A fish story from Virginia...

[Tedstryker]

Fellow forum folks...just wanted to share a picture of a monster catfish I caught the other day in the James River, south of Richmond. We took a friend's boat (of course the 4runner handled it with ease)...caught some good size shad...hit up a secret spot and WHAM! Caught the guy below. We caught 5 others around 30 pounds...he was 45 pounds. Funny...while I was fighting him and reeling in, another rod got hit so hard by a fish it bent over and touched the water...unfortunately it did not get hooked. Anyway, just wanted to share my glory! I have caught some big rock fish, tuna, drum, bass, etc. in my day....but never a monster blue cat! Oh, and for those that havent catfished or are not from around here...these guys get up to 100 pounds in these parts...imagine something TWICE the size below?!

Sorry this wasnt some cool modification...but it is related since my T4R got me there and transported the gear

Behold:

 

[Antman]

Nice!!!! I do alot of catfishing, but never had one that size! Awesome- congrats, bro!

 

[Tedstryker]

Thanks Antman...some giants around here!

 

[Antman]

We should plan a trip?! Biggest for me is around 20+ and he was a handful. I want a big one too!

 

[TX - Longhorns]

Very Nice!!! Where I grew up (North Texas, Lake Texoma) we always heard there were catfish at the bottom of the lake, by the damn, that were the size of humans...

 

[joneseyyy]

Awesome. I was a dock hand at Jordan Point marina on the James when I was a teenager and saw folks bring in monsters like that.

 

[terra4r]

Man that's big. Maybe Surry power plant has something to do with it? haha

 

[Tedstryker]

We should plan a trip?! Biggest for me is around 20+ and he was a handful. I want a big one too!

I am down for a trip for sure...we caught these near Hopewell - there are a few dock options around.

 

[Tedstryker]

Man that's big. Maybe Surry power plant has something to do with it? haha

HAHA...yeah, maybe! I wouldnt eat these guys out of the James, but MAN can they fight. I am heading out of VA Beach next Saturday to get in on some prime rock fishing...

 

[Anonymous4Runner]

HAHA...yeah, maybe! I wouldnt eat these guys out of the James, but MAN can they fight. I am heading out of VA Beach next Saturday to get in on some prime rock fishing...

I live in Virginia Beach! :hello:

 

[PWGUNNY]

Nice catch, but boy are those things UGLY!

 

[combatmedic]

You ever try catching them by swimming underwater and jamming your whole arm in their mouth? Saw some rednecks do it on tv once. Looked fun Cant remember what its called

 

[KCcarguy]

You ever try catching them by swimming underwater and jamming your whole arm in their mouth? Saw some rednecks do it on tv once. Looked fun Cant remember what its called

It's called Noodling. Lot's of people do it around here. I never did....I thought I might need to keep all my fingers. Big respect to those who do it though.

 

[Hepar]

Dang! That is a HUGE catfish. Can't believe they get much bigger than that!

It's called Noodling. Lot's of people do it around here. I never did....I thought I might need to keep all my fingers. Big respect to those who do it though.

I hear a lot of places are considering outlawing noodling. Something about not being sporting (due to the fact that the catfish has no place to go) and that most of them (or all of them, not sure on the details there) are females protecting their eggs or something.

 

[Todd_Nash]

I am not really into fishing, but my god! that s HUGE! nice catch man

 

[Tedstryker]

Yeah, I have never tried noodling...not sure I will! I prefer staying dry and playing the ol' waiting game with a rod. Going back out Friday...hope to find this guy's dad!

 

[S p a r k y]

Great Fish Ted, this is my main hobby, love catfishing. I do tournaments as much as i can. Come to TN we can put you on some ;-).

1. My biggest 51lb
2. friend Tony 52lb
3. Shane 78lb
4. Scott 101lb this fish was caught 2 times in a 2 week span, by 2 different guys I fish in tourneys with, it swam from dock 2 miles back to same spot caught.
5. Kayak fishing 40lb
6. Marty 66lb

I have tons more pics, just wanted to throw a few up. I have some good flat head pics too, but the blues look bigger..

Ted, not trying to one-up ya, hope you dont take it that way. Just love cattin. Are you using skipjack shad?

 

[MT Tatman]

These are the adventures our 4runners take us on, and why we have them! Great going on the fish! Mostly Trout fishing around here, I have never caught any monster fish.
Looks fun! Especially with a foot of snow and more falling here!!

 

[KCcarguy]

Nice posts. We need a "brag board" thread!

 

[Tedstryker]

Wow Sparky!! Those are some nice fish, man! Yes...we use shad and they get pretty big here in the James River - catch about 8-12 in a gill net first thing...chop them up into 3-4 pieces. I am going back out tomorrow (Friday)...will do my best to beat 51 pounds