Blue Catfish in the Lower Susquehanna

Type: Nontidal
Region: Central
Location: Susquehanna

I was fishing with a friend in my boat this past Sunday in the lower Susquehanna River. We landed 2 of what I believe are blue catfish, both with a anal fin ray count of 31. To the best of my knowledge, this fish hasn't been seen in the Susquehanna at this point.

DNR Response: Hello Erick, thanks very much for sending in the pictures of the blue catfish from the Lower Susquehanna River. We are aware that invasive blue catfish are in that area and we have received several reliable anecdotal reports from anglers. We also have documented blue catfish in the Susquehanna Flats. They were caught by striped bass biologists with experimental gillnet gear, used in the Department's surveys. The Department encourages all anglers to keep and kill invasive blue catfish when they are encountered. For more information on invasive catfish species see: http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/catfish.aspx