Catfishing Potomac report

[earlyworm]

Been goin out to the potomac lately to catch some cats, action has been pretty steady. Boated this one (my biggest ever by far ) without a net with some much needed help from my friend. Scale was broken unfortunately . Didn't take a girth measurement but the length was 43", anybody with more experience with the bigguns have any guesses on the apprx weight? Hope everybody had a merry christmas and happy new year!

[JPritch]

Nice fish! I'd guess around 55 ish. In the future, if you take a girth measurement along with length there are some formulas floating around out there to guess the weight of a fish, some more accurate than others.

[Hookman571]

length X length X Girth divided by 1200 = APPROXIMATE WEIGHT.

Works MOST of the time.

[earlyworm]

Cool thanks, i've used those weight calculators before, just forgot to get a girth measurement this time. A couple nice pics and a length measurement is a good enough memory for me though, can't beat catchin fish like that in the dead of winter. Figured he was around 52 or so but was just curious to see what you all thought.

Those 100 lb scales are pretty expensive, anybody tried using a bathroom scale to weigh fish (subtract your weight while holding it)? Read about people doing that somewhere and it seemed like a good idea to me, inexpensive and accurate i'd think. Plus you wouldn't need a cradle or a big net to put the fish in.

[JPritch]

They sell cheap 110# digital scales all over the internet, talking around $15! Just go on Amazon or Ebay and search "110 digital scale" and a bunch will come up. They are marketed for weighing luggage for people travelling on airplanes, but they will get the job done for fishing in a pinch.

[earlyworm]

Can't believe I didn't run across that before, that's awesome thanks.

Also saw your post about the gizzard shad, really helpful and interesting info about before sunup. Never used a gill net before, looks/sounds like the best way to get bait but guess it would take a bit of practice how to set it and what areas would be most productive.

My understanding is that you'd need the VA $9 saltwater gill net license and you can only gill net in the feeder creeks on the VA side (3.75" stretch mesh?), but do you need a VA freshwater fishing license as well? And I know you can't gill net the MD side, but are there any restrictions on cast netting over there? Read and reread regs til my head was spinning, just really don't want a fine for gettin bait...

[Hookman571]

Yes you need the Virginia Freshwater License. Scale is now available at Bass Pro. Fresh Bait is the key but my PB was caught on Frozen Shad in 40 degree water December. Go figure.

[Salmo trutta]

I think you mean a Va saltwater license. Everything above the tidal line or above DC is freshwater. Everything below is saltwater.

Look at Potomac River Fisheries commission license, MD DNR Chesapeake Bay sport or Va tidal.

Nice fish. The hardest part about catching those big blues is probably just finding fresh bait and then getting to a channel edge with the appropriate tackle.

[CaptMikeStarrett]

I would say 52 -55 lbs..

Nice catch BTW.

Capt Mike

[earlyworm]

Thanks all, appreciate the responses. I went on the VA DGIF website and it seems like the area I mostly fish on the Potomac (middle Potomac between ww bridge and 301 bridge) allow my MD $50 consolidated bay sport license (the boat sticker). Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that would also cover fishing or netting in the tributaries on the VA side up to their demarcation lines?