When the fish picks up the bait, the slip sinker will stay on the bottom, allowing the fish to swim away without picking up the weight and dropping the bait. You will hear the drag of your reel as the fish pulls the line, but be sure to let the fish take the bait for a few seconds to be certain it has eaten it fully. Tighten your drag, reel up any slack, pull the line tight, and get ready for a battle! Even small catfish put up an immense fight.
Some of the most fun I have had kayak fishing in the Chesapeake has involved taking a "sleigh ride" as a big catfish towed my boat around. A net or a pair of jaw clamps are recommended, because catfish thrash and spin, and they also have spiny dorsal and pectoral fins that can give you a nasty sting if you get jabbed, so be careful handling them.
Where to Fish for Invasive Catfish Flathead catfish are less spread out than blue catfish, preferring places with fresher water, like the Susquehanna Flats , below the Conowingo Dam. On the other hand, blue catfish have invaded a number of the Bay's tributaries, particularly the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers.
The Potomac and its tributaries offer a long list of places to hook into some big blue cats. Mallows Bay Park offers excellent outdoor recreation opportunities. Tremendous wildlife viewing areas, small boating access to the Potomac River, kayak launch, fishing and hiking trail. The park offers more than 1, acres of rolling farm meadows and three miles of river frontage. The park offers opportunities to see wildlife and explore habitat native to the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Established in to conserve fish and wildlife habitat along this vital tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, the refuge focuses primarily on protecting and managing tidal and inland wetlands, and adjacent uplands, to benefit wildlife.
Smallwood State Park, along a tributary of the Potomac River, offers a unique mix of historical significance and modern-day boating conveniences. Susquehanna State Park offers a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities as well as points of historical significance.
The park is home to some of the most popular mountain biking trails in Maryland and the river itself beacons fishermen and boaters alike. While primarily a tidal marsh, the refuge also includes a mature pine forest.
Jug Bay Natural Area offers many activities including walking through wetlands, guided boat tours, hiking and horseback riding over eight miles of trails, boating, fishing, camping, hunting, and visiting a museum.
Peter is an avid and passionate kayak and light tackle angler. Toggle navigation. How-To Fishing for Invasives in the Chesapeake. Here are some things Maryland Department of Natural Resources DNR would like anglers to remember about fishing for invasive species: 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.
Report illegal transport or unauthorized introductions of invasive species by contacting the Natural Resources Police at Northern Snakehead Introduced into the Chesapeake in the early s, northern snakehead Channa argus like shallow, warm water with vegetation and submerged trees for cover.
Northern Snakehead, photo courtesy of Maryland DNR How to Fish for Snakehead Snakehead will often cohabitate in the same areas as largemouth bass another introduced species, but with better public relations and can be caught using similar tactics. Catfish This family of fish includes species that are native, non-native, and invasive to the Chesapeake.
Above: Blue catfish, below: flat-head catfish. Fish finder rig , courtesy Fishing Tricks Be sure to bring multiple kinds of bait, because these fish might like everything, but every now and then they get picky and want something specific. That said, you may need to upgrade your tackle. A medium or medium-heavy rod with 15 to 20 pound test line will handle most fish. Step up to 30 pound test if you fish in dense vegetation and waters that have a lot of snags.
Many anglers who target larger fish use 50 pound test for good measure. Head to your local tackle shop and tell them you are after snakeheads and they will be happy to get you set up. If you do catch a snakehead, DNR prefers that you harvest it. Snakeheads are well known for their white, flaky meat and mild taste, which is frequently compared to that of striped bass.
It is legal to release a snakehead that you catch provided that you release it at the site of the catch. Transport of a live snakehead is illegal and can result in steep fines. If you see or catch a snakehead in one of our rivers, be sure to report it to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and your Riverkeeper. Our Arundel Rivers on the Half Shell Auction starts Sunday, March 14 with fantastic items including, nautical decor, fun river adventures, fine wine and more.
This technique is cost efficient and very low-impact. Last year was a wild year, not only for our country, but for the health of our local rivers.
Recent News. Fish and Wildlife Service at Chesapeake Bay blue catfish and flathead catfish are invasive species that have spread rapidly throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. These catfish have few natural predators, eat a wide variety of native fish and shellfish, and may cause ecological harm. It is illegal to release live invasive catfish into a waterbody different than where it was caught. Anglers are encouraged to catch and keep blue and flathead catfish year round.
There is no minimum size or creel limit for these catfish. Zebra mussels are an aggressive invasive species and reproduce at a very prolific rate, out-competing native species for needed resources. These mussels quickly overtake and cover all available areas to such an extent that they can clog water intake structures, boats, moorings, ropes, fishing lines, traps, and even dams and power plants.
Zebra mussels are established from the Susquehanna River and Flats to the upper Bay. More information on zebra mussels is available at dnr.
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