James River Cats

Citations

Citation Information for the Blues

Catfishing for the Blues on the James River in Virginia.

The Lower James River in Virginia

Click here to download a citation form....pdf format

A citation is a certain size either weight or length. For Blue Cats in Virginia the weight is 30 lbs or 38 inches long. The Virginia State record for Blue Cats is:
102 lbs. 4oz and caught on the James 5/20/09 around 12:45 PM by Tim Wilson and Danny Ayers.

Since July 1,06 the James has had a protective new size limit that allows anglers to keep just one fish over 32 inches. But in the tidal section you can keep as many fish under that size as you want.

Check out the link below for other species:
Trophy Fish Size Chart

Also the below link for all Virginia State records:
Virginia State Record Fish

Anglers have come to realize that "bragging rights" are only as "good as the paper they are written on." So, today's anglers receive an official trophy fish award certificate (citation)for their catch of each trophy-size fish registered with the Virginia Angler Recognition Program. Certificates adorn a water color rendition of the species of fish caught by the angler, and are personalized with the angler's name, the catch date, and the weight and/or length of the fish.

Filing for a citation actually helps the VDGIF track the fish size in their managed lakes and rivers. It also helps them attract fishermen to the state and to the sport.

For some fishermen, the picture and memories are enough. But for the time and effort I put into fishing, and for how much I love the sport, I think it's kind of cool that you can commemorate a good catch with a citation certificate.

Of course, there are some anglers around here who would rather keep the good fishing a secret!

VDGIF biologist Bob Greenlee, who manages the James' catfish fishery has made comments about the James being a highly productive system, and as long as the forage -- primarily gizzard shad -- holds out we will continue to see the size of blue cats climb.