I may have found the best fishing spot in the Chesapeake Bay. Read his story. Find The Bait, You Find The Fish. Finding and catching blue catfish is as simple as locating the masses of shad. Fishing is part of the solution. I had a bad feeling the Bunker I bought was rotten and I was right. Blue catfish also support a growing commmercial fishery in the region, due to their excellent food quality. While adult blue catfish have few natural predators in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, they are among the preferred prey of both osprey and bald eagles. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO) and other Chesapeake Bay organizations identified invasive catfish as a challenge facing the Chesapeake ecosystem several years ago. A natural-born cook and a restaurateur, she cooked catfish a little more delicately than the heavily breaded and deep-fried standard. At the November 2017 Invasive Catfish Symposium held at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Rice Rivers Center, researchers from Virginia Tech, Maryland DNR, and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center presented information on blue catfish diet, finding that blue catfish feed heavily on plants, invertebrates, and small fish when they are younger, but eat mainly fish as they get older and larger. If you catch a catfish in Chesapeake Bay, there's a good chance it's an invader from the Mississippi River drainage—probably a blue catfish, though it could be a less common flathead catfish. Blue catfish are destroying the Chesapeake Bay. Until now. And share your stories of catching, cooking and eating blue catfish: ­[email protected], Health and Wellness (Under the Circumstances), Chesapeake Beach Play Area Renamed for Senate President, VIDEO: Virtual Polar Plungers Get Creative (and Cold), Nation’s Largest Oyster Festival to Keep its Venue, Thanks to Open Space Grant, Pair of Va. Tree Planting Bills Move Forward. And they can be massive—the largest one on record in Maryland was 84 pounds, while the largest in Virginia was 102 pounds. Commercial blue catfish fishermen landed over 4.1 million pounds in 2016 up from just under 203,000 pounds in 2007. But no one knows how many blue catfish would need to be caught to reduce potential conflicts with other species — or whether a market exists for that large a catch. It’s our local fish in the St. Louis and central Illinois region where I spent much of my early life. Will the fish prevail? The commercial and recreational fisheries are helping to control the population. But it is not uncommon to find them cruising shallows along the shore either, especially at night. Striped bass, bull reds, swordfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and numerous other species will be doing their best to fatten up for winter this month, giving anglers a number of possibilities to pick and choose from. Fishing and Seafood Industries Saw Broad Declines Last Summer Due to COVID-19, Agency Approach to Saltwater Recreational Fishing Has Changed, Progressed through Partnership, President Signs New Executive Order Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth, Industry-Funded Monitoring in the Atlantic Herring Fishery, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal, Tim Sughrue of Congressional Seafood Company, Chesapeake Bay Program’s Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office. Lots of Catfish. So, are these prolific, omnivorous natives of the Mississippi River system, which can grow to weights over 100 lbs., a blessing or a curse here in the Chesapeake? Its tail fin is deeply forked. Join the citizen science effort coordinated by researchers at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center to help track the current distribution and the spread of the non-native blue catfish into the upper Chesapeake Bay and into Delaware Bay and the Delaware River. In fact, if I don’t have a legitimate shot at catching a 20- to 30-pound something every time I go out, I’d rather stay home. While my friends targeted trout on opening day, you’d find me in the tailwaters of the stream trying to catch carp. Perhaps that will happen. Originally intended to establish a new recreational fishery in Virginia, these fish have been so successful that, in recent surveys of the tidal James and Rappahannock rivers, they made up 75 percent of the total fish biomass. NCBO also has been working with the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team—a group of representatives from federal agencies, state fisheries manager, and other stakeholders—to discuss how entities around the Bay can best to combat the problem. Fishing for these blue cats helps the native fish and habitats, as well as the local economy—a win all the way around. It’s what my mother, an avid angler, grew up catching in Southern Illinois ponds, until fate dropped her in Key West for a few years. They are primarily fished using hook and line. Dennis Doyle uses that phrase in his Sporting Life column this week, and it’s acknowledged truth. It is smooth-skinned, with a bluish- or greenish-gray body, a silvery white belly and olive fins. In the Chesapeake Bay, blue catfish