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News Release

State Record Fish Committee Reviewing First Freshwater Fish over 100 Pounds

Blue catfish from James River breaks 100-pound mark for first time in Virginia history

Richmond, VA — The State Record Fish Committee of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) is reviewing the certification of a potential new state record blue catfish that will be the first confirmed freshwater fish over 100 pounds in the Commonwealth. The fish weighed in at 102 pounds, 4 ounces, and measured 52-3/4 inches in length with a girth of 41-1/2 inches. Certification is estimated to be completed in the next couple of weeks.

The big cat was caught by Tim Wilson of Natural Bridge, Virginia. Wilson came to the metro Richmond area along with his buddy Danny Ayers for the catfishing trip of their lives. Wilson, with significant help from Ayers, caught the blue catfish with cut shad as bait on 30-pound test line below Dutch Gap, a public boat landing on the James River south of the City of Richmond on May 20, 2009. The fish was so large it took both men to land it.

The previous state record blue catfish (95 pounds, 11 ounces) was also caught in the lower James River by Archie Gold of Jetersville, Virginia, on June 15, 2006.

For a complete listing of Virginia state record freshwater fish, visit the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website at www.HuntFishVA.com.

June 5-7, 2009, have been designated as Free Fishing Days in Virginia. No fishing license of any kind will be required for rod and reel fishing in freshwater or saltwater, except in designated stocked trout waters, on these days.

Who knows? You might catch the next state record fish.