Channel Catfish Egg Collection

Around June 1, when the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery pond waters reach 75 degrees, NJDEP Fish & Wildlife staff place forty 30-gallon plastic barrels with 12-inch openings on one end in the four-acre Channel Catfish broodstock pond. This pond contains 200 3–5-year-old, 5–15-pound catfish. Twice a week for a month, staff approach and slowly lift each barrel, scaring the adult away, and carefully remove the egg masses inside. Hatchery staff collect 40 to 50 egg masses annually, totaling 1,000,000 eggs through this process. Depending on when the egg masses were laid, they can hatch between 2 and 5 days later when incubated in 80-degree water. The Channel Cats will be stocked beginning September 1 when they reach 6-7 inches. Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery info: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/fresh... #NewJerseyFishAndWildlife #ChannelCatfish #Catfish #Fishing #FishHatchery