Blue Catfish In Maryland

Anal fin with rounded margin.

Blue catfish in maryland. Mar 12 2021 Fishing for blue catfish is in high gear as warming water temperatures are causing the catfish to become very active. We have two native species of catfish in Maryland the white and the bullhead. The blue catfish is labeled a non-native species in Maryland waters even though they have been observed in the Potomac for over two decades.

Fresh cut bait of white perch or gizzard shad on a bottom rig is the best way to catch them. Smoked Chesapeake Wild Blue Catfish Ingredients4-832Chesapeake Wild Blue catfish filletsWater132cup32. The middle to upper Patuxent and Potomac rivers are central grounds when it comes to fishing for blue catfish in southern Maryland.

In Virginia the harvest is twice. Generally a light gray color on back and sides. They are generally slate blue on the back to silverywhite on the underside and have a deeply forked tail.

Catfish are long slender fish with barbels on the chin that look like long black whiskers. Chefs have been pushing blue catfish as part of an effort to control its burgeoning population in the Chesapeake Bay. Fresh cut baits of gizzard shad and white perch are two of the most popular baits but clam snouts chicken liver and prepared catfish bait can work well also.

Blue Catfish Maryland Succotash. But now thanks to marketing efforts particularly in Maryland the commercial fishery for blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay is ramping up. Introduced catfish species are the channel flathead and blue catfish.

Blue catfish are members of the bullhead catfish family Ictaluridae. Increasing numbers of blue catfish are being found in the tidal Potomac River. Blue Catfish live in fresh water preferably in deep rivers with a fast current.