The Great Outsmores

Last year’s efforts to eradicate the effects of the unwelcome, invasive flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) on native fish populations in the Satilla River resulted in the removal of exactly 4,399 flathead catfish. This year, those efforts continue as biologists and fisheries personnel with the Satilla River Flathead Catfish Project team, a part of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), kick-off the 2008 sampling season with the second round of tagging studies.

“Tagging efforts this year again will aid biologists in obtaining important baseline information, such as fishing mortality, movement, growth, population size and total mortality in the Satilla’s flathead catfish population,” explains the project’s lead Biologist Tim Bonvechio. “Removal of flathead catfish in the 2008 sampling season will begin immediately after a target number of fish are tagged.”

WRD asks any angler who catches a tagged fish to please mail the bright orange tag to the WRD Waycross office mailing address: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 2089, Waycross, Ga., 31502-2089. Anglers should include their name, address, phone number(s), the date of the catch, the catch location (GPS coordinates if available, local landmarks, etc.), the length and weight of the fish and whether the fish was harvested or released (preferably harvested). Tags may also be hand-delivered to the Waycross Fisheries office located at 108 Darling Ave., Waycross, Ga., 31502.

Flathead catfish were illegally introduced into the Satilla River in the 1990s and the resulting decline of redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) and other native fish species in this once premier sunfish fishery is an issue that WRD biologists and fisheries personnel are continuing to tackle. Given the predatory characteristics of flatheads, if this non-native species continues to prosper, the reputation of the Satilla River as one of Georgia’s premier sunfish fisheries will likely suffer.

The Satilla Riverkeeper and the Georgia Wildlife Federation were instrumental in obtaining support for the Satilla River Flathead Catfish Project. This project is made up of a team of WRD fisheries biologists and technicians working to monitor and determine the effectiveness of flathead removals on native fish species populations in the Satilla River.

Unauthorized release of flathead catfish or any other fish species into public waters is illegal in the state of Georgia and violators can be prosecuted. Exotic species can and often do have severe negative impacts on native fish. Those knowledgeable of illegal fish stocking are asked to please report the violations to any WRD Fisheries Management office or contact (770) 918-6406.

For more information on the project, visit www.gofishgeorgia.com. You’ll find information on the Satilla River Flathead Catfish Project under “Fishing,” then “Fisheries Management,” then “Aquatic Nuisance Species.” For additional information, contact the nearest WRD Fisheries Management Office or call (770) 918-6406.

No Comments »