Flatheads in the D&R Canal

[Almaink]

I've been pulling lots of these Flathead Cats out of the D&R Canal lately. Mostly small ones but with a worm on a hook you get one almost every cast in some spots. Today I caught and disposed of 5. Others fishing didn't even know we are supposed to kill them and have been putting them back! F&G really need to do a better job educating people about these things before they take over like the Snakeheads are doing.

[Delawareriver]

Please post a picture, unfortunately they are here to stay but definitely isn't a bad idea to slow their spread if we can

[mcfish82]

U sure they are not just bullheads?? Canal is loaded with em

[Delawareriver]

U sure they are not just bullheads?? Canal is loaded with em
Kinda what I'm thinking

[Mark B.]

Received the below email:

** MESSAGE **
SUBJECT: flathead catfish I think

To whom it may concern,
I was walking along the canal about 6pm today (5/6/14) in Lambertville, NJ
close to Nieces Lumber and saw what looked like a giant (the size of a
brown labrador dog) creature. It remained under the water after surfacing
for only half a minute so I couldn't get another glimpse of it and I did
wait a while and did see movement and large rings created by the movement of the water. When I got home, I started to investigate and realized it most
likely was a very large Flathead Catfish (what ELSE could it have been??).
It had the flat head mouth and long body behind it. One of the articles I
read states that we are to contact the wildlife and fishery department to
let them know because they are destructive to the natural habitat. If this
is not the right person to let know, then maybe you can help out and send
this off to the right person. I'm never going swimming in the canal now
because it was like the creature from the dark lagoon surfacing and then
disappearing. Very strange.

[Skunk City]

Received the below email:

** MESSAGE **
SUBJECT: flathead catfish I think

To whom it may concern,
I was walking along the canal about 6pm today (5/6/14) in Lambertville, NJ
close to Nieces Lumber and saw what looked like a giant (the size of a
brown labrador dog) creature. It remained under the water after surfacing
for only half a minute so I couldn't get another glimpse of it and I did
wait a while and did see movement and large rings created by the movement of the water. When I got home, I started to investigate and realized it most
likely was a very large Flathead Catfish (what ELSE could it have been??).
It had the flat head mouth and long body behind it. One of the articles I
read states that we are to contact the wildlife and fishery department to
let them know because they are destructive to the natural habitat. If this
is not the right person to let know, then maybe you can help out and send
this off to the right person. I'm never going swimming in the canal now
because it was like the creature from the dark lagoon surfacing and then
disappearing. Very strange.


Someone has been watching too many River Monsters episodes..

[Delawareriver]

Don't worry reporting it, there has been hundreds reported in the river there. They know they are there in force more interested in knowing how far north they will travel. Right now have confirmed reports up to belvedere but reports up in the water gap and one all the way up in ny.

[Mark B.]

Almaink,

Catch a bluegill,………live line it behind Niece’s,………..& hang on!

DRCie, The D&R Canal Monster!

[jimcnj]

So if I land one these beasts , do I toss it in a garbage can for the racoons?

[Delawareriver]

So if I land one these beasts , do I toss it in a garbage can for the racoons?


That's up to you, Pennsylvania gave up and admits they are here to stay In the Delaware river and Schuylkill. Say nothing worked to slow them down and created a pretty cool fishery with 40 lb fish caught on a some what regular basis now and one or two reported over 50 but not confirmed by state. I know myself and friends have caught 6 over 40lbs.
If you catch one outside of the Delaware river water shed I would say kill it especially If it's clean water they are extremely tasty.

[Bicey]

I have lived in the Lambertville all my life and I can tell you that there's definitely flatheads all through that stretch of the canal. Nieces is a good spot. I'd go up to the 202 bridge or below the locks right behind the sewage plant. I saw one in a foot of water at the end of the summer that went probably 3ft. Bigggggg snapping turtles in there too so watch yourself.

[Almaink]

Bullheads are not yellowish green and don't have flat heads either. Whats funny is some people were saying they are "Mud Cats" not Flatheads, but "Mud cat" is a nick name for Flatheads. Kinda reminds me of people that say they hate Obamacare but love the Affordable Care Act. LOL.

[Delawareriver]

Bullheads are not yellowish green and don't have flat heads either. Whats funny is some people were saying they are "Mud Cats" not Flatheads, but "Mud cat" is a nick name for Flatheads. Kinda reminds me of people that say they hate Obamacare but love the Affordable Care Act. LOL.

im just interested, not doubting it but I like pictures, ive caught thousands of each and give you 100 percent confirmation. ive had several guys swear up and down they caught flatheads and when pictures come out they are just spawning channels with big ol swollen heads or little bullheads. not saying this is the case but pictures will remove any doubters

[Mark B.]

The flathead’s under bite (lower jaw protrudes past the upper jaw) is the key
identifying characteristic.

Channels & bullheads don’t have that.

[Eskimo]

.



I'm not entirely convinced that it's Flathead Catfish you're catching, so I'm hesitant to tell you to go out and start killing them with extreme prejudice.

I would be more comfortable with this if you could provide us with a picture of what you are seeing.

Here are some charts differentiating some common catfish in NJ:



http://catfish1.com/catfishradio/mod/Outdoorpub/Valonlineres/Bullheadid/ID2.jpg


This is the very common Bullhead Catfish. Notice that it looks somewhat similar to a Flathead with its round tail:
http://www.agfc.com/speciesPhotos/fish_catfish_yellowbullhead.jpg


Looking at these charts, it seems the best way to ID a Flathead is by the protruding LOWER jaw.


http://catfish1.com/catfishradio/mod/Outdoorpub/Valonlineres/Bullheadid/ID1.jpg


http://njfishandwildlife.org/images/fishing/invasives/invasive_catfish.gif




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[FASTEDDIE29]

They are most certainly in the canal, the RR and definately the D. They are here to stay.

[Gatto1227]

I'd love to catch one of those monsters. Jeremy Wade style

[Delawareriver]

I'd love to catch one of those monsters. Jeremy Wade style


Pretty easy just take surf rod. Spool up with 65 lb powerpro, few flat egg sinkers (so they don't roll into rock on bottom) heavy swivel and a 50 lb shock leader to a 8/0 wide gap circle. Cooler full of live bait. 4"-10" bait works perfect. Then it's a waiting game. The more you go the more you figure out what works best for you. When we started we would be happy with 1-5 fish nights and after 3 seasons we didn't consider a good night unless we landed 25+flatheads with at least one over 30lbs on the Schuylkill

[Eskimo]

.


I'd love to catch one of those monsters. Jeremy Wade style


Much better than catching them Ron Jeremy style!



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