Epic Chickahominy River Blue Catfish Charter: 157-Fish Birthday Report
- Captain Dan Szajta
- Aug 3
- 5 min read
There is no better way to celebrate a 13th birthday than an early morning on the water surrounded by non-stop rod-bending action. On July 27, 2026, we had the absolute pleasure of welcoming Michael, Gabe, and the birthday boy, Corbin, down from Hanover, VA for an action-packed morning charter with Goober Time Guide Service.
With a launch time set for 4:15 AM and a wrap-up at 10:15 AM, our primary mission was clear: get the rods flexed early, put plenty of fish in the boat, land some quality eater catfish, and hunt down a true Mid-Atlantic trophy blue cat. Summer was in full force with water temperatures hovering right between 82°F and 84°F, making early morning positioning and tidal timing the absolute keys to success.
Early Morning Dock Jigging Blitz: 151 Fish in 85 Minutes
Before the sun cleared the horizon, we kicked off the morning by targeting dock structure with light tackle jigs. The fast-paced action started almost immediately. Using Z-Man Shad Fryz soft plastics, the guys put on an absolute clinic in finesse angling.
In just 85 minutes of dock fishing, we put an extraordinary 151 fish into the boat.
The bite was dominated by aggressive schoolie striped bass, accounting for 121 striped bass, alongside 30 white perch. The Z-Man Shad Fryz soft plastics proved insanely durable, holding up bite after bite as school after school charged the docks.
In addition to providing rapid-fire entertainment for the crew, those fresh white perch gave us the exact high-quality cut bait needed for the next phase of our trip.
Sunup Blue Catfish & Early Personal Bests
As the morning sun began to light up the river, we stowed the light tackle and rigged up for heavy-duty blue catfish. We set our sights on our first anchored position, deploying fresh white perch cut bait into prime channel habitat.
It didn’t take long for the catfish to find our spread. On our very first anchor set, a rod loaded up hard into a steady bend. Corbin stepped up to the rail and battled a gorgeous 16.5 lb blue catfish all the way to the net. It was Corbin’s brand-new personal best blue catfish—a phenomenal way to open up his 13th birthday catfishing tally!
Reading the Tide & Main River Ledge Tactics
With our initial spot producing a great start, we made a strategic relocation out to a primary main river ledge, anchoring up to wait on the tide to transition to an incoming flow. Mid-summer catfishing heavily relies on current movement; as the incoming tide began to push, the ledge turned into an active feeding lane.
The catches unfolded in rapid sequence off the ledge:
12.25 lb Blue Catfish: Gabe took the helm on the next line strike, landing a hard-fighting 12.25 lb blue catfish. This marked Gabe’s first-ever blue catfish and set his personal best right out of the gate!
2.0 lb Blue Catfish: Next came a feisty 2.0 lb blue cat with an appetite bigger than its belly, attempting to swallow a live white perch nearly half its own length. This fish was quickly set aside in the cooler for fresh catfish nuggets.
0.5 lb Blue Catfish: Shortly after, an ambitious 0.5 lb youngster tried its best to crush an oversized white perch head.
5.0 lb Blue Catfish: The steady bite continued as we brought a solid 5.0 lb feeder catfish to the boat.
Buzzer-Beater Trophy Club Induction
As our 10:15 AM finish time quickly approached, we were sitting on an incredible morning, but the river had one final surprise in store. Right at the buzzer—with trip time practically expired—one of our main ledge rods buried violently into the water.
Michael grabbed the rod and engaged in a heavy, deep-water battle against a powerful fish using the river current to its advantage. After a disciplined fight, we slipped the net under a magnificent 26.5 lb, 38.25-inch trophy blue catfish! Following a quick photo session and standard measurement, the big breeder was safely released back into the waterway to fight another day, officially making Michael the newest member of the Goober Time Guide Service Trophy Club!
Trip Success Summary
Species of Fish | Number Caught |
Striped Bass | 121 |
White Perch | 30 |
Blue Catfish | 6 |
Total Fish Caught | 157 |
Gear Breakdown: Proven Tackle for Summer Tidal Catfishing
Heavy summer catfish demand dependable gear that can handle hard-striking fish around structure and moving current. Here is the exact terminal setup and tackle lineup we relied on for this trip:
Rods: We fished Hellcat Revenge Rods from Catch the Fever. These rods offer the ideal balance of parabolic bend for visual bite detection and heavy backbone to turn big fish off main river ledges.
Line: Spooled with high-visibility Slime Line monofilament from Catch the Fever, giving us essential abrasion resistance against bottom timber and excellent visual line tracking.
Rod Holders: Securely anchored in SmackDown Rod Holders, ensuring zero flex or torque issues when heavy catfish hit on the drift or anchor.
Rigs & Terminal Tackle: All big catfish were hooked using our custom Goober Time Guide Service 10/0 2-in-1 Trophy Catfish Rigs. Designed specifically for tidal catfish waters, these hand-tied rigs keep bait elevated off the bottom substrate directly in the strike zone. You can explore our full lineup of terminal tackle and custom terminal gear on the Goober Time Guide Service Store.
Thank You & Book Your Next Adventure!
A massive thank you to Michael, Corbin, and Gabe for making the trip down from Hanover, VA and spending Corbin's 13th birthday with Goober Time Guide Service! It was an absolute pleasure guiding you guys to 157 total fish, multiple personal bests, and a trophy club entry at the buzzer.
Whether you are looking to introduce young anglers to fast-paced multi-species action or hunt down personal-record trophy blue catfish on Virginia's premier tidal rivers, we would love to host you on the water.
Ready to get on the water?
Visit Goober Time Guide Service today to check availability and book your next guided fishing trip!
Captain Dan Szajta is a USCG Master and IGFA Captain who brings a unique, analytical edge to the waters of Central Virginia. When he isn’t guiding clients to "river monsters" on the James River, Dan serves as a high school math teacher—a background that fuels his precision-based approach to angling. By combining formal maritime expertise with a teacher’s knack for breaking down complex patterns, Dan specializes in breaking the code on trophy Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, and Smallmouth Bass for anglers of all skill levels.
Operating Goober Time Guide Service, Dan offers a versatile experience tailored to the water's demands. Whether you are hunting giants from his fully equipped main vessel or launching a kayak or raft to reach remote, low-pressure fisheries, his mission is to provide more than just a day on the water. Every trip is an opportunity to learn the "why" behind the bite, blending high-energy adventure with the technical insights of a true multi-species specialist.
Captain Dan Szajta
USCG Master Charter Captain
804-592-0456
*Contents of this article may not be reproduced without the prior consent of Goober Time Guide Service, LLC.
Comments