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This kind of branches off my other thread, I sent an email with my concerns to the Kentucky Dept of Fish and Wildlife. After it was bounced around for awhile, eventually it got to the right person who was able to address our concerns. I will post my email, and then the response. The response is interesting, but you can still tell that the money aspect of the commercial fishing industry for KY will be the biggest obstacle in getting any changes in the current regs, but he admits that it is a problem..Ky guys may find this interesting..
My name is Travis Halsey, I live in Batavia OH, a town just east of Cincinnati. I am a Tournament Angler, and Catfishing has really become my true passion. My concern is that every time I go out on the Ohio River, I see an increasing number of commercial nets. Here on the Ohio River around Cincinnati, these fish that are harvested, and for the most part, are not for the purpose of human consumption. Instead, they are sold to the hundreds of Pay Lakes in the surrounding area. The fate of these Trophy Fish is sealed once this takes place. Instead of living out there life in their natural habitat, they are stuffed into what is the equilivant of a bath tub, to be caught over and over again, and in most cases starved to keep the fish biting, and customers coming back. There are mounds of dead fish over hills, and in the woods of these establishments, which is the reason they must stock thousands of pounds per week in most cases, to keep customers coming back.
Is there any research that has been done, as to the affects of commercial fishing in the Ohio River? I find it hard to believe, that from pool to pool, this does not take a toll on the fishery. Removing fish that have taken decades to grow in many cases, just so they can be caught in a private pond over and over again...These Trophy fish are not easily replaced. I spoke with a commercial Hoop Netter the other day, and he told me that there is an "endless supply" of big catfish in the River. I was shocked at his statement, it had to be the most uneducated phrase I had ever heard.
Is KY aware that this is where many of the Catfish that are netted in the rivers are taken to these pay ponds? Ohio seems to be on board, and recognizes that there is a problem, but Ohio does not own the River.
I will be on a Radio program in a couple of weeks, discussing this very issue. Which is why I wanted to contact you for some information. My intent is not to get on the radio, and verbally scold KY, Commercial Netting, or anything of the sort. My goal is to educate people on the problem, and to make anglers more vigilant on the River. There is a percentage of this activity that takes place illegally, and that will be my main focus. Has KY ever thought about making netting a seasonal operation? Pulling these fish off there nest during the spawn is also another problem.
In conclusion, this practice to me is no different than putting hundreds of Deer inside a fenced compound, and allowing them to be hunted. However, I understand the commercial fishing industry in KY is most likely another way the state can generate revenue. I just wish there were more restrictions from the state of KY, I guess someone will start to take notice when the numbers of these Big Catfish start to dwindle, but by then it may be to late, and may take the river years to recover.
If some of my information seems off base I apologize, this is why I try and contact people in the know. I am just another concerned fisherman, and want my son to be able to catch these Trophy Fish in the future.
The Response:
Mr. Halsey,
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife appreciates your concern in the catfish fishery of the Ohio River. We are aware of most of the items that you brought up in your email. With this in mind, we have been looking at the problem and trying to determine the status of catfish populations in the Ohio River. We began a creel survey in the McAlpine Pool this spring that is directed at the catfish sport fishery and we are asking anglers for their impressions and ideas about the fishery. We have been collecting population data for the past 3 years to try and determine how these populations are doing. The Ohio River is a vast place and finding answers to biological questions can be a daunting task. Never the less, we are endeavoring to find some of these answers. The states sharing borders along the Ohio River meet once or twice a year to discuss fishery issues and the trophy catfish verses commercial catfish fishery has been a topic several times. We (Kentucky) are aware that other states have size limits and creel limits on large catfish in the Ohio River and we are trying to find common ground between the sport and commercial interests.
Again, thank you for your interest in this important fishery. Feel free to contact me if you have further questions.
Doug Henley
Ohio River Biologist
My name is Travis Halsey, I live in Batavia OH, a town just east of Cincinnati. I am a Tournament Angler, and Catfishing has really become my true passion. My concern is that every time I go out on the Ohio River, I see an increasing number of commercial nets. Here on the Ohio River around Cincinnati, these fish that are harvested, and for the most part, are not for the purpose of human consumption. Instead, they are sold to the hundreds of Pay Lakes in the surrounding area. The fate of these Trophy Fish is sealed once this takes place. Instead of living out there life in their natural habitat, they are stuffed into what is the equilivant of a bath tub, to be caught over and over again, and in most cases starved to keep the fish biting, and customers coming back. There are mounds of dead fish over hills, and in the woods of these establishments, which is the reason they must stock thousands of pounds per week in most cases, to keep customers coming back.
Is there any research that has been done, as to the affects of commercial fishing in the Ohio River? I find it hard to believe, that from pool to pool, this does not take a toll on the fishery. Removing fish that have taken decades to grow in many cases, just so they can be caught in a private pond over and over again...These Trophy fish are not easily replaced. I spoke with a commercial Hoop Netter the other day, and he told me that there is an "endless supply" of big catfish in the River. I was shocked at his statement, it had to be the most uneducated phrase I had ever heard.
Is KY aware that this is where many of the Catfish that are netted in the rivers are taken to these pay ponds? Ohio seems to be on board, and recognizes that there is a problem, but Ohio does not own the River.
I will be on a Radio program in a couple of weeks, discussing this very issue. Which is why I wanted to contact you for some information. My intent is not to get on the radio, and verbally scold KY, Commercial Netting, or anything of the sort. My goal is to educate people on the problem, and to make anglers more vigilant on the River. There is a percentage of this activity that takes place illegally, and that will be my main focus. Has KY ever thought about making netting a seasonal operation? Pulling these fish off there nest during the spawn is also another problem.
In conclusion, this practice to me is no different than putting hundreds of Deer inside a fenced compound, and allowing them to be hunted. However, I understand the commercial fishing industry in KY is most likely another way the state can generate revenue. I just wish there were more restrictions from the state of KY, I guess someone will start to take notice when the numbers of these Big Catfish start to dwindle, but by then it may be to late, and may take the river years to recover.
If some of my information seems off base I apologize, this is why I try and contact people in the know. I am just another concerned fisherman, and want my son to be able to catch these Trophy Fish in the future.
The Response:
Mr. Halsey,
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife appreciates your concern in the catfish fishery of the Ohio River. We are aware of most of the items that you brought up in your email. With this in mind, we have been looking at the problem and trying to determine the status of catfish populations in the Ohio River. We began a creel survey in the McAlpine Pool this spring that is directed at the catfish sport fishery and we are asking anglers for their impressions and ideas about the fishery. We have been collecting population data for the past 3 years to try and determine how these populations are doing. The Ohio River is a vast place and finding answers to biological questions can be a daunting task. Never the less, we are endeavoring to find some of these answers. The states sharing borders along the Ohio River meet once or twice a year to discuss fishery issues and the trophy catfish verses commercial catfish fishery has been a topic several times. We (Kentucky) are aware that other states have size limits and creel limits on large catfish in the Ohio River and we are trying to find common ground between the sport and commercial interests.
Again, thank you for your interest in this important fishery. Feel free to contact me if you have further questions.
Doug Henley
Ohio River Biologist
