By Trish Svoboda

Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commissioners approved a new blue catfish harvest regulation for Clinton, El Dorado, Elk City, Glen Elder, John Redmond, and Melvern reservoirs at their June 20 meeting. The new regulation, now in effect, includes a creel limit of 10 blue catfish per day with no more than one fish measuring 30 inches or longer.

Blue catfish are popular among Kansas anglers, with growing interest in the species. They can reach large sizes, offering big fish opportunities previously unavailable in Kansas, while smaller blue catfish are common for consumption. Most reservoirs containing blue catfish were stocked within the last 20 years, making the species relatively new to Kansas fisheries.

Research shows reservoirs with lower population densities exhibit the best growth rates for the species, equating to larger fish available to anglers. The time required for a blue catfish to reach 30 inches varies from eight to 14 years, making older and larger fish valuable. The new regulation encourages angler harvest, which is necessary to provide desired densities in Kansas waters. Blue catfish harvest should focus on smaller fish less than 30 inches, especially fish between 18 and 28 inches, while releasing the larger fish to fight again.

Craig Johnson, KDWP El Dorado District Fisheries Biologist, said, “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. 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.”