This news comes from New Zealand, but I wanted to pass along there new regulation law for catfish. I will post about the catfishing part from there Press Release here, but you can read the entire Press Release at the link below if you are interested.

Starting on April 1st, if you fish in New Zealand, you will be required to kill any catfish immediately after catching them. There reason you ask? Here is what they say:

Catfish prey on small native fish and fish eggs, stir up sediment and degrade waterways. They can also survive out of water for long periods and are difficult to kill.

Further reading up on this, it seems that the Environment Waikato Regional Council (New Zealand) has classed catfish as a pest. Here is there statement:

Catfish (Amieurus nebulous) are classed as pests in the Regional Pest Management Strategy. They are widespread throughout the Waikato River catchment, as well as in the Piako and Waitoa Rivers. Catfish are also found in Lake Taupo. Although they are not believed to affect the lake’s trout fishery, research is underway to confirm this.

Catfish eat both plants and animals, including freshwater snails, koura, bullies, smelt and juvenile trout.

What are your thoughts on this? You can discuss this topic at the link below.
Changes to amateur fishing regulations :: Katmasters Catfishing Club

Cabela’s King Kat Tournament

Trail Returns to the waters of the Coosa River at Wetumpka, Alabama

The Cabela’s King Kat tournament trail will return to the waters of the Coosa River at Wetumpka, AL on May 5, 2007. Catfish anglers from around the country will be competing for cash, prizes and a chance to advance to the 2007 Cabela’s King Kat Classic. The Coosa River is well known for its outstanding fishery and speaking of Big Fish, Wetumpka is also the site of the filming of the 2003 movie, Big Fish which was directed by Tim Burton.

***New for 2007***

(Guaranteed payback of
$5,000.00 to the top 10% of the field)

The Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail is the opportunity for catfish anglers and clubs to advance to a new level with a major payback and recognition for their abilities. The trail is a team event. Teams will consist of one or two persons with one exception. A third person may accompany the team provided the third person is under 16 years of age or over 65 years of age. Entry fees for these qualifier tournaments are $200.00 per team.

The tournament weigh-in will be held at Gold Star Park in Downtown Wetumpka. Tournament hours are 6:30 AM until 3:00 PM. All anglers must be in weigh-in line by 4:00 PM with a 5 fish limit per team. To help preserve the sport only live fish will be weighed in and all fish will be released after the tournament. For a complete list of rules phone or visit our website listed
below.

Participants may enter by mail or at the late registration to be held at Gold Star Park, Crommeling Landing, Wetumpka, AL from 5:00-7:00pm. Deadline for mail in entries is 14 days prior to the event. All entries after that date will pay a $25.00 late fee. The top 20 teams at each qualifying event will qualify for the Cabela’s King Kat Classic. Also at each qualifying event field test products from national sponsors will be drawn for following the
tournament weigh-in. Read the rest of this entry »

Every dream about catching a state record catfish? Nows your chance to get a channel catfish state record in North Carolina.

The recent Channel Catfish record for North Carolina, caught by Pete Paine, was recently decertified by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Seems that when the fish was examined closely, the catfish was declared to be a flathead catfish.

This means that anyone can claim a new state record Channel Catfish that is over 10 pounds. As long as the fish is submitted according to the North Carolina Wildlife rules, you could be declared the new North Carolina state Channel Catfish record holder.

Discuss this topic

A new Contest with awesome new prizes. We all remember the fun we had looking for eggs hidden in the tall grass in our back yards as kids. The adults would hide the eggs and along with some family and friends, we would rush to collect the most eggs in our basket. Sometimes there would be candy inside the eggs and sometimes not. But as kids, it was a blast looking for them.

Now as adults, we are the ones that does the hiding of the eggs and watch our kids or grand kids have fun like we use to searching for the eggs. Katmasters has brought the egg hunt online and into our forums. But instead of getting candy, there will be a large prize packet for the member that finds the most eggs. With Mike from SCA donating some great prizes and Jim from Chef Jim Reels donating a awesome 209 Penn Reel, there are great prizes for all catfishermen.

The first two eggs will be hidden on March 27th with two more eggs hidden each day through April 7th. Twenty Four eggs in total will be hidden throughout the forums and a few placed on non-forum pages. Members will try to find as many of the hidden eggs as they can by April 7th with the winner taking home the total prize package.

Most other contest/give-a-ways held by Katmasters normally require the member to have a Avatar posted along with 25 posts and some profile fields filled out, to enter. This time the only rule to enter is to have 25 posts by April 7th, the ending of the contest. We wanted to make the entry rules a little easier this time and get alot of members involved. This will be a fun contest for all members and someone will be walking away with some awesome prizes.

For more information on this contest, you can read the official contest thread at the link below.

Katmasters Great Egg Hunt