An Angler's Guide To
Fishing The World's Trophy Hot Spots
Fishing The James River, Virginia
James River, Virginia
"The tidal James River provides the best fishing for blue catfish in the state, and recently anglers from around the country have begun to travel to Virginia to fish for the abundant large blue catfish found in the tidal James and its tributaries. Hundreds of 30-60 pound fish are caught each year in the tidal James system, and the state record (over 71 pounds) was caught in the Dutch Gap area during November 1999. To find the big blue cats, seek out structure (remnants of old piers, existing piers, or downed trees) adjacent to deep water. Sunken barges and other submerged structure also hold concentrations of blue cats. Although frozen bait can be used, fresh threadfin shad or gizzard shad caught with a cast net, white perch, or eels are your best bets. During summer most large blue cats are caught at night, otherwise they can be caught anytime - day or night. While most citation-size blue cats from the James are caught between Dutch Gap and the mouth of Wards Creek, opportunities to catch catfish can be found from Hog Island to Richmond. Channel cats are caught throughout the tidal James system, while excellent fishing for flathead catfish exists in pools along the fall line of the James - where the river drops approximately 100 feet as it passes through Richmond. In the spring and early summer many flathead catfish are caught at the head-of-tide, upstream of Ancarrow Landing in Richmond. Catching flathead catfish requires live bait, but it’s well worth the effort. They’ll put up quite a fight, and they provide the best table fare of Virginia’s catfish." Extract in quotes taken from Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Yogi Bear Jellystone Park at Natural Bridge,
Roanoke.com, The James is Top Dog in Virginia for Catfish By Bill Cochran, columnist
Catfishing America
Virginia State Parks, James River Park
Fishing With Fly, Guided Float Trips on the James River