 November 2010 - 10:10 AM
Fish biologists in NC are seeing a correlation between flatheads and decreasing populations of native bullheads, redhorses and jumprock suckers. Our endemic Carolina madtom is just about gone from the Neuse River, where flatheads are widespread, but there's still a reasonable population in the upper Tar River (their last stronghold), where flatheads aren't yet too common. No proof of cause, but a correlation.
#12
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Posted 12 November 2010 - 10:46 PM
Fish biologists in NC are seeing a correlation between flatheads and decreasing populations of native bullheads, redhorses and jumprock suckers. Our endemic Carolina madtom is just about gone from the Neuse River, where flatheads are widespread, but there's still a reasonable population in the upper Tar River (their last stronghold), where flatheads aren't yet too common. No proof of cause, but a correlation.
That does not surprise me one bit, as flatheads are a top level predator. Flatheads also only eat a few meals a week and have large territories, so populations are low. The problem is the over dramaticized(SP) end of days attitude many biologists have about them when there isn't conclusive evidence. I think large and small mouth bass introductions cause much more destruction, but nobody cares because they are popular sport fish. Catfish are just ugly trash that nobody cares about. Remember?
#14
Guest_Irate Mormon_*
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Posted 12 November 2010 - 11:37 PM
.The problem is the over dramaticized(SP) end of days attitude many biologists have about them when there isn't conclusive evidence.
Well, this is a problem in general. As a result, I tend to view any proclamations of impending doom with a jaundiced eye. Not that I'm unsympathetic, but one gets inured to such things.
#16
Guest_wargreen_*
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Posted 14 November 2010 - 07:43 AM
I think the problem is that we've become accustomed to profoundly altered ecosystems. Where are the chestnut trees, widespread populations of native mussels, carolina parakeets?
I agree....after seeing the huge Carp runs and very large Asian Carp in person I truely believe its better to err on the side of caution than a "wait and see approach".
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