Virginia State Record Blue Catfish (Archery)

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources recently announced that the Virginia state record for archery blue catfish has been broken.

Jason Emmel from Louisa arrowed a 66-pound, 5-ounce blue catfish from the Pamunkey River for the new state record.

The fish measured 3 feet, 6 inches and had a girth of 35 inches. After biologist verification and review by the State Record Committee, Emmel’s catch was certified and is recognized as the current Virginia Archery State Record Blue Catfish.

The previous record was held by William Bates, Jr. with a 62-pound, 4-ounce blue catfish captured in 2021 from Occoquan Bay in Fairfax.

In Virginia, bowfishing is one of several forms of alternative fishing methods that are increasing in popularity.

North Dakota State Record Buffalo (Bowfishing)

Buffalo Fish | credit: USFWS

In May 2022, a bow fisherman from Bismarck set a new North Dakota bow/spear state record for bigmouth buffalo.

Mitch Estabrook took a 60-pound, 8 ounce buffalo by bow from Heart Butte Reservoir.

Estabrook's fish broke the previous record by 3 pounds, taken at Heart Butte Reservoir in 2017.

Buffalo are a native fish sometimes confused with nonnative and invasive common carp.

North Dakota Game and Fish Department records indicate that Estabrook’s fish is the largest weighed in the state that was not a paddlefish or pallid sturgeon.

Buffalo fish are identified by their heavyset bodies, large scales, and blue-green to bronze coloration.

They have relatively large, forward-opening mouth for a member of the sucker family.

Bigmouth buffalo are the largest member of the sucker family.

Buffalo are commonly mistaken for, but not related to common carp.

The species is not commonly caught by anglers, but are a primary target for those who bow fish.

Recent studies have shown bigmouth buffalo can live to very old ages, with some fish over 100 years old recently documented in neighboring Minnesota.

source: North Dakota Game and Fish Department

New York State Record Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently announced that on May 8, 2022, Bailey Williams of Watertown set a new State record for channel catfish.

Williams landed the 35-pound, 12-ounce channel catfish from the Black River in Jefferson County using cut bait while bottom fishing.

Williams' record-breaking catch surpassed the previous State record catfish, caught from Lake Ontario in 2017, by 9 ounces.

Channel catfish are the largest catfish that live in New York. They feed primarily on the bottom and are most often caught using live bait such as worms or baitfish. They can also be caught with artificial lures, especially soft plastics worked along channel edges or other bottom structure. 

Williams submitted details of his winning catch as part of DEC's Angler Achievement Awards Program, which tracks State-record fish.

Through this program, anglers can enter freshwater fish that meet specific qualifying criteria and receive official recognition of their catch and an embroidered patch commemorating their achievement.

The three Angler Achievement Awards categories are: Catch and Release, Annual Award, and State Record.

A photo of the new state record channel catfish can be found on the New York State Freshwater Fishing Records page of DEC's website. For more information about the Angler Achievement Awards Program, visit dec.ny.gov.

The Black River originates in the western Adirondacks and follows the divide between the Tug Hill Plateau and the Adirondack foothills to Carthage. The lower section of the river follows a wide curve to Watertown and then a gorge leading to Lake Ontario.

The stretch of the river around Watertown contains a variety of fish species and habitats ranging from riffles and pools to weedy backwaters. The lower Black River is popular with kayakers and other small craft enthusiasts.

Northern Snakehead Facts

 

Northern Snakehead

The northern snakehead is an invasive species of fish that has become established in parts of the USA. Once introduced into a watershed, these aggressive predators can spread quickly.

Northern Snakehead Facts

• The northern snakehead is Native to China, Russia, and Korea.
• Snakeheads often multiply quickly and grow rapidly in new environments.
• Hotspots in the USA include the Chesapeake Bay, New York, Pennsylvania, and Arkansas.
• Northern snakeheads often reach lengths of 30 inches or more and weigh in excess of 10 pounds.
• Northern snakeheads have 2 rows of sharp teeth; they can inflict painful wounds.
• Snakeheads have a coating of thick, foul-smelling slime.
• Northern snakeheads breed during the summer and may reproduce multiple times.
• Eggs are laid in a nest made of vegetation.
• Spawning pairs aggressively defend eggs and young.
• Adult snakeheads eat mainly minnows and other small fish.
• Large individuals also prey on adult fish and other wildlife. 
• The explosion of northern snakehead populations has led to entirely new sport fisheries.
• In some areas, snakeheads are taken by bowfishing or other alternative fishing methods.

