Feeding and Trophic Ecology of Invasive Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus in an Eastern shore tributary of the Chesapeake Bay

This dataset contains high-throughput sequencing data derived from stomach content analysis of invasive Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) collected in the Nanticoke River watershed, Chesapeake Bay (Maryland, USA). DNA was extracted from gut contents of 1,032 individuals and sequenced using metabarcoding markers (e.g., mitochondrial COI and nuclear 18S rRNA) to characterize prey composition and dietary patterns. The data support analyses of seasonal and size-based dietary shifts, trophic interactions, and the ecological impact of Blue Catfish on native and economically important species.