Catfishing the James 2024

hokiefisherman93 reply :

Looking at doing a trip with a buddy out of kayaks, and were wondering where would be a good place to catch quality cats on the James River. Also if you could tell what they hitting on, it would be appreciated and as always pictures if you have any!

endless reply :

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Looking at doing a trip with a buddy out of kayaks, and were wondering where would be a good place to catch quality cats on the James River. Also if you could tell what they hitting on, it would be appreciated and as always pictures if you have any!

when i use to go we went to deep bottom bridge and fished the bends. my buddy pulled out two 50+ pounders from the hole. we always used fresh cut shad or herring. whatever is running at the time. i want to say its right off 64 from 295. the james is left off the exit. you will pass diary queen. its has road signs leading you there. if go right towards the bridge off the exit there is a bait shop that sells fresh bait.the waters there is tempermental too. one minute its ruff than come. i swear crossing enon bridge that that looks like were we use to fish at. another spot i went and caught some 5 pounders or so is down on maury street by the slave trails. and has a public boat landing there as well. soon get off on maury from 95 the signs will lead you to the waters. its also right across from the ferry/ party boat i guess. not sure of that places name i fished both side from land before but had better luck on ferry side. on that side there is a floating dock down past some building. thats get u on the water otherwise everything is above water and u are trying to pull them up a good height risking a line break if anything. that dayi was using eel.. eel is a very good bait too and stays on hook and tough to get off believe me.

hokiefisherman93 reply :

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when i use to go we went to deep bottom bridge and fished the bends. my buddy pulled out two 50+ pounders from the hole

Does this spot provide easy maneuvering with a kayak and is the current swift? Also is this located adjacent to the deep bottom park?

SimonSays reply :

Ever get a chance to try out near belle isle? Some decent sized ones in there

30+

28in

soccplayer07 reply :

great pics. well done.

endless reply :

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when i use to go we went to deep bottom bridge and fished the bends. my buddy pulled out two 50+ pounders from the hole

Does this spot provide easy maneuvering with a kayak and is the current swift? Also is this located adjacent to the deep bottom park?

i think so for maneuvering but i never kayak to know what it easy. the water does get rough where we caught the 50 + was where the river splits. this spot will have strong current than as you go down its calms right on out. you know i just googles the spot and got a map of it does look fimiliar by the layout of the river and i think we must of took new market road cause there is diary queen as you heads toward the launch. if go left off exit there a bait shop. heres the bait shop site. http://www.eberlysstore.com/ we got cut bait from there before. heres the address to launch 9525 Deep Bottom Rd hope this helps.

also we went to dock street yesterday night and from the dock where they park that party boat. nobody had any luck it seemed.think the crabs was fooling with us too. i was using some eel that i got from green top. we even tried to fish for cut bait and no luck either. had a decent time with the locals there of course they was all drunk. but nobody bother with nobody and we all talked and had a few laughs at some of the guys there. so it was good to get out. but next time i think im going to green bay. might be dark and deserted and the cats are lil but i know ill catch something lol.

endless reply :

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Ever get a chance to try out near belle isle? Some decent sized ones in there

30+

28in

heres is it there for night time? i just went to dock street and no luck. all those pics from shore fishing?? also at night time is there anything i need to watch out for? cause i want to try i thinks it pony someting or of that nature but was told if go at night you must be strapped. i never been but told by few people. that you got to know your way around the james.

SimonSays reply :

All these were from the kayak. I think the area you're talking about is pony pastures, but I don't know of a spot where you can fish from shore there.

endless reply :

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All these were from the kayak. I think the area you're talking about is pony pastures, but I don't know of a spot where you can fish from shore there.

thats it. from what i was told theres a canal or bike trail u can take but its not safe to walk at night. i never been so i dont know. those from the kayak talk about fun. i never fish from a kayak or canoe. i might just have to take out the jon boat and go catfishing with it.

hokiefisherman93 reply :

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Ever get a chance to try out near belle isle? Some decent sized ones in there

We had some decent hits on the bluegill rigged like you said. They just seemed to throw the hooks too easy, so i thinking they were not too big. However, I did have one that pulled me off a rock i was sitting on and almost into the water. He wedged himself within a rock though i think and by the time i got down there i only had half a bluegill

hokiefisherman93 reply :

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also we went to dock street yesterday night and from the dock where they park that party boat. nobody had any luck it seemed.think the crabs was fooling with us too. i was using some eel that i got from green top. we even tried to fish for cut bait and no luck either. had a decent time with the locals there of course they was all drunk. but nobody bother with nobody and we all talked and had a few laughs at some of the guys there. so it was good to get out. but next time i think im going to green bay. might be dark and deserted and the cats are lil but i know ill catch something lol.

Ha those are always the best times. I must say that's the spot to meet all the crazies; I have had many run ins with them myself and some are just off the wall ha.

