June 25, 2025Celebrate National Catfish Day With The VMPB!

In honor of National Catfish Day, the VMPB would like to highlight the wild caught Blue Catfish. The Blue Catfish is an invasive species that was introduced to Virginia waters in the late 70’s and early 80’s by the Game Department as a sports fish for recreational anglers. At the time that Blue Catfish was released in the Rappahannock, York, and James Rivers it was believed that the fish would not be able to swim into the higher salinity levels up river, but during years with heavier rain fall the salinity levels drop enough that the Blue Catfish is able to swim into the Chesapeake Bay and it has entered the Potomac River and entered the rivers on the Maryland side of the bay. Because of this the Blue Catfish population has exploded in the Chesapeake Bay and efforts are being made to manage the population, the VMRC and NOAA have both declared the Blue Catfish an invasive species and the state of Virginia has no catch or season limits on Blue Catfish.

Blue Catfish are an apex predator in the Chesapeake Bay region which has led to a decline in Virginia’s native species. The Blue Catfish population grows rapidly, and they have a tremendous appetite feeding off species in an area until they are depleted and then moving on, one of the reasons for the decline in Virginia’s Shad and Herring populations is most likely due to the Blue Catfish. Currently Blue Catfish target Striped Bass, Blue Crab, Oysters, and Clams. Because invasive Blue Catfish feed in the water column it has led to them having a sweeter tasting fresher fillet than what is normally associated with catfish. Blue Catfish fillets are also firm, allowing them to adhere well to a variety of seasonings, marinades, and cooking methods. Each 3oz serving size of Blue Catfish is only 70 calories and contains 15 grams of protein. Asking for Wild Caught Virginia Blue Catfish at the grocery store or restaurant is a healthy, sustainable, not to mention delicious way to help protect Virginia’s native seafood species.  For more information about the Blue Catfish follow this link to the VMPB Fish of the Day page and for help sourcing Wild Caught Virginia Blue Catfish near you go to our retail supplier’s directory here.