Looking for something different? How 'bout a 100lb. catfish!

While the Outer Banks are known by many up here as a prime fishing destination, few New England anglers heading south realize the fishing they are driving right past on the way. I'm talking about the James River from Richmond and south towards the Chesapeake. Put away your Orvis, this is blue collar fishin' for monster blue cats and bass. For those who think a double digit CT River channel cat is a big fish, try a triple digit blue catfish from the James River in Virginia. Nobody is noodlin' these things! Big rigs, nasty bait and a few beers while you wait. These fish were stocked in the 70's from the Mississippi, and today they are thriving, getting bigger each year. In fact, the species has been so successful that many charter captains guarantee a 30lb. citation fish, while fish in the 50-60lb. range are common. Record fish are now topping the 100lb. mark. On full day trips you can also take advantage of some great small and largemouth fishing, the quality of which has brought in the Bassmaster Elite series. While I wasn't able to get any fishing in on my recent trip back down, I'm hoping to arrange a day out on the James later this summer with friends and family. There are several great charter captains that specialize in big bluecats, and I'd highly recommend this route to get the best chance at a trophy. If you visit the OBX and love to fish, consider a stopover in historic Richmond or Williamsburg with a day out on the James. You'll have a blast.


Eberwien's Catfishin'

Screaming Reel Charters
Nightstalker Fishing Charters
Trip Out Catfishin'
Rivercat'n Guide Service