An angler diary survey of the flathead catfish {Pylodictis olivaris) sport fishery in the Yadkin-Pee Dee River system, North Carolina, was conducted (1989-1991) to examine the current fishery and provide a baseline for future comparisons. The objective of the study was to describe the quality of the fishery in terms of fish caught per hour (CPUE), size distribution, and condition (K) of the catch. Forty-four volunteer anglers were recruited to keep records of their fishing trips. Twenty cooperators reported 348 trips. Anglers fished 1,530 hours and caught 338 flathead catfish, a catch rate of 0.22 fish per hour. Eighty-seven percent of the fishing effort was directed at reservoirs, while tailraces received 10% and rivers received 3%. Participants were more successful, however, in tailraces (CPUE = 0.54) than in reservoirs (CPUE = 0.19) or rivers (CPUE = 0.14). Total lengths of captured flatheads ranged from 152 to 1,219 mm. Conditions factors (K) averaged 1.32.