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think so for maneuvering but i never kayak to know what it easy. the water does get rough where we caught the 50 + was where the river splits. this spot will have strong current than as you go down its calms right on out

You fishing from the shore then? Does it calm down upstream from the launch or downstream? My buddy kinda new to kayak fishing so I dont wanna push him too much ha

endless reply :

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You fishing from the shore then? Does it calm down upstream from the launch or downstream? My buddy kinda new to kayak fishing so I dont wanna push him too much ha

when i was fishing the park i had my 16 foot tri haul. i want to say just at the split. go on down pass it some it calms out.i guess its upstream. soon as u launch you go left. going right will only make you do a circle where you come out at the split im talking about. .i fish that split so anchoring im caught in two currents. so your boat would be swaying from side to side. i want to go back but my boat been down. cant seem to get it running. and i have my jon boat but not sure if the 40lb thrust can push throw the current strong enough. i need to just invest in some oars being 11 feet and 3 feet wide should be easy to row.

yea dock street does have some crazies. i just dont like fishing there no more now that you have to fish where party boat is at. man try hauling up a big boy from that height.what is it bout 8 to 10 feet high. a year ago we would fish from that floating dock behind that restaurant/bar but now they have no trespassing sign posted everywhere. i tell you at night time looking down at richmond is beautiful. the wachovia bank light up and the rest of the buildings.

SimonSays reply :

Lemme know the next time you head out there hoki and I'll show you my setup

hokiefisherman93 reply :

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Lemme know the next time you head out there hoki and I'll show you my setup

Sounds good man, you been out there lately

hokiefisherman93 reply :

Went down today off Maury street and fished the area between 95 and the railroad bridge. Hooked up with a decent 15lb blue i think and then a 30lb flathead.

SimonSays reply :

Nice! Did ya land em? and pics =D?

hokiefisherman93 reply :

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Nice! Did ya land em? and pics =D?

I landed them both, but missed probably four more decent ones. I still getting used to the circle hooks and not setting the hook.

NewAngler reply :

Nice cat!!

That's down in richmond? What were you using as bait? Howd you have it rigged?

jam1082 reply :

How did u get to that spot? Looking on the map and dont see exactly where you are.

hokiefisherman93 reply :

New Angler, it was right off the Maury street exit by Ancarrows? landing (not sure on spelling), but I had caught some bluegill from a local pond and cut them into chunks about 2-3inches wide on a circle hook with a 2oz bell sinker.

Jam1082, I got off Maury street exit heading to the boat landing. As you are heading down the road I pulled off under the overpass and then walked up the hill (slave trail I believe) and walked down the trail until I got a dam sort of thing. During high tide its hard to find footing by the river so I just fish high above it and then run down to land them.

Hope that helps

jam1082 reply :

Hoki,

Im off next monday thru thursday let me know when you are going back out there and maybe i can meet you out there.

hokiefisherman93 reply :

you off saturday morning? me and my buddy heading out

jam1082 reply :

Unfortunately no, I work 4 days on 4 off for HPD and i work in the am.

hokiefisherman93 reply :

I usually am not free during the week, but usually saturday morning I will make atleast one trip down to the river and try for some cats. Let me know next time you are free, and I will see what I can work out.

endless reply :

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I usually am not free during the week, but usually saturday morning I will make atleast one trip down to the river and try for some cats. Let me know next time you are free, and I will see what I can work out.

nice pics. maury strret huh so you wasnt to far from dock street. so now i am mad no im furious with those pics lol. congrats. i still havent been out since the last time at dock street. coming next week ill have time seem to be layed off for a lil bit after this week is out till fort lee picks up or heading to carolina for work. i rather unemployment in a way. or if something else comes up. masonry is slowing down. well i get caught up in fishing and might try to get back into bowling too. i miss that sport. lol

hokiefisherman93 reply :

endless let me know next time you in the area, and we can go slay some cats and mingle with the crazy locals

endless reply :

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endless let me know next time you in the area, and we can go slay some cats and mingle with the crazy locals

the next time i go hoping to not get skunked! lol and crazy locals indeed. i do tell u another make sure if fishing at night on dock street to have something to snack on this man was cooking on the grill and was making me hungry. he made like three plate fulls and ate it all himself. luckily i had mcdonalds. i was close to going to colonial beach other night in the rain just to get out and fish a lil bit. did you get your depth finder yet?

hokiefisherman93 reply :

aint gotten the depth finder yet... looking at getting one after the holidays have come. may get lucky or so ha but if not then i plan on putting some money aside and getting one

endless reply :

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aint gotten the depth finder yet... looking at getting one after the holidays have come. may get lucky or so ha but if not then i plan on putting some money aside and getting one

yeathe holidays aint good right now lucky for me i started early with out side fam just got mom left than its my son and wife to tend to. im hoping to be back to work shortly. return date is the 14th of dec. we went catfishing yesterday on douge rd in king george only two for us. one baby and one bout couple of pounds. fat lil channel cat. only was there maybe hour and half might go this weekend with fresh cut bait. been using eels since thats all my biat shop sales.

hokiefisherman93 reply :

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aint gotten the depth finder yet... looking at getting one after the holidays have come. may get lucky or so ha but if not then i plan on putting some money aside and getting one
yeathe holidays aint good right now lucky for me i started early with out side fam just got mom left than its my son and wife to tend to. im hoping to be back to work shortly. return date is the 14th of dec. we went catfishing yesterday on douge rd in king george only two for us. one baby and one bout couple of pounds. fat lil channel cat. only was there maybe hour and half might go this weekend with fresh cut bait. been using eels since thats all my biat shop sales.

Only been selling eels, eh? Those suckers are expensive and i never seem to have as much luck with them as i do fresh cut bluegill or shad.

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