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Premier James River Catfish & Multi-Species Fishing Charters in Richmond, VA
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FISHING REPORTS


Trophy Blue Catfish Fishing Report | Goober Time Guide Service
Great day on the water catching 8 blue catfish! After starting with 3-5 lb fish in the channel, we deployed planer boards in the backwaters and landed a 28 lb trophy blue catfish alongside a 15 lb cat.

Captain Dan Szajta
3 hours ago3 min read


Birthday Trophy Blue Catfish: 30lb Catch with Goober Time Guide Service
Courtnei surprised Kevin for his birthday with a morning catfish trip alongside her son Kaiden. The river delivered a 40-inch, 30 lb trophy blue catfish plus 6 eater-size catfish for 7 total fish!

Captain Dan Szajta
3 days ago3 min read


Trophy Catfishing Report: Landing a 30 lb Blue Catfish in Stormy Conditions
Celebrating Theo's 10th birthday, we braved Nor'Easter wind gusts to land 9 blue catfish, including a 30 lb, 38.25-inch trophy monster! Read our full trip report for tactics and gear setups.

Captain Dan Szajta
Sep 273 min read


James River Blue Catfish Report: 34 lb Trophy & Birthday Fun!
Celebrating Carrington’s 7th birthday on the James River near Richmond, VA brought non-stop catfishing action! From netting fresh gizzard shad early in the morning to landing 12 blue catfish—including Carrington's 23 lb catfish and Brit's 34.1 lb trophy blue—read our full trip report and gear breakdown.

Captain Dan Szajta
Sep 144 min read


James River Fishing Report: 30 lb Trophy Blue Catfish & Summer Eaters (Aug 23, 2026)
High summer water temps and shifting tides couldn't stop the action on the James River! Read how guest anglers Gerald & G boated a 30 lb trophy blue catfish, filled the cooler with eater-sized blues, and landed ~100 striped bass during an action-packed morning guided trip.

Captain Dan Szajta
Aug 235 min read


Summer Catfish Fishing Report: 101 lbs of Blues for a 14th Birthday Celebration!
What better way to celebrate a 14th birthday than catching 101 pounds of blue catfish? Join Goober Time Guide Service on an action-packed 6-hour summer charter featuring 101-lb total catches, two 20 lb trophy blues, and a lesson in pulling heavy catfish out of river structure. Read the full trip breakdown, gear specs, and catch chronology inside!

Captain Dan Szajta
Aug 135 min read


Epic Chickahominy River Blue Catfish Charter: 157-Fish Birthday Report
Looking for an action-packed Chickahominy River blue catfish charter? Read our latest report from Goober Time Guide Service! A recent 13th birthday trip landed 157 total fish, including striped bass, white perch, and trophy blue catfish up to 26.5 lbs.

Captain Dan Szajta
Aug 35 min read


Virginia Catfish Guide Service: 218-Fish Birthday Night Blitz
There is nothing quite like celebrating a birthday on the water, especially when returning guests Steve, Christian, and Matthew come ready to bent rods and haul in fish. Hailing from nearby Glen Allen, VA, the crew joined Goober Time Guide Service for a 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM evening-into-night expedition on July 26, 2026. With summer water temperatures hovering between a warm 82°F and 84°F, our game plan was dialed in: target heavy blues during the late afternoon transition, loc

Captain Dan Szajta
Jul 294 min read


Summer Multi-Species Action: Lake Chesdin Fishing Report (July 21, 2026)
Summer fishing on Lake Chesdin required some real grit for Keith and his 12-year-old son Colin from Mechanicsville, VA. Confronted with a tough summer bite, we had to work hard, grinding through slow patches and capitalizing on good windows. Utilizing Catch the Fever Precision Cast Rods, Slime Line, and SmackDown Rod Holders to troll Bandit 300 crankbaits, our perseverance paid off with 16 fish—including crappie, bass, catfish, and perch. Read the full trip breakdown inside!

Captain Dan Szajta
Jul 213 min read


Summer Crappie and Multi-Species Action: Lake Chesdin Fishing Report
On June 27, 2026, Goober Time Guide Service welcomed Harold, Eric, and Ken from Waldorf, MD, for a high-action multi-species trip focused on filling the cooler for an epic fish fry. Utilizing precision trolling tactics in 10 to 12 feet of water, the crew put together an incredible 52-fish day highlighted by heavy crappie triples, aggressive white perch, and hard-fighting largemouth bass. Read the full gear breakdown and tactical recap here!

