Summer Catfish Fishing Report: 101 lbs of Blues for a 14th Birthday Celebration!
- Captain Dan Szajta
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
There is no finer way to celebrate a milestone birthday than spending a warm summer morning on the water with family, bending rods, and reeling in river monsters. On August 9, 2026, Goober Time Guide Service had the absolute pleasure of hosting Pete, Nita, and their two enthusiastic grandsons, Oliver (12) and Pete (14), who traveled down to fish with us all the way from Morgantown, West Virginia.
This 6-hour morning charter (6:00 AM to 12:00 PM) was booked as a special 14th birthday gift for young Pete, with one primary mission in mind: get both grandsons tight on hard-fighting catfish. With morning water temperatures hovering right around a warm 85°F, we set out early to capitalize on the morning bite.
Early Morning Bait Run & Initial Mud Flat Strategy
We kicked off at 6:00 AM under calm morning conditions, starting our day by throwing the cast net to haul in a prime spread of live threadfin shad and gizzard shad. In summer water conditions around 85°F, having fresh, oil-rich bait is critical to drawing catfish out of their deep-water rest zones.
Our first setup of the day was anchored over a strategic mud flat positioned to intercept catfish transitioning from shallow feeding flats back into deeper water as the sun rose. The fish were clearly active, but smaller nibblers were aggressively stripping our delicate threadfin shad right off the hooks. Spotting the trend, we quickly adapted: we repositioned slightly deeper along the drop-off and re-baited our heavy setups with larger, tough-skinned gizzard shad to target the real predators.
Structure Double-Ups & A 12-Pounder Salvage Mission
Moving to our next spot—a mud flat featuring submerged wood structure—the action ignited almost instantly. Within minutes of setting the spread, three rods loaded up simultaneously in an adrenaline-pumping triple hookup!
The crew brought the first two fish into the net in quick succession: a pair of healthy 3 lb blue catfish. However, the third hooked fish made a hard dive straight into the underwater structure, getting solidly snagged up in the timber.
Instead of putting excessive pressure on the line and risking a break-off, we placed the rod in the holder with light tension and waited for the right opportunity to maneuver the boat. While waiting for the fish to untangle itself, another rod slammed down, producing a clean 5 lb blue catfish.
With four fish accounted for, we motored over the structure, worked the angle, unspooled the snagged line, and landed the trapped fish—a hard-fighting 12 lb blue catfish that earned big cheers across the deck!
Moving Upriver: Deep Hole Fireworks & Blue Catfish
With fresh gizzard shad on the hooks, we moved upriver to target a series of deep river holes where big catfish congregate to escape the summer heat. This move proved to be the turning point of the trip.
Within the first 10 minutes of anchoring over our first deep hole, the rods came alive:
5 lb Blue Catfish – Got the momentum rolling.
8 lb Blue Catfish – A solid, hard-pulling middleweight.
12 lb Blue Catfish – Put up a classic deep-water struggle for the boys.
20 lb Blue Catfish – A true river trophy! Young Pete and Oliver put their muscles to work, hauling this heavy-shouldered blue catfish up from the depths.
10 lb Blue Catfish – Rounded out an incredible run in our first deep hole.
Wanting to keep the momentum going, we re-baited and slid up to the next deep hole down the river. It didn’t take long for the water to yield another prize—a second massive 20 lb blue catfish slammed the bait, giving the birthday boy another memory of a lifetime.
We made one final move back downriver to round out the 6-hour trip, but with the sun high and temperature rising, the fish settled down. By 12:00 PM, we made our way back to port with big smiles and an impressive trip total.
The Gear Behind the Success
Targeting heavy blue catfish around sharp river structure demands rugged, reliable tackle that won't let you down when a 20-pounder surges toward timber. Here is the exact gear setup we relied on during this trip:
Rods: We fished with Catch the Fever Hellcat Revenge Rods, built specifically for catfishing with the perfect blend of tip sensitivity for detecting subtle bites and raw backbone to pull fish out of structure.
Line: Spooled heavy with hi-vis Slime Line for maximum abrasion resistance and line visibility when managing multiple hookups.
Rod Holders: Locked down in heavy-duty SmackDown Rod Holders to handle heavy river current and violent strikes without slipping.
Terminal Rigs: Hand-tied Goober Time Guide Service 2-in-1 Rigs equipped with 10/0 circle hooks. These versatile rigs keep live and cut bait suspended right in the strike zone and consistently deliver solid corner-of-the-mouth hooksets. Explore all our proven terminal tackle in the Goober Time Online Store.
Thank You for Joining Us!
A huge thank you to Pete, Nita, Oliver, and birthday boy Pete for making the drive down from Morgantown, West Virginia, and spending the day on the water with Goober Time Guide Service! It was a true honor helping celebrate young Pete’s 14th birthday with 101 pounds of catfish action.
Trip Catch Summary
Species | Number Caught | Total Weight |
Blue Catfish | 10 | 101 lbs |
TRIP TOTAL | 10 | 101 lbs |
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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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