Delaware River catfish pic

[NJ219bands]

Yesterday evening I caught and released a 21" channel catfish in the tidal Delaware River that had a wire leader bluefish rig down its throat. I removed and kept the black coast lock snap swivel. The fish was pot bellied and looked healthy. I didn't know that people used bluefish rigs in the river near Trenton.

[Lard Almighty]

The catfish was probably hooked in or near the estuary and swam upstream. It never ceases to amaze me how fish can have all sorts of hardware stuck in their throats and still act and feed normally. Great catch!

[njfisherman1975]

Hook in the throat and still eating...

[Delawareriver]

The little farm pond down the from me had 2 different bass that had huge rubber worm hook s in their throat. One summer I caught the 16" bass 12 times and the 14" At least 5 times. Healthy fish every time but those hooks definitely didn't rust out like guy's say they do

[Almaink]

Not surprised at all. The same set ups you would use down on the shore, works well for the bucket brigade in Trenton.

[Mark B.]

All kinds of rigs are used in the Del. R.

Last evening, while wading south of Frenchtown, my foot got wrapped up in some braided line.

Winding in 100 yards, it was attached to a wire high / low rig with a 4 oz. sinker.

No doubt, that rig got augured in on the first cast.