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

Abstract

AbstractWe 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