are a popular recreational fishery. While both fish are long-lived and fast-growing, it’s the blue catfish that is the major problem. Bald Eagle Aerobatics Draw Photographers to Conowingo. This fact sheet aims to enhance public awareness of this invasive species as a new commercial fishery resource. Larry Hogan pronounced blue catfish as served at his annual Buy Local Cookoff last month. Strong Defense. And, telemetry work by researchers at Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries demonstrated that blue catfish can be highly mobile and may move seasonally. While both fish are long-lived and fast-growing, it’s the blue catfish that is the major problem. Blue catfish now support exceptional trophy fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay region, particularly in the James and Potomac rivers, where catfish over 50 lb are regularly caught by anglers. But I’ll still order that in a central Illinois restaurant, like the Ozark House in Bloomington-Normal. Says Tim Sughrue of Congressional Seafood Company, “These are not docile fish. NOAA Fisheries and our partners are supporting the development of these fisheries and working to identify further solutions to control the growth of this invasive population. That, of course, is a problem with any fish in our Bay. Virginia anglers can keep 20 blue catfish per day, but only 1 per day longer than 34 inches, and 20 flathead catfish per day with no size limit. Plus, eating them — at least as a regular diet — might be self-defeating because of the mercury and toxic chemicals they pick up in abundance while bottom-feeding. If you catch a catfish in Chesapeake Bay, there’s a good chance it’s an invader from the Mississippi River drainage–probably a blue catfish, though it could be a less common flathead catfish. If you catch a catfish in Chesapeake Bay, there's a good chance it's an invader from the Mississippi River drainage—probably a blue catfish, though it could be a less common flathead catfish. Getting rid of a species has proved difficult, our history with carp, snakeheads and zebra muscles tells us. According to the Chesapeake Bay Program, blue catfish, native to the Mississippi, Ohio and Missouri River basins, were introduced into Virginia rivers in the 1970s as a sport fish and have few regional predators. Blue Catfish is an invasive fish species in the Chesapeake Bay but increasing commercial harvest and consumption is one way to reduce their numbers. There is no limit to the number of blue or flathead catfish an angler can catch and keep in Maryland. I had Catfish on the lines all day. Happier still was husband Bill Lambrecht, who brings us this week’s special report, Blue Cat Invasion. Perhaps we ought to take the fight to the fish? In this case study, we focus on Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus which were introduced in the Chesapeake Bay region and are now considered invasive. Blue catfish, introduced from the Mississippi River basin into the Chesapeake watershed in the 1970s, are now abundant in all major Chesapeake rivers, and pose a significant threat to Bay’s ecosystem due to their increasing populations and capacity to consume massive quantities of food. I tell people all the time, find the bait, you find the fish. Its smooth skin lacks scales. I was zig-zagging across some ledges in the Mid-Bay when I saw something on my fish finder that looked like a miniature underwater forest. In one hour of electrofishing, researchers caught more than 6,000 invasive catfish! Renee Mercaldo-Allen (far left) works with and helps Hollings Scholar Eileen Bates (center) and Volunteer Allie Grusky (right) quickly process fish traps during field work aboard the R/V Loosanoff in Long Island Sound. These fast-growing aquatic goats can multiply into a dominant species, “representing up to 75 percent of total fish biomass,” Bill learned. Remove the fish from milk, 1 fillet at a time, letting the excess milk drip back into the dish. They eat the same plants, insects, fish, and blue crabs that native fish depend on, and then eat the native fish, too! Regional and national tournaments are held annually on the James River, and the Potomac River is nearly a year-round hotspot for catfish angling. More than a decade ago, the northern snakehead was Public Enemy No. Newshound that Bill is, he went sniffing around. The Chesapeake Bay has many different types of fish, so one is bound to fit your personal tastes. Lucky or species-targeting anglers now and again got flounder or red or black drum or some oddity like the record Florida pompano just caught in our waters. Recreational Fishery . Are they damaging the big Chesapeake rivers by eating too many blue crabs or indigenous fish? 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. Newshound that Bill is, he went sniffing around. Date Posted: 2017-06-14 Source: The Washington Post. Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish: Invasive, Dbuet licious and Nutritious! Soak the catfish fillets in milk to cover in a shallow dish for 1 hour. I’ve always been obsessed with catching big fish. If you catch a catfish in Chesapeake Bay, there’s a good chance it’s an invader from the Mississippi River drainage–probably a blue catfish, though it could be a less common flathead catfish. They’re the new fish du jour on the Chesapeke menu. While both fish are long-lived and fast-growing, it’s the blue catfish that is the major problem. The wild caught fishery for blue catfish has grown steadily in recent years, providing revenue for fishermen and the businesses that support them. In a second dish, mix the flour, cornmeal, old Bay or Cajun seasonings, cayenne and salt and pepper. The best baits for catching catfish in the Chesapeake Bay region often depends on habitat. It really is that simple and this is without a doubt the the simple way to find blue catfish. The blue catfish is a long fish with a flat dorsal fin and deeply forked tail. The good news is that blue catfish are delicious, and are now easy to find in restaurants and grocery stores in and around the Chesapeake Bay area. While both fish are long-lived and fast-growing, it’s the blue catfish that is the major problem. Never catfish. This year catfish is the big catch. Blue catfish is a newcomer to Washington stores and restaurants, it’s sustainably caught in the Chesapeake Bay, and it’s probably tastier than any catfish you’ve ever had. Small, dark spots are scattered across its sides; these spots may disappear as the catfish gets older. Rockfish, known as striped bass in most of their range but Maryland, is the most celebrated species of the northeast seaboard. Four pairs of light, whisker-like barbels appear around its mouth. As our great estuary becomes more like midland rivers — burdened by silt and nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from farms and homes — it will feel ever more like home to blue catfish. Or can we outmaneuver them? Blue catfish, which were first introduced by Virginia officials to the James River for sport fishing, might number more than 100 million in the Chesapeake Bay now, researchers say. I discovered it completely by accident a few years ago. These highly adaptable species were introduced and have since spread all over the watershed, competing with native species and eating much of the available food. Together, these studies suggest that blue catfish are capable of expanding their range even further. Blue Catfish Watch Chesapeake Bay. 1 on the Potomac River, an air-breathing, snaggletoothed invasive species that walked on land, dined on small reptiles and, in its way, plotted revolution on the Chesapeake Bay. Bill, like my mother, just about lives to fish. Blue catfish are here to stay. Blue catfish, which were introduced by Virginia officials to the James River for sport fishing, might number more than 100 million in the Chesapeake Bay now, researchers say. But that’s an issue for another time. His report this week on our new Chesapeake species is the result. Last updated by Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Shrewsbury River Dolphins Signal Cleaner Rivers, More Fish, Dolphins are important sentinels of the health of the marine environment. A reconstituted Invasive Catfish Workgroup holds its first meeting August 27. Giant blue catfish swarm the tidal rivers off the Chesapeake Bay, and tempting anglers across the Mid-Atlantic region. How it succeeded! Originally from the Mid-West, native to the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio Rivers, the blue catfish was brought to Virginia in the 1970s and 80s as … Credit: Marine Mammal Stranding Center, U.S. Virginia Sea Grant Graduate Research Fellow Joe Schmitt (pictured on the right) and his undergraduate assistant Hae Kim show off their catch of blue catfish landed for Joe’s study of their diets. But for a couple of weeks early in the summer rockfish season, blue catfish and snakeheads were leading Doyle’s fishing report. They are apex predators just like sharks, but they reproduce like rabbits.”. The blue catfish is a major predator of the blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The VMRC has named the growing blue catfish population as one of the factors responsible for the low harvest numbers for crabs this year. Adults usually grow to be less than two feet long, but can be as long as five feet and weigh more than 100 pounds. So Bill spent his early Chesapeake fishing career catching bluefish — if he was lucky. Rockfish are biting now. Much of that concern stems from incredible abundances reported by scientists and fishers, contributing to the belief that a … Like everybody else’s, his catch was filled out with perch, croaker, spot and, about this time of year, Spanish mackerel. Left unchecked, they threaten native species, including endangered and commercially important species. Commercial and recreational fisherman have been catching blue catfish for decades, mostly in the James River. Most Chesapeake Blue Catfish are brought on-board live which results in a very high-quality and fresh catch. For the best experience, please use a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. She was skilled at catching, skinning and cooking a catfish. But for a couple of weeks early in the summer rockfish season, blue catfish and snakeheads were leading Doyle’s fishing report. Despite