Andy,

Good question. My sense is most serious cat fish anglers who target these fish release them, at least a high percentage and in particular the larger fish. In this case, NJFG is I think going to have to reconsider their position eventually for a few reasons. First the fishery is thriving and will continue to do so. A single female flat head can lay up too 100,000 eggs a year and they have few natural predators so these fish are not only going to survive in the Big D they're going to thrive. Second how can you have two major states, Pa. and NJ., that have completely opposing regulations regarding the same resource. NJ has a 5 creel catfish limit for the Delaware, flat heads are considered invasive and based on the regulations alone must be harvested. Pa. has a 50 creel limit for all cat fish and flat heads aren't designated as invasive. So the same fish in common waters has different regulations which to me makes no sense especially if one state is trying to remove them from the system. I guess NJ has a specific concern which Pa doesn't share. Either way these fish have established a very healthy presence which I personally don't see diminishing anytime soon, especially if they are successfully spawning and sustainability isn't predicated on future stocking programs which it doesn't seem to be.