Hoop Net Selectivity and Catch Rates for Channel Catfish
A 2-phase study of 6 variations of hoop nets was conducted in 3 Louisiana lakes to determine if mesh size or the addition of escape rings could be used to regulate the catch of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) in hoop nets. Commercial and recreational fishermen in Louisiana must abide by a 279.4-mm minimum total length restriction during a year long season. A total of 10,226 channel catfish were caught in 1,033 net days during both phases of the study. In Phase 1, 25.4-, 28.6-, and 31.8-mm (bar) mesh hoop nets were fished. For all channel catfish total lengths, the catch per unit...