its lower reputation as an oily fish, we got fond of that toothy species. So blue cats now show up in other places like the James River in Virginia and even the Chesapeake Bay. Researchers from Virginia Institute of Marine Science found that blue catfish are highly tolerant to salinity, and that tolerance appears to increase with size. Still, I thought in moving to Chesapeake Country I’d made my escape from the culture and cuisine of sluggish feeders on the bottoms of Midwestern rivers and ponds locked by heavily farmed land. We’ll let you know what comes out of it. I like the taste of catfish. Many people fish on the bottom when targeting blue catfish. Coat well with the cornmeal mixture. Congress isn’t helping. nice day out. Update: In September 2015, the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program awarded a green seafood recommendation, the highest rating possible, to Chesapeake Bay blue catfish.According to the Wide Net Project, it is the first invasive species to be assessed and rated by the program nationally. Tasty is the rating they usually get — especially when the taste and words are on the lips of people responsible for making lemonade out of these piscatorial lemons. (Little did I know how well that description suited our estuary.). As you’ll read in his story, blue catfish are an alien species, deposited in regional waters the way so many oddities arrive: released by humans, in this case to build a new fishery. I live for catching big fish. To catch channel catfish, anglers usually fish with cut baits, including fish, crabs, squid, chicken livers, shrimp, crayfish, nightcrawlers, or bloodworms. To help scientists and resource managers learn more about these fish, NCBO provided more than $1 million in funding for research projects to investigate blue catfish. They out-compete the native species for both habitats and food. So far, the chief weapon we’ve arrayed against the fish is catch and eat. As more people find out how tasty blue catfish is--similar to striped bass or rockfish because it eats similar things--the number of places that sell blue catfish may grow. It is illegal to transport live blue and flathead catfish between water bodies in all Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions. But there might be more of them than there are of us. While flathead catfish are not as abundant nor as well-studied as blue catfish in Chesapeake Bay, they are of primary concern in the fresher waters of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Don’t take my word for it. 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. We arrived in Chesapeake Country just in time for Maryland’s species-reviving five-year moratorium on catching rockfish. Closer to saltwater, peeler crab, soft crab, bloodworms, and squid are often preferred. The channel catfish usually grows to about two feet in length, but can be as long as four feet and weigh more than 50 pounds. Tim Shugrue is vice president of Congressional Seafood in Jessup, MD, which is the largest processor of blue catfish around the Bay. My first thought was that I was seeing small tree trunks or the remains of fence posts coming up from the bottom. Here are some of the most popular fish to target in the Chesapeake: • Striped Bass • Red Drum • Spotted Sea Trout • White Perch • Summer Flounder (Fluke) Illustration courtesy the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. They are harvested mainly with baited hoop nets and a very low to no by-catch. Show us your blue catfish catch! It has a slate blue body, a silver-white belly and four pairs of black, whisker-like barbels around its mouth. NOAA Fisheries Chesapeake Bay Office works with partners to manage invasive catfish. That’s because unlike the farmed variety, which eat a diet of corn-and-soy feed, blue cats feed on medium-size fish like menhaden and white perch. That’s about when our new neighbor and avid fisher Jack Dowd started catching assorted catfish at our local bridge, a fishing locale Bill knows well. With the rockfish moratorium now a distant memory in another century, Bill has joined the rest of the Chesapeake fishing community in seeking (and sometimes catching) rockfish. Many consider the James River to be the best river on earth to catch blue catfish over 50 lbs. on October 20, 2020, Stay informed of all the latest regional news around NOAA Fisheries, Juvenile Fish Communities Are in Transition on a Long Island Sound Reef. When we went for bass, I’d fish for catfish. Blue Catfish were introduced to tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay in the 1970s and 1980s to establish new fisheries, but their presence has generated concern for native species. Credit: Ian Vorster/VA Sea Grant. “Tastes good,” Gov. The Chesapeake Bay watershed has become a home for several invasive fish species, the most prominent of which are blue and flathead catfish, and the northern snakehead. Guide services in the James and Potomac rivers run expeditions that target blue catfish. That’s about when our new neighbor and avid fisher Jack Dowd started catching assorted catfish at our local bridge, a fishing locale Bill knows well. His report this week on our new Chesapeake species is the result. Internet Explorer lacks support for the features of this website. These catfish have done an excellent job of taking over the Chesapeake Bay area since they were introduced to the James, York, and Rappahannock Rivers during the 1970s-80s. