A Review of Ictalurid Sampling Methods: Do We Need a Catfish-Specific Standardized Sampling Protocol?

The current AFS standard sampling methods were selected to optimize capture of a variety of fishes.  However, they do not always produce adequate samples of channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish.  An extensive literature review was conducted to summarize the efficiency and accuracy of various gears used to sample these fishes in standing and flowing waters.  Gear efficiency and accuracy appeared similar among habitats for all species.  For channel catfish, baited tandem-set hoopnets were the most efficient and one of the most accurate gears.  Efficiency was only slightly lower for baited single hoopnets, but the accuracy of this gear remains untested.  Gill nets and 60 pulses per second (pps) DC electrofishing were also accurate, but inefficient in some systems.  For blue catfish, low-frequency (15 pps) DC electrofishing was the most efficient and accurate gear.  Gill nets provided acceptable efficiency and accuracy in some systems, but not others.  For flathead catfish, low-frequency DC electrofishing was the most efficient gear.  Unfortunately, few studies have evaluated gears for sampling this species; none have examined accuracy.  Our findings suggest the need for a standardized low-frequency electrofishing protocol for blue catfish and flathead catfish and to expand the use of hoopnets to all habitats for channel catfish.