Freeze Brand Retention in Channel Catfish and Channel Catfish × Blue Catfish Hybrids

Abstract

We evaluated freeze brands on Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and hybrid catfish (female Channel Catfish × male Blue Catfish I. furcatus) to determine suitability of the technique for identification of year-class on ictalurid catfishes. Freeze brands were applied to fish in a hatchery setting, and adipose fins were removed as a secondary mark. Marked fish were stocked into two Kansas reservoirs within 3 d after marking. Fish were sampled with a suite of gear types for 3 years after the initial stocking in 2013. All captured catfish were observed for the presence of a freeze brand and an adipose fin. A logistic regression model estimated 80% brand retention for Channel Catfish through 460 d. The logistic regression model for hybrid catfish brand retention as a function of days at large was not significant, but retention remained near 80% throughout the 3-year study period. Results suggest that freeze brands are suitable for marking Channel Catfish and hybrid catfish in natural systems when marks should be retained for at least 1 year and up to 3 years.

Received March 6, 2017; accepted September 14, 2017Published online October 30, 2017

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This project was funded in part by Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration Grant F22R to KDWPT. We extend thanks to M. Harbin, D. Schneidewind, and W. Matney for assistance throughout the project, and we are grateful to many additional individuals for assistance in marking fish. We appreciate S. Dumont, N. Kramer, H. Hanson, L. Ohlman, E. Forzono, G. Vander Haegen, and three anonymous reviewers for their comments on previous versions of the manuscript.