Unforgettable Catfishing Adventures with Goober Time Guide Service

A Morning on the James River

Lyndsey booked a morning trip for her and her husband to spend some time on the river, hoping to land a big blue catfish. We had the bait ready when the couple jumped on the boat, and we took off down the river, excitement buzzing in the air!

We scanned the channel ledges and found some promising marks. Setting the boat up, we cast the rods out and settled in. The anticipation was palpable as we watched the rods, which got a few taps here and there. Then, out of nowhere, one rod loaded up when we least expected it. Lyndsey reeled down on the fish, and the battle was on!

As we neared low tide, the fish swam back and forth, testing our skills. We had to maneuver the rod across the rack to force the fish up the side of the boat. Lyndsey did a fantastic job! After a few minutes of intense fighting, she was holding her new personal best blue catfish, weighing in at 18 lbs!

Congrats on an awesome catch, Lyndsey!

The Thrill of the Next Bite

We reorganized the rods and waited for the next bite. After about 30 minutes, the tide was nearly slack. Suddenly, a rod folded over and started peeling drag! We could tell this was going to be a nice fish. Toney struggled to get it out of the rod holder. This fish ran straight to the boat, and Toney had to work hard to bring it to the surface.

A few minutes later, we had our first trophy fish of the morning on board—a stunning blue catfish weighing in at 35 lbs!

Welcome to the trophy club!

Finding New Spots

The bite slowed down in this stretch of the river, so we decided to move upstream as the tide began to come in. We found a pocket filled with fish and anchored the boat. The tide was just enough to keep the boat straight, and we sent the baits to the bottom of the river, waiting for the next fish.

After about 15 minutes of waiting and a few short strikes, a fish hooked up and pulled a little drag. It didn’t seem like a monster, but it was a feisty one! The fish came to the side of the boat but didn’t want to leave the bottom. Each time Lyndsey pulled in some line, the fish bent the rod to its backbone, digging in deeper.

She had to tire the fish out before it would come to the surface. After a few minutes, the fish emptied its air bladder and began to surface. We scooped it up in the net, and Lyndsey had yet another personal best catfish in her hands, weighing in at 22 lbs!

Wrapping Up the Adventure

Before we knew it, time was running out on our trip. We packed up and headed back to the dock. The bite had been slow but consistent, and we caught nothing but quality fish. It was a gorgeous morning on the water, filled with laughter and excitement.

Thanks for joining us, and we hope to see you on the river again soon! Remember, whether you're a seasoned angler or a newbie, there's always a chance to hook that trophy catfish!

Goober Time Guide Service runs fishing charter trips for blue catfish, flathead catfish, smallmouth bass, crappie, striper, and a variety of other species on the James River and other bodies around central Virginia. We fish on our boat, kayaks, paddleboards, and rafts. We also offer light-lining charter trips for those looking to put their skills to the ultimate test and potentially break a world record!

Reach out to discuss your goals, and we can design a fishing trip to meet the needs of your group!

Captain Dan Szajta

USCG Master Charter Captain

www.goobertimeguideservice.com/book-online

804-592-0456