Quantification and Angler Opinion of Skin Pigment Mutations in Blue Catfish from Milford Reservoir, Kansas

Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus are one of the most sought-after fish species by anglers in Kansas. Perhaps the most popular Blue Catfish fishery in the state is at Milford Reservoir. One novelty of this population is the seemingly increased prevalence of individuals that display unique coloration patterns (i.e. leucism or piebaldism). To quantify occurrence and gauge angler opinion of leucistic/piebald fish, we paired a fish population sample with on-site angler interviews. Overall, 2,611 Blue Catfish were collected throughout the duration of this study with 359 fish being leucistic/piebald (13.7%). Anglers generally displayed positive sentiment towards leucistic/piebald Blue Catfish along with equal to less harvest probabilities compared to fish with normal coloration. These findings quantify prevalence of leucistic/piebald Blue Catfish in this population and provide social information that may be influential for future management.