Commonwealth of CATS

LOOKING TO DO BATTLE WITH THE HARDEST FIGHTING FISH IN THE EAST? VIRGINIA’S FLATHEAD AND BLUE CATFISH AWAIT.

By Ken Perrotte

Catfish own a hallowed place in American fishing lore. Aggressive and anything but fussy when it comes to foraging, they give anglers young and old ample reason to hit the water. Virginia, with its network of tidal rivers feeding toward Chesapeake Bay, offers some of the best catfishing in the country. Blue catfish, introduced from the Mississippi River system decades ago, grow to tremendous sizes. Flatheads are increasingly common in rivers such as the James, especially above the fall line, the point where the tidal waters end. LOCAL INTEL For 12 years, Billy Nicar guided part-time for catfish to supplement his income from a local sporting goods store. He’s hung up his guiding hat, but the Henrico County native still enjoys targeting flatheads in the James River. “They tend to be more readily…

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Game & Fish East (Digital) - 1 Issue, May 2024

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