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.