Need some help from the Locals

sallen34 · Baitfish Rank Joined: 28 May 2011 Posts: 2 Total Points: 2

I am what you can call a catfish fanatic. I have landed several 100+ pounders but now that I am stationed in connecticut I cant seem to find even 10+ Pounders? Where is all the Catfish in Connecticut.. I Am reaching out for a helping hand!

carp13 · Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 3:08 am Post subject:

Hi,welcome to the site. I'm originally from the midwest where there is a fair share of large cats. I have boated a good amount of fish in the 6-8lb class in the Ct River but haven't really seen anything bigger than that yet. I'm sure they are there but not in abundance. Fish over 10lbs are considered very big here I think. For one reason or another these waters don't seem to produce real giants,none that I'm aware of anyway.............You ought to get into striper fishing. Groton is the perfect place for it and it's become my favorite since moving here.

redneckangler · Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 7:39 pm Post subject:

Hi. Have to say that Carp13 has pretty much summed up CT catfishing. You may find some over 10lbs., but they are not very typical. The state record for a channel cat is under 30. I'll be down in VA on the James fishing blue cats this fall. I'd be happy with some 50-60lbers. Stripers and blues up here. Your area will be heating up pretty soon, with some good surf and nearshore action within minutes of Groton. There is catfishing on the CT River and some of the lakes and ponds, but everything is scaled down. Still lot's of fishing opportunities and chances to fish some stuff you don't see down south. Very Happy

protacanthopterix · Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 11:04 am Post subject:

Not to discourage you from your quest, sallen, but I will also mention that the 29.4 lb record Channel catfish was an albino. While it is possible for an albino to reach a fully mature size, it is unlikely an albino born into the wild will make it far in life; the fish simply has no camouflage.

Therefore, it is more likely that this record fish spent a time in captivity of some sort (aquarium or pond) and enjoyed a sort of "free pass" for much of it's life into adulthood until it was beyond being preyed upon. I feel this fact taints the Connecticut record since there are a lot of unknowns to the fish's story. While in captivity, the fish's environment could have been managed for optimal growth according to a Channel catfish such as water temperature and diet. While its still a fantastic fish and great catch, I'm very interested to know what the "second place" record is. I would consider that fish a more accurate representation of a record-holding Channel cat for Connecticut.

On a better note, fishbase.org publishes a maximum weight for the species to be shy of 58 lbs; twice what has been seen in Connecticut so far. This figure should be viewed as a potential weight of the species, not an angling record. The 58 pounds could very well have been achieved in captivity. A 58 lb Channel catfish may be in Connecticut somewhere, but I don't think our waters have what it takes to grow the big b'hoys.

smcox30 · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:22 pm Post subject:

i must agree with everybody else. im from tx and find the cats up here puny. ive managed several 10 pounders, and a few 20s, but blues arent here in ct.

smcox30 · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:23 pm Post subject:

oh, and thanks for the comment on the pic carp13, she was fun to pull in.