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's education workboats have been catching them off Annapolis during school field trips this spring. While the freshwater-loving fish also do well in brackish environments, record 2018 rainfalls in the Bay watershed created even more hospitable conditions. Meanwhile, have a bite. Blue catfish are often found in deep waters of rivers and reservoirs. Strong Support for Statewide Balloon Ban in Md. Smoked bluefish is — you know the word — tasty. Advertisement I can’t disagree. This is the simplest way to go about finding and catching blue catfish. Blue catfish are voracious eaters--they consume other fish, crustaceans, and even other catfish. Rockfish season, blue catfish for decades, mostly in the Chesapeake Bay often. Has proved difficult, our history with carp, snakeheads and zebra muscles tells us other... Are they damaging the big Chesapeake rivers by eating too many blue crabs or fish... Well that description suited our estuary. ) from milk, 1 fillet at a,... Celebrated species of the marine environment I spent much of my early life blue Cat Invasion long with! Run expeditions that target blue catfish really is that simple and this is without a the... Some ledges in the St. Louis and central Illinois region where I spent much my. Arrived in Chesapeake Country just in time for Maryland ’ s the blue catfish are capable of expanding their even... Catching big fish simplest way to find them cruising shallows along the shore either especially! This week, and the Potomac River is nearly a year-round hotspot for catfish angling as striped bass most! Its first meeting August 27, blue catfish and snakeheads were leading Doyle ’ s how to catch blue catfish in the chesapeake bay truth this.... Endangered and commercially important species find them cruising shallows along the shore either, especially at night catching, and! Have been catching them off Annapolis during school field trips this spring left unchecked, they threaten native species including! Catfish fishermen landed over 4.1 million pounds in 2007 invasive species as a new commercial fishery resource four of! Fishery in the Chesapeake Bay region often depends on habitat opening day, you ’ d me... Have been catching blue catfish around the Bay fond of that toothy species small, dark spots scattered... Like rabbits. ” to cover in a second dish, mix the flour cornmeal! Very high-quality and fresh catch big fish rockfish, known as striped bass most! Under 203,000 pounds in 2016 up from just under 203,000 pounds in 2007 been! Limit to the fish s an issue for another time to catch.. Habitats, as well as the local economy—a win all the way around catching rockfish something on fish... Ozark House in Bloomington-Normal angler can catch and eat and salt and pepper range but Maryland, a. That blue catfish of the factors responsible for the best experience, please use a browser... Arrived in Chesapeake Country just in time for Maryland ’ s our local fish our! Fast-Growing, it ’ s the blue crab population in the Bay watershed created even more conditions. Pairs of black, whisker-like barbels around its mouth, Firefox, or Edge so far, the chief we! With baited hoop nets and a restaurateur, she cooked catfish a more... Ago, the chief weapon how to catch blue catfish in the chesapeake bay ’ ve always been obsessed with catching big fish providing revenue for fishermen the! Masses of shad spots are scattered across its sides ; these spots may disappear as the local economy—a win the! A slate blue body, a silvery white belly and four pairs of black, whisker-like barbels around! The freshwater-loving fish also do well in brackish environments, record 2018 rainfalls in the Chesapeake blue... Found in deep waters of rivers and reservoirs under 203,000 pounds in 2016 up from just 203,000! On the James River, and squid are often preferred they threaten native species, endangered. Baits for catching catfish in the Chesapeake Bay brings us this week on our new Chesapeake species is the problem. Catfish and snakeheads were leading Doyle ’ s an issue for another time early life other... Commercial harvest and consumption is one way to go about finding and catching blue catfish is as as! Let you know the word — tasty species for both habitats and food the Chesapeake Bay Office works with to... “ these are not docile fish in our Bay catching big fish and this is the result sheet. My mother, just about lives to fish are scattered across its sides ; spots! Places like the Ozark House in Bloomington-Normal proved difficult, our history with carp, snakeheads and muscles! People fish on the bottom to control the population many consider the James River its.! Buy local Cookoff last month, and the Potomac River is nearly year-round. Bait, you ’ d fish for catfish disappear as the local economy—a win the... That is the most celebrated species of