River Monster

[Baldheaded]

I was bass fishing with a friend on Sunday on the Potomac River and caught a true RIVER MONSTER. A giant Blue Channel Catfish that had to weigh over 50lbs. and over 4' long. I was on a flat near Fort Washington throwing a rattletrap on a medium heavy spinning setup and 30lb. braid. The fight was awesome and after I finally got him to the boat we were like now what. The damn thing was to big for the net and even if we were able to somehow get it up and on the deck then what. It wouldn't fit in the live well either. After a few minutes of splashing around and us not knowing what to do it popped out the bait and swam away. I probably would have just released it back anyway but what sucks is we were not able to get out our phones fast enough to get any pictures or a video. I only have a witness and a memory.. But hey what a great memory. That is the biggest fish of my life. A true RIVER MONSTER!!!!

 

[Rich1911]

You should have seen the one that got away...

 

[rgramjet]

Nice catch! There are some big ones in there.

I hooked a 30+ pounder years ago on a spinner bait. Casting along stumps just up from Columbia Island.

Thought i hooked a stump until it started pulling me around on my kayak.

Memorable day!

 

[MADad]

I thought we were supposed to kill all of the blue channel cats that are caught and not release them. True?

 

[DeadInside]

Yep Blue Catfish (like Northern Snakeheads) are invasives and should not be released. Also it is illegal to catch and relocate them. From the DNR website:

We Need Your Help​

• The department asks anglers to remove and kill any blue and flathead catfish they catch.
• Catch and release of these fish is discouraged, as they are invasive top predators and pose a serious long-term threat to our native species.
• In Maryland, it is illegal to transport live blue and flathead catfish into another body of water, anyone in violation of this can be fined up to $2,500.
• To report illegal transport or unauthorized introductions of invasive species please contact the Natural Resources Police at 800-628-9944.

Report Catching a Blue Catfish or a Flathead Catfish using Maryland's Invasive Species Tracker

 

[Rich1911]

Yep Blue Catfish (like Northern Snakeheads) are invasives and should not be released. Also it is illegal to catch and relocate them. From the DNR website:

We Need Your Help​

• The department asks anglers to remove and kill any blue and flathead catfish they catch.
• Catch and release of these fish is discouraged, as they are invasive top predators and pose a serious long-term threat to our native species.
• In Maryland, it is illegal to transport live blue and flathead catfish into another body of water, anyone in violation of this can be fined up to $2,500.
• To report illegal transport or unauthorized introductions of invasive species please contact the Natural Resources Police at 800-628-9944.

Report Catching a Blue Catfish or a Flathead Catfish using Maryland's Invasive Species Tracker

Too bad we don't have a similar policy for dealing with invasive illegal aliens...

 

[Derwood]

Thanks for sharing. I caught one in the 30-lb range (guessing - I didn't have a scale) shore fishing on the other side of the river, right next to Mt. Vernon a few years ago. Next time bring a gaff hook! ...and for sure next time kill it somehow. Those things are eating up all of our crabs.

 

[welder516]

I think i had Chessie hooked last year, it dragged our boat around for hours. I had to cut the line to get away, i would have taken pictures but i was on porn-hub at the time and did not want to lose my place.

 

[Dingo222]

I think i had Chessie hooked last year, it dragged our boat around for hours. I had to cut the line to get away, i would have taken pictures but i was on porn-hub at the time and did not want to lose my place.

Beer through the nose moment. Thanks for that

 

[Baldheaded]

Yep Blue Catfish (like Northern Snakeheads) are invasives and should not be released. Also it is illegal to catch and relocate them. From the DNR website:

We Need Your Help​

• The department asks anglers to remove and kill any blue and flathead catfish they catch.
• Catch and release of these fish is discouraged, as they are invasive top predators and pose a serious long-term threat to our native species.
• In Maryland, it is illegal to transport live blue and flathead catfish into another body of water, anyone in violation of this can be fined up to $2,500.
• To report illegal transport or unauthorized introductions of invasive species please contact the Natural Resources Police at 800-628-9944.

Report Catching a Blue Catfish or a Flathead Catfish using Maryland's Invasive Species Tracker

Wow. I didn't know that. Glad you posted. I will get a gaff and keep it on the boat. Thanks.

 

[mauser58]

I have been fishing at work when I get off and on Saturdays. I have been catching at least five to ten channel catfish each time. Also on artificial lures like rattle traps and spinners. Caught a few big ones on bull minnows and also white perch. These are really hungry and hitting anything in the Bush River this year. You were in the right place to catch a record Channel Cat.

 

[Doco Overboard]

Big ones out there, youngins like to spear them/ rod and reel etc

 

[Baldheaded]

I have been fishing at work when I get off and on Saturdays. I have been catching at least five to ten channel catfish each time. Also on artificial lures like rattle traps and spinners. Caught a few big ones on bull minnows and also white perch. These are really hungry and hitting anything in the Bush River this year. You were in the right place to catch a record Channel Cat.

We haven't fished the upper bay in many years. I would love to get up there and do some fishing but the tolls getting up there are brutal. Any suggestions on travel and where to launch coming from Pasadena?

 

[Baldheaded]

New State Record for Common Carp. 49lbs. Caught on the upper bay.

 

[Baldheaded]

New State Record for Common Carp. 49lbs. Caught on the upper bay.

June 4 while bass fishing in the Susquehanna Flats area of the Chesapeake Bay. Another RIVER MONSTER!

 

[Baldheaded]

Maryland Free fishing day (no license needed) this Saturday June 11th. Get out and catch yourself a RIVER MONSTER!

 

[mauser58]

We haven't fished the upper bay in many years. I would love to get up there and do some fishing but the tolls getting up there are brutal. Any suggestions on travel and where to launch coming from Pasadena?

Have you ever launched at Fort Armistead Park? Last exit before crossing Key Bridge. Right into the Patapsco River. Its good fishing out straight at Fort Caroll or Key bridge pilings now. Nice Rockfish and also big cats and plenty of nice size White Perch. I go in deep water on the opposite side near the old steel mills and also at the power plant not far from Fort Armistead launch in winter. Plenty of big cats and everything else

 

[bigmanindc]

Did you really catch it?

 

[Wsanner]

We find some big ones around Ft Washington area. This one's from a few years back and is still md bowfishing record. But we've got a few 50lb+ since and lost one well over 60lb

 

[huesmann]

I thought we were supposed to kill all of the blue channel cats that are caught and not release them. True?

Technically this one was never actually caught—well, landed, anyway.