Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) are an introduced species to the waters of the James River, and this commercial gamefish has “grown in numbers and size ever since state workers stocked them in the tidal James in the mid-1970s to give anglers a new challenge.”

BREAK

There are even fishing guides, such as “Got The Blues Guide Service,” for the James River, which provide an opportunity for anglers to catch their own monster James River blue catfish. Recently, a 102-pound blue was pulled from the waters of the James River. The current world record, approved by the International Game Fish Association, is a 124-pound monster blue catfish “caught in mid May [2005] by Tim Pruitt of Alton, Ill” in the Mississippi River. From the Los Angeles Times:

A 102-pound, 4-ounce blue catfish caught last week in Virginia may qualify as a new state record.

Tim Wilson was fishing with friend Danny Ayers on the James River south of Richmond when he caught the big cat on 30-pound test using cut shad as bait. The fish was so large it took both men to land it.

The behemoth is the first freshwater fish over 100 pounds caught in Virginia.

The previous record blue catfish in Virginia was this 95 lbs. 11 oz. behemoth taken from the James River:

On the Net:

1. Virginia State Record Fish
2. REEL BIG FISH: Giant catfish in India turn to preying on humans

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