: Blue catfish were introduced to Chesapeake Bay tributaries in the 1970's and 1980's. According to Trawl Survey data, blue catfish are currently more abundant in the James, York, and Rappahannock River than either white or channel catfish. Blue catfish have been collected in salinities as high as 14.7 parts per thousand.
: This specimen is the largest blue catfish documented by the survey. It was collected from the Pamunkey River in 2007, weighed 24 kg (52 lbs), and was 100 cm (39 in.) in length.
: Blue catfish feed on a variety of organisms, including fish, bivalves, and small crustaceans. The barbels (or "whiskers", hence the name catfish) around their mouth contain taste buds to assist in finding prey.
Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)
- August: 0-115 mm.
- September: 0-125 mm.
- October: 0-140 mm.
- November: 0-150 mm.
- December: 0-165 mm.
- January: 0-165 mm.
- February: 0-165 mm.
- March: 0-165 mm.
- April: 0-175 mm.
- May: 0-225 mm.
- June: 0-250 mm.
- July: 0-250 mm.
