James River Blue Catfish Report: 34 lb Trophy & Birthday Fun!
What better way to celebrate a 7th birthday than hooking into hard-fighting trophy catfish? On September 13, 2026, Captain Dan had the pleasure of hosting Paul, Brit, Jack, and birthday boy Carrington for an action-packed morning outing from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM on the tidal James River near Richmond, Virginia. With warm late-summer water temperatures hovering between 81°F and 83°F, conditions were primed for active feeding along deep channel ledges and moderate backwaters.
Morning Setup: Gathering Fresh Gizzard Shad
Our morning began early with bait collection. Fresh bait is key when targeting big blue catfish, so we deployed our Gizzard Shad Gill Nets to haul in several giant gizzard shad. With prime fresh bait in the cooler, we loaded onto the pontoon boat and motored out to our first spot along the river's channel ledges.
Drift 1: Fast Action on the Channel Ledges
We set up our spread using Catch the Fever Hellcat Revenge Rods mounted in solid-steel SmackDown Rod Holders. Spooled with durable Slime Line and rigged with custom Goober Time Guide Service 2-in-1 Rigs, we were ready for action.
It didn't take long—within five minutes of starting our drift, Carrington started his birthday off right by landing a 2 lb blue catfish.
Shortly after, his buddy Jack reeled in another blue catfish of about the same size (~2 lbs).
We continued drifting along the ledges, putting steady 2 to 5 lb eater catfish into the boat. By the end of our first drift, we had logged 6 blue catfish.
Drift 2: Sturgeon Sightings & A 23 lb Heavy Hitter
As the bite slowed at the tail end of the first ledge, we repositioned slightly further upriver. The move gave us an awesome front-row view of native Atlantic sturgeon breaching and leaping completely out of the water!
After about 15 minutes of quiet drifting, one of our Hellcat rods got slammed and drag started screaming off the reel. Carrington stepped up to battle the fish back to the boat, and we netted an impressive 23 lb blue catfish measuring 36.75 inches—just shy of official trophy fish status by length! The energy on the boat was electric as we celebrated Carrington's big catch with photos.
We continued drifting, adding a few more small eater blues up to ~8 lbs. By the end of the second drift, our boat total stood at 9 fish (8 eater catfish and Carrington’s 23-pounder).
Backwater Action: Planer Boards & Joining the Trophy Club
Looking to change up the presentation, we moved into moderate-depth backwaters and deployed planer boards. After missing a few light taps, we hooked up and landed a solid ~15 lb blue catfish.
While taking photos of the 15-pounder, chaos broke loose. Captain Dan noticed another rod get slammed hard, burying our planer board underwater. Brit grabbed the rod and engaged in a high-stakes battle. The fish made powerful runs wherever it pleased, forcing us to quickly clear surrounding rods and maneuver around the pontoon to assist Brit.
After a frantic few minutes, Captain Dan slid the net underneath a magnificent 34.1 lb, 40-inch trophy blue catfish! Congratulations to Brit for officially joining the Trophy Club!
We landed one final small blue catfish as we were packing up our gear, closing out a fantastic morning at 11:30 AM.
Trip Summary
In total, our morning yielded 12 blue catfish, combining steady action for the kids with two heavy-hitting giants for the photo album.
Featured Gear & Rigging Setup
To consistently bring big catfish over the gunwales on the James River, we rely on high-performance gear:
Catfishing Rods: Catch the Fever Hellcat Revenge Rods
Multi-Species Rods: Precision Cast Rods
Mainline: High-strength Slime Line
Rod Holders: Heavy-duty SmackDown Rod Holders
Terminal Rigs: Goober Time Guide Service 2-in-1 Rigs (Browse All Goober Time Rigs & Tackle)
Bait Mesh & Nets: Gizzard Shad Gill Nets
Thank You & Book Your Next Adventure!
A huge thank you to Paul, Brit, Jack, and Carrington for spending the morning on the water with Goober Time Guide Service. Celebrating Carrington’s 7th birthday with 12 catfish, a 23-pounder, and a 34.1 lb trophy catfish made for an unforgettable trip!
Ready to chase big blue catfish on the James River yourself? Whether you want a fun family day on the water or are hunting for a 40-inch trophy of your own, we have you covered.
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.
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