Catfish Max. Sizes

[predatorkeeper87]

You can find them at most Ma & Pa LFSs but if you want a different selection of sizes, morphs, etc your best bet is contact your local state fish hatchery. Channel catfish are practically considered "gamefish" in many states and thus are bred prolifically by many states. If you are in PA, I know for a fact you can find them at hatcheries

For people in SE, SC, NE, and NC PA : http://kurtzlivebaitvending.com/

ya I see them all the time in random LFS's around Pittsburgh....I thought it was illegal to sell ALL natives in PA, regardless of classification as game or rough...I must be wrong on channels though because I've seen them in multiple locations.

P.S. I contacted 4 hatcheries in PA to see if they'd sell me a couple different species, no dice. They were very quick to shut me down on purchasing natives.

 

[903Herp]

Check Jackson aquatics he is reputable and has some

Awesome thank you. Will be putting in a order for a couple of these guys friday.

 

[Hasircoglu]

You can Own and keep pa natives it's just selling them that's the problem. You can go catch and keep them but not sell or barter. I don't know if jacksons aquatics is aware of that rule, he's located in New England and its legal up there. Either way it's really low risk

 

[Frank Castle]

You can Own and keep pa natives it's just selling them that's the problem. You can go catch and keep them but not sell or barter. I don't know if jacksons aquatics is aware of that rule, he's located in New England and its legal up there. Either way it's really low risk

yea, but if you're buying it from out of state.....I don't recall ever reading PA Natives can't be purchased in this state - only that they can't be SOLD in this state.

As far as bartering, it's a fine line....I mean, you can give anyone you want fish from your daily creel limit. If they buy you a 6-pack for whatever reason, before, after or during does that make it bartering? See what I mean there? Too many Grey Areas, but that's PA's Wildlife laws for decades because the people who write them don't know what they are doing, and don't know how to word things correctly. Always has been since I was a kid and before that.

 

[Hasircoglu]

yea, but if you're buying it from out of state.....I don't recall ever reading PA Natives can't be purchased in this state - only that they can't be SOLD in this state.

As far as bartering, it's a fine line....I mean, you can give anyone you want fish from your daily creel limit. If they buy you a 6-pack for whatever reason, before, after or during does that make it bartering? See what I mean there? Too many Grey Areas, but that's PA's Wildlife laws for decades because the people who write them don't know what they are doing, and don't know how to word things correctly. Always has been since I was a kid and before that.

Yeah PA's laws are old out of date, you should be able to buy no problem. I got mine from him

 

[Frank Castle]

Yeah PA's laws are old out of date, you should be able to buy no problem. I got mine from him

I already have my albino channel.....next year he'll be joining his future-mate in the 7,500 gallon pond my friend has. NO MORE atm lol 1 monster cat at a time...


.....except for the Four-lined Pim is just bought tonight

For some reason everytime I see your username on here I always read "Hairglue" LMAO IDK my brain always interprets it that way.

 

[Hasircoglu]

I already have my albino channel.....next year he'll be joining his future-mate in the 7,500 gallon pond my friend has. NO MORE atm lol 1 monster cat at a time...


.....except for the Four-lined Pim is just bought tonight

For some reason everytime I see your username on here I always read "Hairglue" LMAO IDK my brain always interprets it that way.

Hairglue Hahahaha that's a new one! It's actually my last name, pronunced has ir cog lu it's a funky one I know, you must have an awesome Collection of cats though in that pond!

 

[Frank Castle]

Hairglue Hahahaha that's a new one! It's actually my last name, pronunced has ir cog lu it's a funky one I know,

What nationality/ethnicity are you? If I had to guess it sounds like it could be several things, but Swahili or Hausa come to mind but then it also sounds like it could be S.E. Asian or something "Islander" like Polynesian or Samoan or even Carribean. I never been so baffled by a name in my life and I take pride in my Geography/Culture skillz cuz until now, I thought I was pretty good at it LOL

you must have an awesome Collection of cats though in that pond!

No, just him I think, unless my friend either had bullheads in there before or after.....just some Koi and various native panfish as far as I know - mainly smaller stuff like Rockbass, Greens, Pumpkinseeds, etc.

When you think about it, a 40+ inch channel cat in a 7,500 gallon pond WITH various panfish and Koi isn't really that much space to work with....I'm gonna be pushing it by adding a mate for it, but you also have to consider that catfish weighs at least 15-20 lbs.(possibly even 30-35lbs.) and consumes a good 2-3lbs of panfish per week at least 6-8 months of the year, so I'm sure he's keeping the population in check.....might not be ENOUGH forage fish at this point, TBH.

IIRC , the forage fish to predator ratio in a pond is supposed to be at least 5:1, but preferably 6:1 or 7:1, so if you have an acre bass pond, you should have 250 bluegills for every 50 bass.

 

[Hasircoglu]

What nationality/ethnicity are you? If I had to guess it sounds like it could be several things, but Swahili or Hausa come to mind but then it also sounds like it could be S.E. Asian or something "Islander" like Polynesian or Samoan or even Carribean. I never been so baffled by a name in my life and I take pride in my Geography/Culture skillz cuz until now, I thought I was pretty good at it LOL
No, just him I think, unless my friend either had bullheads in there before or after.....just some Koi and various native panfish as far as I know - mainly smaller stuff like Rockbass, Greens, Pumpkinseeds, etc.

When you think about it, a 40+ inch channel cat in a 7,500 gallon pond WITH various panfish and Koi isn't really that much space to work with....I'm gonna be pushing it by adding a mate for it, but you also have to consider that catfish weighs at least 15-20 lbs.(possibly even 30-35lbs.) and consumes a good 2-3lbs of panfish per week at least 6-8 months of the year, so I'm sure he's keeping the population in check.....might not be ENOUGH forage fish at this point, TBH.

IIRC , the forage fish to predator ratio in a pond is supposed to be at least 5:1, but preferably 6:1 or 7:1, so if you have an acre bass pond, you should have 250 bluegills for every 50 bass.

Still sounds like a cool pond! And the name is a comfusing one. The name itself is Turkish Muslim, my grandfather was orthodox Greek but lived in turkey so he changed his name to fit in

 

[predatorkeeper87]

yea, but if you're buying it from out of state.....I don't recall ever reading PA Natives can't be purchased in this state - only that they can't be SOLD in this state.

As far as bartering, it's a fine line....I mean, you can give anyone you want fish from your daily creel limit. If they buy you a 6-pack for whatever reason, before, after or during does that make it bartering? See what I mean there? Too many Grey Areas, but that's PA's Wildlife laws for decades because the people who write them don't know what they are doing, and don't know how to word things correctly. Always has been since I was a kid and before that.

PA vendors must have a stocking license of some variety. buying from out of state is perfectly legal. catching your own is perfectly legal providing the fish isn't on a protected list. all game fish in PA can be caught and used as bait so catching and keeping isn't an issue (straight from DCNR's mouth).