How to Know When Catfish Is Ready for Harvest

After harvest, weigh the total catch and compare it with your expectations. Record the final weights, survival rate, total feed used, feed conversion ratio, days of culture, selling price, and costs. Work out your profit per pond and per kilogram. Look at what went well and what did not. These records are your guide for the next cycle, and they tell you whether you timed the harvest right.

Warning signs you are harvesting too early or too late

If your fish are small, with buyers offering low prices for under-sized fish, you probably harvested too early. If you have fish that have stopped growing, feed costs are climbing, deaths are increasing, or water quality is getting harder to manage, you are probably holding on too long. A third warning is when you see wide differences in size, and the smallest fish are being outcompeted. Time to grade and harvest in stages.

What I would do differently if I started today

I would talk to my buyers before stocking, not before harvest.

I would set a target weight and a rough harvest date, then adjust them with real sampling.

I would sample every two weeks near the end of the crop, and write everything down.

I would calculate my feed conversion ratio every cycle.

I would plan partial harvests from the beginning.

And I would never harvest because I was desperate for cash, if I could help it.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take for catfish to be ready for harvest?
With good fingerlings, feed, and water, many farmers reach table size in about five to six months, but it varies widely. Poorly managed ponds may take much longer. Sampling is a better guide than the calendar.

What size should catfish be at harvest?
It depends on your market. Some buyers want plate-size fish, others want larger fish for smoking or restaurants. Ask your buyers what size and price they offer before you decide.

How do I know if my catfish have stopped growing?
Sample and weigh them every two to four weeks. If average daily gain is falling while feed use stays high, growth is slowing and it may be time to harvest.

Should I stop feeding before harvest?
Usually yes, for a short period, so that the fish have empty guts. Ask your fisheries officer how long to hold feed for your fish size and conditions.

Can I harvest only some of the fish?
Yes. Many farmers harvest the larger fish first and leave the smaller ones to grow. This can improve income and reduce crowding, but it means repeated netting, so do it gently.

The advice worth bookmarking

The calendar does not tell you when the fish are ready, the scale and the buyer do, so weigh your sample, count your feed, and harvest on the day the next kilogram of growth costs more than it sells for.