Development and Evaluation of a Standard Weight (W_s) Equation for Blue Catfish

Authors

Maurice I. Muoneke, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Kevin L. Pope, Texas Tech UniversityFollow

Date of this Version

1999

Comments

Published in North American Journal of Fisheries Management 19:878–879, 1999

Abstract

Using a data set composed of 33 populations from six states, we employed the regression-linepercentile technique to develop a standard weight equation for blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus and validated it with an independent data set composed of 43 populations from 10 states. The equation is log₁₀W_s=-6.067+ 3.400 log₁₀TL, where W_s is standard weight in grams and TL is total length in millimeters. The English-unit equivalent (pounds and inches) is log₁₀W_s=-3.950+ 3.400 log₁₀TL. The equation is valid for blue catfish 160 mm (approximately 6 in) TL and longer. Relative weight (W_r) values computed with this equation did not exhibit any systematic length bias.