When it comes to fishing for big blue catfish, trophy size fish are utterly huge. Fifty pounds… sixty pounds… topping the magic 100-pound mark—is there an angler alive who doesn’t dream of doing battle with fish this big? Of course not! Even if you’ve caught fish so heavy they had to be hoisted as opposed to held, size matters. The tackle you choose matters, too, which is why we shot this video on gearing up for monster blue cats. Let's check it out before we delve into the details.
To join in these gladiatorial games you might think it’s necessary to travel many miles or book a big boat, but that’s balderdash thanks to the presence of monster catfish in our region. In fact, the blue catfish world record was caught locally, a 143-pound beast from Kerr Lake in Virginia. And with the population explosion of blue catfish throughout the Mid-Atlantic zone wherever you live there’s almost certainly a lake, river, or bay within day-tripping distance where megafish can be found. In many cases you can target them from shore, a kayak, or a small boat. But if you’re going to win that next battle with a behemoth you’d better be sure you’re properly armed.
Rods and Reels for Huge Blue Catfish
Your rod and your reel amount to the foundation of your battle plan. Yes, you need brute strength, but that’s not all. You also need the sensitivity to pick up on subtle bites, and the taper to deliver gobs of power when that sensitive tip is doubled over. If you opt to use circle hooks (more on that later) you also want a limber enough tip to slow the application of pressure as a fish initially takes off with the bait. And you need enough length to accurately cast long distances, so catfish rods as a rule are at least 7’0” and are often longer.
For chasing big blues in particular getting a dedicated rod designed specifically for the task is a good move. Okuma, a FishTalk supporter (thanks, guys!!) provides such armaments in the form of its Cat Slayer and Cat Slayer Custom catfish rods, which give us a case-study of what to look for. These feature brutally tough e-glass construction paired with the “UFR” Ultimate Flex Reinforced tip; the top third of the rod has unidirectional fiber to increase lifting power so you don’t hear the dreaded CRACK of a tip snapping when a rod bends into a horseshoe-shape as you’re trying to lead a mammoth into the net or up to the boat.
The best trophy-hunting often takes place in the dark, so these rods also have UV activated paint to maximize visibility when night fishing. You’ll find EVA grips on Cat Slayers and grippy, uber-tough heat-shrink grips on the Custom series. The Custom series also boasts single-piece construction, beefed up stainless-steel guides with an added bridge for durability, and an aluminum reel seat with double lock nut. Rugged enough to vanquish a 100-plus-pounder? Youbetcha.
As far as reels go some people prefer spinners and others prefer conventional, but the majority of the serious sharpies out there go with conventionals. Either way, critical factors include a smooth drag that can put out plenty of pressure and freespool functions with an audible clicker so you know if you have a take when your back is turned. If you go the spinning route, be sure to get a model that has a baitfeeder with a secondary drag system like Okuma’s Coronado CDX, the largest of which can handle up to 80-pound braid and put out a shocking 37.5 pounds of drag pressure, or the Ceymar Baitfeeder reels.
Fishing Line for Catfish
When it comes to line choice for general catfishing mono is great but serious trophy hunters looking for monster catfish often go for braid, since you can pack far more punch while maintaining maximum line capacity. Sensitivity is far better with braid, however, that sensitivity is so good because there’s no stretch, which also means a big beast can snap that line if it makes a strong run when it’s close to the boat and there’s already a hefty bend in the rod. On top of that, a big, beefy catfish is likely to be found living in rugged terrain, with rocks, pilings, deadfall, or all of the above nearby. If the fish drags braid line across snags like these you can kiss it goodbye.
For these reasons it’s critical to use a relatively long shock leader. Most anglers will opt for 10’ to 15’ of 50- to 80-pound test mono. While fluorocarbon isn’t necessary for visibility reasons, if you’re hunting true trophies you may want to consider eating the additional cost simply because it’s slightly more abrasion-resistant than regular mono.
