James River Fishing Report: 24lb Flathead & Birthday Bites!
- Captain Dan Szajta
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Date: April 18, 2026
Location: James River, near Richmond, VA
Target Species: Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, White Perch
Water Temperature: 79°F – 76°F
There is no better way to wrap up a Saturday in Central Virginia than being on the water—especially when there’s a 12th birthday to celebrate! This past weekend, Goober Time Guide Service had the absolute pleasure of hosting a local crew from nearby Hanover, VA.
Brent, Mark, Levi, Eli, Cody, and Sawyer joined us for an action-packed evening trip to ring in Sawyer’s 12th birthday in style.
Evening Weather Conditions (5 PM – 9 PM)
The weather was near-perfect for a spring evening on the James. As we pulled away from the dock around 5:00 PM, temperatures were hovering in the mid-90s—unseasonably warm but beautiful. By the time we were heading back at 9:00 PM, the air had cooled to a comfortable low-60s under mostly clear skies. Winds remained light (around 5-10 mph), making for a smooth ride and excellent bait presentation.
The Game Plan: Perch First, Giants Second
With a group of young, eager anglers on board, we knew we had to get the rods bending fast. We started the evening vertical jigging for white perch. This is a fan-favorite for birthday parties because the action is constant.
The boys made quick work of the perch schools! We managed to land 12 white perch in short order. While the kids enjoyed the fast-paced catching, we tossed the white perch in the bait tank. White perch makes an excellent bait this time of year. They're easy to keep alive in the bait tank and the catfish love them live or cut.
Sunset Showdown: The 24lb Flathead
As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, our guests were excited to target some larger fish. Being bass fisherman, we knew some blue catfish would provide just the fight they were looking for. We moved downriver and set a spread of fresh bait on a productive mud flat.
It wasn't long before we noticed some "suspicious activity" on our pink Hellcat rod from Catch the Fever. This wasn't the typical aggressive strike of a Blue Cat; it was subtle. For 15 minutes, we watched as the fish toyed with the bait—a slight tap here, a slow swim there. It eventually began a steady march toward the river channel.
Captain Dan reeled down, the line went tight, and the rod doubled over! The slack disappeared and was replaced by violent, drag-peeling head shakes. After a heavy vertical battle, we landed a beautiful 24 lb Flathead Catfish—just shy of trophy weight but an absolute beast of a fish to see over the gunnels!
Closing Out the Night
The action didn't stop there. We stayed on the flat and the boys took turns reeling in hard-fighting Blue Catfish. The biggest Blue of the evening tipped the scales at 15 lbs, with several others in the 3-6 lb range keeping everyone busy.
For the final 15 minutes of the trip, we made one last move upriver to some heavy structure. Almost immediately after casting into the channel, another rod went down—a solid 5 lb Blue Catfish to cap off the night.
Trip Stats by the Numbers:
Total Fish Caught: 20
White Perch: 12
Blue Catfish: 7 (Biggest: 15 lbs)
Flathead Catfish: 1 (Weight: 24 lbs)
Total Combined Weight: Approximately 75-80 lbs of fish!
Thank You!
A huge thank you to Brent, Mark, Levi, Eli, Cody, and a very Happy 12th Birthday to Sawyer! It was an honor to be part of your celebration. We love seeing local Hanover families getting out on the James and making memories. We hope to see you on the boat again. The boys would love one of our night trips catching white perch and striped bass by the 100s.
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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