Hi. I'm new to the forum and thought I'd introduce myself. Name's Rob Choi and I've been fishing pretty much all my life (fresh and salt). I took up kayak fishing around February and been addicted ever since. I'm good friends with EddieinVA and got him hooked to kayak fishing. Anyways, here's a couple of pictures from the James river (Richmond).

20lb. FLathead Catfish on 4lb. test

29lb Blue Catfish on 6lb test

31lb blue cat on 6lb test (personal record)

Welcome Rob! You have a few nice cats there!

Those are some CRAZY catches..  and on 6# ??? ..  you've gotten pretty good my friend..  

are you taking those home to eat??  i have one in my fridge.. can't decide if i want to fry or not..

Nah.... these have been around the James river too long... eating too much crap.  I let them go to hopefully catch another day.

Geez!

Those are monsters!

8-)

Welcome! Um those catfish.... :o :o

Hey Rob. I am a newbee as well. I e-mailed eddie and like you been fishing all my life. Got a used manta ray 11. Looking forward to hooking up with you guys. Me and some non forum friends are going to go to Bull Run marina Monday. Pass the word to Eddie and other yakers. Hope to see ya there.

Sounds like fun.  I'm gonna be at the Eastern shore, so I won't be able to make it.  I think Eddie and I have a trip planned for the 6th though.  Good luck!

We definitely got a trip going on the 6th.. cleared it with the wifey...  ahem..the boss lady..

Hey andy, glad to see you got your posting in gear..  Me and a couple of guys are getting together this saturday at beaverdam..  let me know if you can make it..6am.

Welcome! Good to have more VA anglers.

Those are some incredibly cats you have there, and especially from a yak on such light line...

I have heard that the James has some of the state's best cat fishing but I have never tried fishing for them there.

Yes, welcome aboard.  GREAT to have more VA fishermen.  Many of us like to fish the James River in the Richmond area.  The area is great for catfish.   I was up there 2 weeks ago smallmouth fishing and saw some fellas hall out a channel cat (I think) about as big as the one in your second picture.  They caught it on cut bait.   I caught a channel cat up there last year that weighed about 5-6 pounds on a 2" white grub that I was using for smallmouth.   You can stand on some of the rocks and see channel cats moving around in the pools.  

Anyway, welcome again.  Keep the pictures coming.  

Excellent fish! Welcome to the boards.

Yeah ok..  Andy, that's going to be 9/7/08 not 9/6..  so Sunday 6am Launch

Thank you all for the warm welcome.

Wow amazing cats, you gotta show me where to hook into some of those in richmond! My yak has been itching for some water =D

Those mst have been some great fights on light tackle.   Welcome to the Forums

Welcome. Another Richmond fisherman. It just gets better and better on the forum.

Thanks for releasing the cats. We all enjoy catching them over and over and over and over and over!

Please do not tell anyone where you caught them as we do not want a run on the area.

If you want to fish for catfish in the lower James, below Hopewell, check out the James River Fishing School with Mike Ostrander.  Mike is a great guy and he guides on the James River.

Looking for more posts about cats and smallies, too.  

If you want to fish for catfish in the lower James, below Hopewell, check out the James River Fishing School with Mike Ostrander. Mike is a great guy and he guides on the James River.

I think I met this guy. Last summer I was smallie fishing at Pony Pasture and saw this fellow and his wife with a long net strung between two poles. He was netting fish for a "James River Aquarium." He was real excited because he had caught an eel. He was showing everyone. He stated he ran a fishing school and the James River fishing website. Thin, mid-40s, maybe, with a mustache and beard.  Real nice guy and seemed to know the river well.

Same guy?

how far do those pull you in the kayak?

Nice looking Cats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks.  I'll try to only tell people that I know will release the cats.  I know Mike Ostrander.  He's a member of the Virginia Anglers Club (I am too). http://www.virginiaanglersclub.org/

He's a great guy.  Super nice.

That cats on kayak are crazy fun.  When they get that big, they definitely take you for a ride.

Thanks again for the warm welcome everybody.

Micro,

Yes, that was probably Mike.

Great guy.

If you ever get a chance hit the Pony Pasture with him in his raft.

Just don't let one of his rods and reels go overboard as he gets a little upset when he has to dive in the river to retrieve it.  ;D

Hey, it wasn't my fault.  Or was it????