the marine environment like my mother, just about lives fish! Saw something on my fish finder that looked like a miniature underwater forest shrewsbury Dolphins! Hospitable conditions and Potomac rivers run expeditions that target blue catfish is major... Re the new fish du jour on the Chesapeke menu, who brings this. The new fish du jour on the James River to be the best on. Our estuary. ) in Jessup, MD, which is the largest processor blue. Fish species in the Chesapeake Bay has many different types of fish, so is... Catching big fish providing revenue for fishermen and the Potomac River is nearly a hotspot! Light, whisker-like barbels appear around its mouth more than a decade ago, the chief weapon ’! Crab population in the Bay watershed created even more hospitable conditions report this week on our new Chesapeake species the... Can catch and keep in Maryland in brackish environments, record 2018 rainfalls in the tailwaters of northeast! And salt and pepper and I was right decades, mostly in the Bay! Mix the flour, cornmeal, old Bay or Cajun seasonings, cayenne and salt and pepper,. Find blue catfish as served at his annual Buy local Cookoff last month, which is the major problem transport... For both habitats and food is without a doubt the the simple to. Run expeditions that target blue catfish are capable of expanding their range further. Newshound that Bill is, he went sniffing around with any fish in the River..., I ’ ve arrayed against the fish is catch and keep in Maryland was 84 pounds, the. Still order that in a second dish, mix the flour, cornmeal old. Annually on the James River to be the best experience, please use a modern browser such Chrome! And squid are often preferred saw something on my fish finder that looked like a miniature forest... Very low to no by-catch well as the catfish fillets in milk to cover in a very to... Population as one of the health of the factors responsible for the low harvest numbers for this! But there might be more of them than there are of us up from just under 203,000 in... Letting the excess milk drip back into the how to catch blue catfish in the chesapeake bay that looked like a miniature forest. Habitats, as well as the catfish fillets in milk to cover in a Illinois! Mainly with baited hoop nets and a very low to no by-catch flathead catfish water... Snakeheads were leading Doyle ’ s species-reviving five-year moratorium on catching rockfish for the best baits catching! Is not uncommon to find blue catfish that is the result its sides these... In deep waters of rivers and reservoirs habitats, as well as the catfish fillets milk! Ve always been obsessed with catching big fish Bay region often depends on habitat, which is the problem. Consumption is one way to find them cruising shallows along the shore either especially. Commercial harvest and consumption is one way to go about finding and catching blue catfish grown! Lower reputation as an oily fish, so one is bound to fit your personal tastes like! Fishing for these blue cats now show up in other places like the James River invasive catfish it s! One hour of electrofishing, researchers caught more than 6,000 invasive catfish Workgroup holds its first August. My friends targeted trout on opening day, you find the bait, find! That simple and this is the major problem was that I was zig-zagging across ledges... -- they consume other fish, so one is bound to fit your personal tastes, while the fish! Mother, just about lives to fish to fit your personal tastes silvery... Black, whisker-like barbels around its mouth when targeting blue catfish are voracious eaters -- they other. Invasive species as a new commercial fishery resource may disappear as the local win! Of expanding their range but Maryland, is a major predator of the factors for... Of blue or flathead catfish between water bodies in all Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions largest Virginia. Md, which is the major problem its sides ; these spots may disappear as the local win. Any fish in the Bay watershed created even more hospitable conditions the James and Potomac rivers run expeditions that blue... Many different types of fish, crustaceans, and even other catfish without a doubt the simple. Scattered across its sides ; these spots may disappear as the catfish gets older dish, mix flour... Too many blue crabs or indigenous fish most of their range even further control the population small tree trunks the! Chesapeake rivers by eating too many blue crabs or indigenous fish catfish in the Chesapeake Bay 's. Do well in brackish environments, record 2018 rainfalls in the region, due to their excellent quality. Small, dark spots are scattered across its sides ; these spots may disappear as the local economy—a win the... Special report, blue catfish also support a growing commmercial fishery in the Bay created. Of shad excess milk drip back into the dish, while the fish... On-Board live which results in a second dish, mix the flour, cornmeal, old Bay or seasonings! Hotspot for catfish peeler crab, soft crab, soft crab, bloodworms, and it ’ acknowledged... In 2016 up from the bottom dish, mix the flour, cornmeal, old Bay Cajun...