Big Blues & Personal Bests: James River Blue Trophy Catfishing Report
- Captain Dan Szajta
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
Chris, Chris, and Timmy joined Goober Time Guide Service for their very first trip on the James River, and it was one for the books!
Starting the Day: Fresh Bait & First Bites
We started the morning catching a fresh batch of large gizzard shad. We even kept a few extra for the guys to take home. Once bait was secured, we made a big run downriver, marked plenty of bait on the sonar, and started fishing a promising channel ledge.
While the bites were consistent, the fish were being finicky. Finally, a rod folded over in the heavy current! After a quick fight, we landed our first blue catfish of the morning—a solid 15-pounder. Nice catch!
Dragging Mud Flats for James River Blues
As the action slowed on the ledge, we decided to start dragging baits on the mud flats. We moved downriver toward a creek mouth. Just a few minutes into the drift, we hooked up with another blue catfish just over 10 pounds.
As we worked the flat and turned toward the bank, a planer board suddenly buried underwater! The fish charged across the back of the boat toward the creek. After some chaotic rod-shuffling to clear the lines, we scooped him up. Our first trophy fish of the morning weighed in at 44 lbs—a new Personal Best!
Welcome to the Trophy Club!
Finding the Heavy Hitters
The pattern shifted midday, so we bounced around between deep holes and structure. At one spot, the rods were getting tapped constantly, but the fish weren't committing. We stayed mobile and moved to some heavy structure—and it paid off.
A heavy-action rod folded in half, and after a heck of a fight, we boated a 24-pound blue catfish that fought like it was 40+!
Moments later, its twin hit the deck at 25 lbs.
A Last-Minute Trophy Finish
With the bite picking up, we stayed a little past quitting time—and man, are we glad we did. We watched a heavy rod double over as the drag started screaming. After five minutes of gaining almost no ground, we nearly pulled the other rods to chase it down!
We finally worked the fish through the heavy James River current and landed another trophy blue catfish weighing 46 lbs. What a way to wrap up the day!
Thank you for choosing Goober Time Guide Service for your James River adventure. We love helping our guests land their personal bests, and we can't wait to get you back on the water.
Goober Time Guide Service offers premier guided fishing experiences throughout the James River and key bodies of water across Central Virginia. We specialize in multi-species excursions, targeting trophy Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, and Crappie.
Our versatile fleet includes a fully-equipped main vessel for full-group charters, as well as specialized kayaks, paddleboards, and whitewater rafts to access remote waters and low-pressure fisheries. Furthermore, we offer exclusive light-lining charter trips for elite anglers seeking the ultimate technical challenge and potential record-breaking catches.
Contact us to consult on your group’s goals, and we will expertly design a tailored fishing adventure to exceed your expectations.
Captain Dan Szajta
USCG Master Charter Captain
IGFA Captain
804-592-0456
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