Benedict Blue Catfish, Tuesday March 23

[ronaultmtd]

Over the past couple of weeks I have been itching to get out fishing...Watched Dieter Melhorne You Tube Videos...made several tiger tail dragging sinkers using two feet of 1/2 inch clear plastic hose filled with 2 1/2 oz. of BBs to try his method of drift fishing using Santee-Cooper cork rigs...visited Fred's Sports and picked up frozen alewife for bait...so yesterday I drove the fifteen miles to Benedict on the Patuxent River and launched Lady Luck at 11 am...high tide was 11:30...headed up river 2 miles to Chalk Point...at Chalk Point I dropped the dragging rigs down in 13 FOW that was 56 degrees...for the next hour I maintained .3 mph headed up river following the edge of the 13 FOW channel near the Generating Plant discharge...nothing- not a bump, not anything...disappointed (I invested a lot of time and energy into this project) I moved out to the main river channel a half mile or so off the Generating Plant ( Yes, this is deliberate burning a honey hole) and anchored up...I cut off the dragging sinker rigs and rigged up my standard carolina rigs, baited with big chunks of alewife and tossed them out...Did not have to wait long before my rod bent over With the drag running...first fish was a healthy 38 inch, estimated 30# or so bluecat...as I was tussling with getting the hook out my second rod with a head piece for bait took off...it was hectic, but I managed a quick picture on my phone before releasing that fish and fighting the second fish...the second fish was BIG...I had a heck of a time stopping it...it was very strong and after a ten minute fight, the hook pulled...No time for disappointment as my third rod was throbbing with a fish pulling drag. This fish was a mid 30 inch fish in the 25-30 pound class...trying to keep bait in the water was difficult as was hooking up...for some strange reason, I got a bunch of runs without hooking up...using 7/0 Eagle Claw circle hooks...maybe I should be using 10/0 hooks...anyway after an hour Or so, the tide was changing flow and the bite slowed...5 fish landed- smallest was 29 inches- biggest was a tad under 40...off the water at 3:15...headed home...

[dsaavedra]

Wow that sounds like an awesome trip. I fished Benedict about 2 months ago and mostly stuck around the bridge - I got a late start and didn't think I had time for a run up to the power plant - didn't even get a bite all day. Your report has me wanting to try again! I'd love to wrestle with some big blue cats, I think the biggest I've caught is only around 6 or 7 pounds and that was from a pier.

[ronaultmtd]

All our folks should go out and tussle with these big brutes...the river is lousy with them...we need to take as many out as possible...that is why I gave such detail to the "honey hole"...30 inch fish are extremely common...but not around the launch...one thing is certain...my old body is telling me that three months of layoff of the Mirage Drive due to winter is going to take some "break in" time to get back in shape!

[dsaavedra]

It seems to be a common theme that fish bite best on a moving tide, and I saw you specifically mentioned you arrived at high tide and fished the outgoing tide. Do you find outgoing tide is better for catfishing or does it not really matter?

It seems like it should be so easy to catch blue cats since they are so ubiquitous in our waters now but every time I set out to catch some I strike out. I seem to only catch them on accident while targeting other species.

[dsaavedra]

One more question about Chalk Point - Is the outflow of the discharge channel at the northern end or the southern end? I've never actually been up that far but looking at Google Maps I see several buoy lines strung across the southern end, so I'm thinking that's the intake and the outflow is at the northern end.

[ronaultmtd]

Not sure...you are probably right..I was out in the 15 FOW edge of the main river channel about a half mile from the station...So it didn't matter...my experience is the outgoing is best...the bite was like a light switch turn on...as soon as the tide starting so did the bite...i did not use any spinning tackle...all revolving spool conventional reels.. two Abu 6500 C3 Ambassador reels and a low profile Diawa Lexa 300

[J.A. Veil]

Back in the 1980s I visited all the Maryland power plants and wrote wastewater discharge permits for them. The Chalk Point intake is downstream from the plant, and the discharge canal is upstream as shown in the graphic.

Chalk Point 2.jpg

[dsaavedra]

Well Ron, you've inspired me. Just got back from the store with some alewife (frozen, should still work I guess) and I'm going to hit Benedict tomorrow afternoon. High tide is at 3pm so I'll plan on getting there around then and fish the outgoing tide up river in the channel you mentioned. The forecast looks beautiful so it should be a good day on the water at least.

[ronaultmtd]

Kill a bunch! DNR will be happy...With a good size alewife I get three baits...the head piece a center cut and then the vent back to just before the tail which I chop off...should guarantee you at least a couple of 20(+) pound fish, maybe a 30(+)...if my knee soreness goes away, I may join you...

[dsaavedra]

The alewife I got are huge, like a foot long. I'm sure I can get plenty of cut bait out of them. Good to know the head pieces work, I never knew whether or not they were any good as bait so usually end up tossing them.

Hope to see you on the water! I'm sure I could use a few pointers haha. I'll be in my camo Outback.

[Jigsup]

I plan on going out tomorrow eve after work also. Not to sure/comfortable about kayaking in benedict area yet. But plan on going to Jackson landing area. Got a pack of alewife from anglers today on my lunch break. Would like a backup bait preferably squid to try. Taking home as many as the Lord let me. Hopefully a lot!

[ronaultmtd]

If you are fishing for "eaters" and not the jumbos, I would downsize the baits and use 4/0 circle hooks... and for backup (although I consider alewife premium catfish bait) it is hard to beat night crawlers and/or chicken chunks...big baits- big fish...Benedict is a bit intimidating when the tide is ripping...and after looking at Windfinder forecast for Saturday afternoon with the wind gust to 21,i think I will pass on fishing...

[Jigsup]

I’m definitely a believer in alewife as number one choice for catfish. Fresh (not frozen) is guaranteed a fish or two. At least in my experience. Funny thing about hook size is it seems my hook up ratio skyrocketed with 6/0 mustad demon circle hooks. Even for smaller size fish. Seems I lose a lot of catfish on anything smaller than 6/0. I’ve even had to upsize to 8/0 to get a good hook up. Even on small chunks of bait.
Didn’t see where wind gust showed 21. Definitely will keep an eye. Pfd WILL be worn. If it is gusting that high I’ll be headed back home.

[dsaavedra]

Well just like every time I go catfishing that trip was a complete waste of time. I pedaled around for hours trying to locate fish, could not find any. Eventually I found a few very small marks and did a couple drifts over the area and caught two blue cats both less than a foot long. I just don't understand how I can struggle to catch what is supposed to be a ubiquitous fish with a huge appetite. I must be doing something wrong but I don't know what.

[ronaultmtd]

Did you anchor up? If you didn't it is a wonder you caught any at all...I always anchor