Captain Dan Szajta
Jul 144 min read


Trophy Graduation Giants: James River Blue Catfish Fishing
A hard-earned summer evening on the James River yields memories of a lifetime for high school graduates Colby and Claire, highlighted by a staggering 41.1-pound trophy blue catfish that put our professional-grade terminal tackle and heavy rods to the ultimate test.

Captain Dan Szajta
Jul 23 min read


Lake Chesdin Fishing Report: First-Time Anglers Crush Father’s Day Multi-Species Action
An unforgettable Father’s Day multi-species adventure with absolute beginner anglers, featuring an incredible 5.7 lb largemouth bass on the first-ever drop, followed by a steady stream of white perch, crappie, and channel catfish using advanced deep-water crankbait trolling strategies.

Captain Dan Szajta
Jun 274 min read


James River Blue Catfish Fishing Report: Trophies, Birthdays, and Late-Night Action!
An unforgettable night on the James River with Goober Time Guide Service! Celebrating a joint Birthday and Father's Day, our guests braved the midnight heat to land multiple trophy blue catfish weighing up to 43.1 lbs using fresh gizzard shad and specialized bottom-dragging tactics. Read the full report for river conditions, structural patterns, and the exact gear layout that turned slow bites into heavy-tackle victories.

Captain Dan Szajta
Jun 225 min read


Lake Chesdin Multi-Species Fishing Report: A Productive Morning
Join us for a successful morning on the water at Lake Chesdin. From crappie to unexpected striped bass and walleye, see how our team used Precision Cast Rods and custom rigs to find success in this Lake Chesdin multi-species fishing report.

Captain Dan Szajta
Jun 133 min read


Lake Chesdin Multi-Species Trolling Trip | Goober Time Guide Service
Join Goober Time Guide Service for a successful Lake Chesdin multi-species trolling trip! We targeted crappie and white perch, landing 28 fish in total using Catch the Fever rods and custom crankbait rigs. Whether you’re looking for a fresh dinner or a fun day on the lake, our guided trips offer the perfect experience. Read the full report and book your adventure today.

Captain Dan Szajta
Jun 123 min read


Multi-Species Fishing Report: Summer Bite Heats Up | Goober Time Guide Service
Summer patterns are officially locked in! Follow along with Goober Time Guide Service as we host a crew from central Virginia for an action-packed multi-species morning charter. Despite changing water conditions and heavy rain upstream, the team put on a clinic—landing an impressive 22-fish total that included a massive crappie rally, white perch, largemouth bass, and a hard-fighting channel catfish. Read the full report to get the breakdown on our trolling tactics and the pr

Captain Dan Szajta
Jun 64 min read


Lake Chesdin Fishing Report: Spring Multi-Species Trolling Trip
A slow start on the water turned into a 22-fish morning on Lake Chesdin! Discover how a quick tactical pivot to a staggered crankbait spread—mixing Arkie 220s and Bandit 300s—completely unlocked a firing late-morning crappie and white perch bite for a crew of Richmond locals. Read the full report for exact water conditions, depths, and gear tactics.

Captain Dan Szajta
May 234 min read


Birthday Trophy Blue Catfish | Goober Time Guide Service Fishing Report
Birthday Blues & Trophy Success! 🎣
What’s better than a birthday on the water? We hosted Victoria and Lisa from Henrico, VA, for a morning of big river action. Despite the pre-spawn lull, we managed to land a 28lb trophy Blue Catfish using AlphaBoardz planer boards and the new Catch the Fever Ravix rods. Check out the full report to see how we handled a tough bait bite and what we’re targeting next as the summer multispecies season kicks off!

Captain Dan Szajta
May 44 min read


First Kayak Guide Trip of the Year: Multi-Species Success with Oliver
Our first kayak guide trip of the year was a major success! Regular guest Oliver Rader joined Captain Dan for a 4-hour masterclass in kayak control and multi-species trolling. Despite a "long-distance release" early on, Oliver landed 12 fish, including his first-ever Crappie and Chain Pickerel. With water temps hitting 68°F, the bite is officially on. Read the full report to see our species breakdown and tips for spring trolling in the creeks!

Captain Dan Szajta
Apr 293 min read


Chickahominy Lake Fishing Report: Spring Panfish Slam
What happens when the water hits the magic 70-degree mark on Chickahominy Lake? The panfish go on a tear. On April 25, Goober Time Guide Service hosted a crew from Newland, NC, for a day of non-stop action. From trolling crankbaits to long-lining jigs, we covered multiple creeks to put 59 fish in the boat. With rising temps and steady pressure, the crappie and shellcracker were stacked. Read the full report for our location breakdown and final cooler weight!

Captain Dan Szajta
Apr 263 min read
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