Nunnally Ichthyology Collection: invasive blue catfish

Dr. Eric Hilton describes a preserved specimen of blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, a species introduced to Virginia in the 1907s as a sport fish, but now considered a harmful invasive. Blue cats can grow to 5-feet long and more than 100lbs. Adults eat whatever they can find, including blue crabs. According to the Virginia DWR, the state record blue catfish, caught in 2011, weighed 143 lbs.
originally posted: June 17, 2022