Distinguishing juvenile Ictalurus/Noturus

Collecting in the Cooper and Ashley river drainages around Charleston SC, I've recently caught a few (five I think) small catfish in different locations, all about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch total length. Listed species for these rivers include tadpole and margined madtom and blue catfish (36" minimum and hook fishing only!). What can I look for in a specimen this small to tell if it's legal to keep? I'd really like to have a couple madtoms.

Madtoms have a rounded to squarish tail. Blue catfish tails will be forked.

Collecting in the Cooper and Ashley river drainages around Charleston SC, I've recently caught a few (five I think) small catfish in different locations, all about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch total length. Listed species for these rivers include tadpole and margined madtom and blue catfish (36" minimum and hook fishing only!). What can I look for in a specimen this small to tell if it's legal to keep? I'd really like to have a couple madtoms.

AS i read it madtoms are No game fish, in your state.
now for game fish a bluecat over 36" is a trophy and your allowed one a day 3 foot and larger.here are a few links that have helped me in the past.

http://www.dnr.sc.go...reshfishing.pdf
http://www.cnr.vt.ed...ctaluridae.html
http://www.picsearch...r-m/madtom.html
http://www.planetcatfish.com/
http://www.natureser...Hucs/master.htm

Edited by CATfishTONY, 02 August 2009 - 10:41 AM.

Sorry if I was unclear. I understand madtoms are legal to keep at any size and any method of capture, while Ictalurus is both illegal and undesirable.

http://www.cnr.vt.ed...ctaluridae.html
http://www.picsearch...r-m/madtom.html

try just these sites then for id on Noturus.

Edited by CATfishTONY, 02 August 2009 - 10:54 AM.

What you are catching are almost certainly bullheads, and of the bullheads, they are almost certainly yellow bullheads, Ameiurus natalis. You are not at all lilely to catch a madtom unless you are in some flowing water. If this is the case, you are probably seeing tadpole madtoms since margined prefer water with substantial flow in my experience in SC and I can't think of a suitable habitat down your way. We have taken tadpoles down in your area though.

The way to tell madtoms from bullheads, other than the helpful tail suggestion, is that the adipose fin is connected to the caudal on madtoms and separate on bullheads.