Speaking of visibility: this is another factor to consider, but not from the fish’s point of view—from yours. Most catfish anglers will be fan-casting multiple lines at the same time, and crossed lines are very common. So, you want to have high-vis lines you can quickly ID to un-cross them mid-fight. Even better is to have multiple line colors to make it easy to see which line is attached to which rod, which can be tough during daylight and close to impossible in the dark.
Rigging for Giant Catfish
Different people have different favorites when it comes to rigging, but there are a few commonalities most trophy hunters will agree on. The use of circle hooks (which will be required by the regulations when fishing many Chesapeake waterways, like when targeting blue catfish on the Potomac River) generally gets a thumbs-up, though for the big cats you want very big hooks. The 8/0 to 12/0 range would be common with trophy hunters using hooks at the upper end of those sizes.
Standard fishfinder-style rigs or the use of an egg sinker above a swivel, either of which allows the fish to swim off with minimal resistance after eating the bait, is a good move. However, many sharpies add a float a foot or two up from the bait so it hovers just above bottom as opposed to sitting on it. Blue catfish are active predators and are found up off the bottom more often than most other catfish species, and there will be some days when the float rig out-catches regular rigs by a mile. Other days not so much, though, so it’s wise to mix the spread and see what works best at any given time.
Just how much weight you’ll need depends on depth and current. In high-current areas it’s usually good to go on the heavy side, or rigs cast out cross-current can get pushed along bottom. This often leads to snags, and many anglers who regularly fish in heavy currents opt for flat “no roll” sinkers or surf-style pyramid weights to minimize the movement.
Catfish Bait Debate
When it comes to catfish baits, the range of favorites is rather wild. Some people like cut fish of one species or another; some stick with live bluegill; some hit the seafood store and get a bag of shrimp; some grab a pint of chicken livers right off the grocery store shelf; and some swear by zany recipes with chicken breast marinated in Jell-O, Kool Aid, or both.
In truth blue catfish are eating machines, and all of the above can prove productive. That said, the best bait for blue cats will be the primary prey in whatever waterway you’re fishing in. In the Bay and most tributaries bunker is always a solid bet. When herring are running that’s what the fish will likely be focused on. In lakes with populations of shad, using shad will be tough to beat.
But—and this is a big but—fresh cut bait almost always out-fishes the frozen stuff. Even when the bite is red-hot using fresh bait gives you a leg up because it’s firmer and stays on the hook better. In fact, in many cases if there’s a mix of prey species in a given area you’ll often be better served by using a slightly less desirable fresh bait than a more desirable frozen one.
What about using livies? This is something of an open question. Most of the serious catfish aficionados who use it say it’s tops, though many would argue it’s more critical when fishing for flatheads than it is when targeting blues. Many excellent anglers who prefer using cut bait insist that it doesn’t make much of a difference, if any. The bottom line? There’s certainly nothing wrong with sending down live baits but since it takes a lot more effort to fill the livewell than it does to hit the tackle shop, fewer anglers use it.
Additional Gear for Trophy Catfish Fishing
When you’re dealing with catfish of these proportions, carrying some extra armaments is in order. Having a very large, very tough net is a must. Even with a strong one, however, remember to lift vertically to keep from bending the shaft and never, ever lever it against the side of a boat. Also bring a couple sets of thick leather gloves to protect your hands from their sharp spines during handling. Stout lip-grippers are good to have to help get a handle on the fish for lifting. And a pair of hefty pliers is a must-have for getting the hook out of their tough, rubbery mouths.
Okay: Are you ready to do battle with a behemoth? Conquer a colossus? Trade blows with a titan? Gather up that catfish gear, because those whiskered heavyweights are waiting.
Depending on how and where you'll be fishing you may also want to check out:
- Shoreline Fishing for Trophy Blue Catfish on the Potomac
- Catfish Fishing for Beginners
- Tidal Blue Catfish Behemoths
- Kayak Fishing for Blue Catfish with Lures