James River Blue Catfish 1/29/17

[JDTuna]

Chrisper and I decided to do something different this weekend and head down to the James River in Virginia to target big blue cats. The trip had been rescheduled twice due to weather, but this weekend the weather held up. Given the lack of ice, this was the perfect weekend for a road trip.

Got set up at the first spot, and Chrisper landed his personal best cat in no time.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/JL1981/DSCN0030_zpsrlesarza.jpg

However, after that the bite began to get picky with the approaching front. A little while later, I got my blue catfish for the day.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/JL1981/20170129_153321_zpsmfm9rmzk.jpg

The bite continued to get pickier and pickier as the day wore on, and Chrisper managed a small cat then that was it for the day. The increasing wind against current situation also made fishing very difficult. However, we still managed a few fish so the trip was a success.

[henro]

Jesus those 2 are pigs! Made that trip worth it I'm sure!

[kcritch]

Great Pics guys. My wife and I did that same trip a few years ago during the week between Christmas and New Years. It was 19 degrees at launch time but the guy we fished with used a Pontoon Boat and had a full enclosure with a propane heater...nice a toasty. We had a blast and caught quite a few fish that day. Our biggest were only 25 and 30 lbs though...smallish by their standards but not too shabby. We were just south of Richmond. It's an awesome fishery for sure.

[Andrushkin33]

Dynamic Duo at it again.

Great catches my friends.... Catfish nuggets for all.

Andre

[bunker dunker]

great catching jd and chris!!!!!!worth the trip for sure

[Rich196]

HOLY SHIT, them are some pigs. Great job guy's.

[NJSquatch]

Very Nice Guys

[Chrisper4694]

they're average sized fish how crazy is that!?

[dakota560]

That seems to be one helluva a fishery! Great job, patience and perseverance pays dividends! Two beautiful trophy fish gentlemen, excellent job. Hard to believe those are average size fish. Just goes to show what can happen when a fishery is managed properly and respected by anglers.

Way to start '17 on an up note!

[bigboy5522]

Awesome!! Should of brought them back to nj and put them in the delaware!:p

[dakota560]

Awesome!! Should of brought them back to nj and put them in the delaware!:p

They might eat all the flatheads! Always wondered why the Big D doesn't have a population of blues. Maybe too far north for their tolerance.

[henro]

Can anybody share the guides they used if you did use one and how much the trip cost?

[thmyorke1]

They might eat all the flatheads! Always wondered why the Big D doesn't have a population of blues. Maybe too far north for their tolerance.

Arent blues in the Hudson?

[JDTuna]

Arent blues in the Hudson?

Not, that's whites and possibly channels. They're predominantly VA and south.

[thmyorke1]

Not, that's whites and possibly channels. They're predominantly VA and south.

Ah ok, thanks for clarification. Ive seen blue cats show up on youtube recently too. Are they in season or is it all coincidental

[bulletbob]

Actually they are not even native to Virginia or the south eastern states.. they are actually more of a mid west species.. I bet they would do ok in the Delaware. at least in the lower sections... bob



Geographic range: Blue catfish are native to the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio River basins. They were introduced into the James, Rappahannock, and York Rivers in Virginia during the 1970s and 1980s as a new recreational fishery. These catfish have quickly spread throughout the Bay into nearly every major tributary. Flathead catfish—also not native to the Chesapeake Bay—were introduced into the James River in the late 1960s. They have now been observed in the low-salinity upper sections of many Bay tributaries

[Chrisper4694]

I'd highly doubt the Delaware River could support these blue cats on top of what it has currently.

[Adrenalinerush]

Nice fish Chris and JD, now that you know the ropes let's hook up the boat to the truck and go get some slobs!😂

[Delawareriver]

I'd highly doubt the Delaware River could support these blue cats on top of what it has currently.

Oh the delaware could support them but there would be a lot less everything else. Those virginal rivers have a lot more gizzard shad then we do but I bet the blues would get fat on the gizzard we do have plus the white, yellow perch, American shad, eels, small carp and any thing else that fits in there mouth.

[Delawareriver]

Nice fish Chris and JD, now that you know the ropes let's hook up the boat to the truck and go get some slobs!😂

It's easy, basically they are giant channel cats and it's almost like cheating, you can cruise the edge of the channel and mark them, go up River anchor and drop baits down. James River is amazing but the Potomac isnt to snappy and a lot closer. 85lber was just caught a few days ago out of the potomac

[Delawareriver]

Nice fish chrisper and jdtuna. Amazing fishery.

[Esox Luciano]

Some certified beasts right there!! Great pics !! Those things do get pretty plump. Hard to believe those are average size fish. Just goes to show what can happen when a fishery is managed properly and respected by anglers.

Way to start '17 on an up note!
Yea buddy, definitely needs the strong angler support! I've cringed at seeing guys keeping some big trophies for the plate:eek::confused:, amongst other things...naturally.

[Delawareriver]

Ah ok, thanks for clarification. Ive seen blue cats show up on youtube recently too. Are they in season or is it all coincidental

Cold weather months are prime for targeting the big blues yes. November through April is the best. Slows down in March through June while they spawn than slowly picks back up after that

[Chrisper4694]

Oh the delaware could support them but there would be a lot less everything else. Those virginal rivers have a lot more gizzard shad then we do but I bet the blues would get fat on the gizzard we do have plus the white, yellow perch, American shad, eels, small carp and any thing else that fits in there mouth.

i guess what i meant was it probably cant support everything it currently has on top of a thriving blue cat pop. For anyone that hasn't traveled to other state rivers...the james river basically makes the delaware river look like a run off stream; the section of river we fished was bigger than most of our lakes. gizzard shad were everywhere!

[trout taco]

I bet those are a blast to fight in a river. Great looking fish guys!

[bassnblues]

Nice job guys!

[icebadger]

wow:eek:those are very nice blue cats gents great report thanks for sharing.

[HerringKing]

Nice!! How was the ride down? About 5 hrs right?

[Chrisper4694]

Yes about 5.5

[dakota560]

Yes about 5.5

Considering Justin's adventures usually involve a 4 to 6 hour flight somewhere, followed by a 2 or 3 hour car ride after which he transfers all his stuff into a boat or carved out canoe and navigates anywhere from 5 to 6 hours up river at which time he hires usually 3 or 4 Sherpas to carry his gear and tackle on average about 4 hours through dense brush to get to his favorite fishing hole........... this was actually a pretty mild trip for him and Chris!