Biological Investigation of Flathead Catfish in the Cape Fear River
Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) were introduced into the Cape Fear River in 1966 when 11 adult specimens weighing in a total of 107 kg were released near Fayetteville, North Carolina. The population has expanded from this initial release and now inhabits a 201·km section of the Cape Fear River. Growth rates of flathead catfish during this expansion phase has exceeded rates of riverine populations as previously reported by other investigators. Fishes were found to be the dominant forage consumed by flathead catfish as measured by frequency of occurrence, total numbers and total...
