Catfishing Wicomico River, MD

[M_Duong60]

Went out yesterday to try and see if there were any croaker but none were to be found, however I did catch 2 small white perch.

I soon found out that I could catch channel cats there as well so I cut up the white perch to use a bait which I put on an 4/0 octopus hook. I ended up catching 7 channel cats which I forgot to measure but the largest was about 19-22'.P4280004.jpg Anyway I was glad to fish again after about a month of not being able to get out.

[echo5oscar]

Nice mess of filets. Should be good eating.

[J.A. Veil]

There are actually two Wicomico Rivers in Maryland (not good geographic naming by our forefathers). One of them is on the western shore -- the first large tributary on the Potomac downstream from the Rt 301 bridge at Morgantown. The other Wicomico River is an eastern shore tidal river that starts near Salisbury.

Which one did you fish in?

[Shady]

Nice work! I'm no expert, but most of those look like blue cats.

[kevinfry]

Yes Blue catfish...where did you launch from? Bushwood or Chaptico? Other? White perch is my new favorite blue catfish bait for sure.

[M_Duong60]

Can't believe that I didn't notice that they were blue cats I guess I'm just tired from the trip and staying up late/waking up early. Anyway I launched from Bushwood so it would be the one at Morgantown.

On another note I was trying out my new electric filet knife and kept cutting holes in the skin as I tries to take it off it is much harder to take off than with perch. Any tips? or should I just stick with hanging them and pulling the skin off?

[echo5oscar]

When I go back home to Texas, we use a utility knife with a blade that has a hook at the end of it. You can get them at lowes or Home Depot, they are right beside the utility knives. We cut down the back, all the way around just behind the head, flip them over and down the belly. It's so much faster and does a better job that any kind of knife.

I have never been good at getting the skin off with a filet knife. So I just stick to what I use best. I skin them out and the use a filet knife as you normally would.

[ronaultmtd]

I use a Cutco filet knife- really sharp, high quality knife- easy to filet and skin with the knife- stop just short of the tail and flip the fliet on its meat up side and pull the skin against the blade- the result is a boneless, skinless filet with the guts, head and skin still intact on the carcass-

[echo5oscar]

I know how to do it, just have never been good at that particular method.

[M_Duong60]

I guess that the electric knife is not best suited for the catfish skin then. Next time I get some cats I will try both methods to see which works best.

[kevinfry]

I never skin first but electric filet knife is a bit hard to skin with. I use slicing knife (see pic), take filet off, then lay filet skin down and take skin off. Secret is to pull skin to you as you push knife away....also, COLD fish filet much easier (especially catfish and bluefish) so LOTS of ice!!

[DaveFX35]

best method is to use an old 2x4 and hammer a nail through the head (or just hold carefully), cut the fins off with clippers, make a small incision behind the head and use a pair of pliers to peel the skin back to the tail, comes off like a glove. then filet as any other type of fish.

[M_Duong60]

Dave, thats what my uncle does and was referring to this when I said that I would take the skin off first. Kevin I only take off the skin on catfish first due to that fact like you said that it is hard to skin with the electric knife. I didn't know about it being easier when cold though thanks. I need to remember to chill it before I clean next time. Thanks to all for the input.

Oh and thats a very nice looking striper by the way must have tasted great.