Related Information

Pennsylvania Northern Snakeheads

Maryland State Record Muskellunge

muskellunge

In March 2022, a dedicated Maryland angler set a new nontidal state record for muskellunge, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Kyle Mullenix of Hagerstown caught the 33-pound, 49-inch long record muskie on March 2 along the banks of the upper Potomac River.

Often called the "fish of ten thousand casts," muskellunge are the largest freshwater fish in Maryland and among the most difficult to catch.

Mullenix is credited with the first Maryland state fishing record of 2022. The 32-year-old lifelong angler said he has spent decades trying to catch a muskie. His record catch was made using a 7-foot spinning rod and live bait.

The catch surpassed the previous Maryland state record held also by a Washington County resident, Tessa Cosens, whose catch tipped the scales at 32.5 pounds. 

The catch was weighed on a certified scale by George Rowe of Ernst Country Market in Clear Spring and verified as a muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) by a DNR biologist. 

DNR maintains state records for sport fish in four divisions; Atlantic, Chesapeake, Nontidal and Invasive, and awards plaques to anglers who achieve record catches. Fish caught from privately-owned, fee-fishing waters are not eligible for record consideration.

Anglers reporting a potential record catch should call 443-569-1381 or 410-260-8325. The fish should be immersed in ice water to preserve its weight until it can be checked, confirmed and certified by the department.

The upper Potomac is one of the most popular areas in Maryland for muskie fishing. One of the largest rivers in the region, the Potomac River has several important recreational fisheries including smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie, blue catfish, and northern snakehead.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Lake Hartwell Fish Attractors - Habitat Enhancement

In South Carolina, a significant habitat enhancement project on Lake Hartwell attracts anglers from across the region.

Largemouth Bass

In 2014, after a feasibility study and funding procurement, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) began Lake Hartwell habitat enhancement efforts.

The Lake Hartwell enhancement efforts have two main objectives:

1) provide cover for various sizes of fish; and

2) fish concentration sites for anglers.

Through 2021, SCDNR has enhanced eight areas with about 105 concrete culverts/structures, 1,300 stumps, 560 tons of broken concrete slabs, 180 tons of riprap, five tons of pea gravel, 120 PVC artificial fish attractors, 150 bamboo fish attractors, 815 trees cut/cabled from the shoreline and 1,200 maidencane plants.

Lake Hartwell is listed as a Top 100 Bass Lake in America. The lake has hosted the Bassmaster Classic three times: 2018, 2015 and 2008. The 2018 Classic, with fishing on Hartwell and weigh-ins and Expo in Greenville, set a record attendance of 143,323. It’s been topped twice since.

source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

How To Catch Yellow Perch

Yellow Perch (winter)

The yellow perch is one of the most popular freshwater fish in North America. These colorful panfish are recognized by an alternating pattern of light and dark vertical bands.

The best fishing for yellow perch usually occurs during spring spawning runs. Again in fall, fishing often improves as perch move down creeks and into deeper habitats. During the winter, yellow perch are caught by ice fishing.

Spring Spawning Runs

Anglers cite a number of fishing tips and techniques that are useful when fishing for yellow perch during springtime spawning runs:

- check local and regional fishing reports frequently

- monitor weather forecasts and water flow information before planning fishing trips

- try a variety of baits, including nightcrawlers, minnows, and other baits

- try using small circle hooks with live baits

- combine jigs with live minnows when fish are deep

- keep a selection of small jigs from 1/32 to 1/4 oz

- try bright lure colors in murky water and more natural shades in clear conditions

- keep only fish that are needed for the table and release undersized fish

Summer Fishing Techniques

During the warm months, yellow perch are usually found in cooler water. Productive areas include deep holes in river bends, channel edges, and other areas where water temperatures are likely to be low.

In some areas, stream outflows attract yellow perch in summer. Productive outflows tend to contain clear, moving water which is oxygenated. Stream outflows are found along woodland creeks, lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water.

When yellow perch are in deep areas, anglers often use jig-live minnow combinations, small soft plastic worms, jigging spoons, or other offerings.

Ice Fishing Tips - Techniques

These tips apply to ice fishing for yellow perch:

- always make safety a priority, never venture out when ice conditions are unsafe

- use small baits or lures

- experiment with multiple setups and be alert if a pattern develops

- consider scouting potential areas with an underwater video camera when water conditions are clear