Blue Catfish on the James River, VA

[Machias]

Took my youngest son out for a day of Blue Catfish fishing. We caught 5 citation fish, 37, 40, 48, 51 and 51. All 5 fish were released.

Catching shad for bait.  It was 22 degrees when we started, but was 50 and sunny during the day.  Just a fantastic day on the river.

[rasbo]

OOOOO yeah,thats awesome right there

[huntnphool]

 Those are some fatties right there.

 No issues releasing those fish when they are bleeding?

[Machias]

No it was from the lip area, they swam off just fine.  We had them out, weighed, and photographed really quickly.

[huntnphool]

No it was from the lip area, they swam off just fine.  We had them out weighed, photographed really quickly.

 That's cool, do they put up a decent fight?

[Machias]

Yea very nice fight, the water temps are still 58 degrees, so the big boys are feeling pretty frisky!

[snake]

what is a "citation" fish? 

[Machias]

what is a "citation" fish? 

Virginia has a Trophy Fish registration program.  If you have your fish weighed by a certified scale and it meets the minimum weight it can be entered for a citation or certificate and can vie for angler of the month/year awards.  For Blue catfish in Virginia they have to be at least 30 pounds to qualify for trophy fish status.

[Bill W]

I caught some "citation" sized fish back during the time I was in the Navy in Maryland.  The biggest was a crappie I caught on my first outing with a rod/reel checked out from Special Services.   I thought all crappie were that sized but never caught another one like it in the 3 years I lived there.  My others were yellow perch as I remember.

[Mark251]

Those things are massive!  Very cool 

[KopperBuck]

That's killer. Is this self guided? I would love to do this someday.

[Machias]

That's killer. Is this self guided? I would love to do this someday.

No this trip was a guided trip I booked for my youngest boy for a combined Birthday and Christmas gift.

[Mr Mykiss]

Awesome trip!! Bleeding catfish problems?? You can't kill a catfish unless you use a RPG!! Or two.

[shootem]

That looks like a lot of fun.

[Trapper John]

Nice cats 
 I'll be seeing you in spring for some cat fishing for sure
JC. 

[Machias]

Nice cats 
 I'll be seeing you in spring for some cat fishing for sure
JC. 

 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Nice ...looks cold ..haha 

[PolarBear]

Sweeeeeet!  Is it legal to run a trot line or jug fish for cats in VA?  We did it on the Tennessee River and it was a lot of fun.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

 

[Machias]

Sweeeeeet!  Is it legal to run a trot line or jug fish for cats in VA?  We did it on the Tennessee River and it was a lot of fun.

Yes it's legal here.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Sweet!  Get any eaters or all hawgs?  Love cold water catfish, finished an April turkey hunt in Wyoming early one year and fished the Laramie River right after iceout while my buddies hunted.  Caught a skinny 8lb channel that I'd put up against any fish for eats.

[WALLEYEGUY]

  Are going out with me when you get back this way, I can put you on a 12" walleye

[WAcoyotehunter]

Awesome!!! 

[Machias]

Are going out with me when you get back this way, I can put you on a 12" walleye

Can't wait!!!!!! 

[Machias]

Sweet!  Get any eaters or all hawgs?  Love cold water catfish, finished an April turkey hunt in Wyoming early one year and fished the Laramie River right after iceout while my buddies hunted.  Caught a skinny 8lb channel that I'd put up against any fish for eats.

Just big cats on this trip.  Not sure I would want to eat much out of the James or Potomac Rivers. 

[quadrafire]

That looks like a blast Fred. Congrats.
I was wondering about the first couple pics with the netting. Catching your shad bait i'd guess?

[Machias]

Yes you can use a drift net or a casting net to catch bait, i.e. shad.

[quadrafire]

Nice. That looks like a hoot. Been along time since i've seined for bait fish or crawdads.

[ribka]

Good job fred

I used to do a lot of fishing on the James for cat fish and there used to be really good smallmouth and striper fishing too

what size weights and what type of hooks, depth of water fishing?

[Machias]

We were using 10 oz weights, 2/0 Circle hooks and we were fishing in mid 40 foot water.  The water temp was still 58 degrees

[pianoman9701]

Looks like you guys had a lot of fun! 

[cohoho]

Awesome Fred, hey are you near Ashburn, Virginia?  I'll be out there for a week in March time frame to set up a security contract for a work related thing - got room on the boat if close?  Always miss Cat fishing from my younger days growing up in WV....

[Machias]

You'll be 43 miles from where I work.  You want to schedule a day and go fishing on the James River for big Blue Cats?  I'm game if you can get the time off.