I don't think the catfish populations on the Albemarle Sound and its Tributaries is affecting the overall fish population as much as the gar population. There ain't many places on the Perquimans river that you can stop without seeing em coming to the top. I know of several holes up river that they get so thick during the winter, that it's almost impossible to troll for stripers. They will black out your entire fishfinder sometimes. Not uncommon to hook two or three in the mouth and snag a handful more in an all day trip. As for the blue cats, I think the chowan river has more than the rest of the rivers, especially the larger ones. I know there are some 40+ lbers in there. I don't mind the blue cats, fun to catch and good eatin, but I would just as soon all the gar floated to the surface for good.