Trophy Flathead and Blue Catfish: A "Bucket List" Day on the James River
- Captain Dan Szajta
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The James River is legendary for its world-class catfishing, and this week, we had the pleasure of hosting Josh and Elizabeth all the way from West Virginia. They came looking for a "bucket list" experience on the water, and the river certainly delivered. From hard-hitting Hickory Shad to heavy-duty Trophy Flatheads and Blue Cats, it was a day for the books.
Starting Strong: Shad and the First Trophy
We kicked off the morning targeting Hickory Shad, landing 12 quick ones to get the blood pumping. With bait secured, we transitioned to catfishing. While watcing the lines, we hit a "triple up"—three fish on at once! The haul included a small blue cat, a respectable 12lb Flathead, and our first monster of the day: a 30.5lb Trophy Flathead.
The Blue Catfish Heat Up
After a quick break, we shifted focus to deeper holes. It didn't take long to find them. We quickly boated a 28.9lb (39-inch) Trophy Blue Catfish, followed by several smaller "eater" sized cats.
Knowing the big catfish were munching, we pushed further upriver. The move paid off immediately when the rod doubled over on a 55lb Trophy Blue Catfish. Seeing a fish of that magnitude come over the gunwale is exactly what "bucket list" trips are made of!
Mudflat Action and Unusual Catches
As the tide changed, we moved onto the mudflats. The Flatheads were stacked up and hungry:
15lb Flathead (36.5 in)
25lb Blue Catfish
Two identical 35.5-inch Flatheads
We also had some fun with the "local dinosaurs." We landed a 6lb Bowfin on the flats and unfortunately lost an even larger one about 20 minutes later. Bowfin are incredible fighters, and seeing them on the James is always a treat for our guests.
Finishing at the Fall Line
To wrap up the day, we made one final move up to the fall line. While the Hickory Shad weren't holding in the spot at that specific time, the catfish were still active. We capped off the trip with a solid 10lb Blue Catfish.
Book Your Richmond Fishing Adventure
It was an absolute blast sharing the river with Josh and Elizabeth. Watching them check off those trophy milestones is why we do what we do here at Goober Time Guide Service.
Ready to catch your own trophy? Whether you're targeting massive Blue Cats or elusive Flatheads, the James River is the place to be.
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
804-592-0456
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If you’re even thinking about booking a fishing trip, stop overthinking it and just go with Goober Time Fishing and Captain Dan—you will not regret it for a second!
From the moment we got on the water, it was obvious that Captain Dan knows the James River like the back of his hand. Every move he made was deliberate and confident, and it didn’t take long before we were right on top of fish. Not just any fish either—monster catfish! The kind that make your heart race and your arms sore in the best possible way.
What really stood out was how dialed in he was all day long. If the bite slowed, we moved—and boom, we were back on…