In 2003, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission passed a controversial law limiting recreational anglers to one catfish per day that measures 34 inches or more.
The idea was to protect more large fish, allowing them to live long enough to reach true trophy status.
Brighton resident Roger Willey says the law is working -- and he has the stats to back up his claims. It's proof that the 34-inch regulation is working", says Roger Willey of Brighton, who caught this giant blue catfish last month from a stretch of the Mississippi River just north of Memphis. The fish weighed 73 pounds and is his career best.
Since March, Willey's eight largest fish from the Mississippi River have averaged an incredible 56 pounds. The list included a 62-pounder, a 60-pounder, a 59-pounder and a 73-pounder that is his personal best.
Coincidence? He doesn't think so.
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Posted by: gottafish in trophy catfishing, tidal river catfishing, rappahanock river, potomac river, pamunkey river, mattaponi river, james river, channel catfish, catfishing, blue catfish on
Jul 25, 2008
This Chesapeake angler article on tidal river catfishing in Virginia has been around awhile but it's still valid nonetheless.
As an avid catfisherman, I have spent most of my life on Virginia's rivers in search of a whiskered meal. My travels have taken me to nearly every nook and cranny in the Rappahannock, many spots on the Potomac, some nice deep holes on the James and Chickahominy and of
An Ohio state record blue catfish, weighing 57 pounds 3.2 ounces, is the first blue catfish to fulfill a new state record category.
Keith Setty, from Lynchburg, was fishing for catfish from a boat on the Ohio River at Meldahl Dam in the early morning hours of June 29, with two friends when he hooked and landed a 45.5 inch blue catfish with a 32.5 inch girth. Meeting the minimum length requirement of 45 inches for blue catfish entry into the state fish records, Setty had the fish weighed at the Lynchburg Post Office the following day.
Setty’s record blue catfish was caught using cut shad for bait at approximately 4 a.m. Together the trio of fishermen caught 11 catfish that night of which seven were blue catfish.
Read more here
Planning on a catfishing trip to Virgina? Populations of trophy Blue Catfish on the James River have continued to expand since their introduction over 30 years ago with 60 pound fish becoming common and monsters over 80 making an appearance now and then.
Click the link below to read about Blue Catfish populations in tidal rivers throughout the state.
Virginia Tidal Blue Catfish
