Blue Catfish

Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) are considered invasive in the Chesapeake Bay because they are nonnative, abundant, spread quickly, and prey on many valuable commercial and recreational species.

History of Blue Catfish in the Cheaspeake Bay

In 1974, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (then known as the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries), introduced blue catfish to the James and Rappahannock rivers as a new trophy fish for anglers. Populations of other fish in these rivers, such as striped bass (Morone saxatilis) had decreased due to habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution. Many forage fish, like river herring, had also reached historically low levels. Ten years later, the department also introduced blue catfish to the York River.

Their experiment worked, with anglers catching record-breaking sized blue catfish in these rivers over the years. The trophy fishery boomed in the early 2000s, and in 2002, the James River's recreational blue catfish fishery generated about $2.5 million in economic value.

However, by the late '90s, blue catfish were appearing in tributaries farther up the Chesapeake Bay. Today, blue catfish can be found in tributaries on Maryland's eastern and western shores, and in most Virginia rivers. As these fish have spread throughout the Bay, they have brought their appetites with them.

Blue Catfish Feeding Habits

Blue catfish are omnivorous, and their diets change as they grow. Studies suggest they mainly eat small fish, crayfish, mollusks, and plants, but their diet varies based on the prey available in the waters where they live. Larger blue catfish mainly eat other fish.

Wild, Delicious, and Nutritious

Because they feed throughout the water column, and don't spend as much time in the mud like their bottom-feeding relatives, blue catfish is generally described as mild, clean-tasting, and flaky. Learn more about the nutrition and quality of Chesapeake wild-caught blue catfish in this fact sheet from Maryland Sea Grant Extension.

Download the "Blue Catfish: Wild, Delicious, Nutritious" flyer

Explore More in Chesapeake Quarterly Magazine

Want to learn more about blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay? Our December 2024 issue of Chesapeake Quarterly magazine explores the problems and potential these fish bring to the region. 

Find out how researchers are learning about the feeding habits of blue catfish and gathering data to understand how these invasive fish are spreading throughout the Bay. Read about efforts to bring blue catfish to dining halls, school cafeterias, and food pantries. Learn how the bounty of invasive blue catfish has led to new opportunities for commercial watermen, and how processors are working to keep pace. Dive into the gear anglers use to catch blue catfish, and find a recipe for blue catfish tacos you can try at home.

Read Bay Blues: How Blue Catfish are Changing the Bay online.

Science Comic Strip: The Catfish Conundrum

Comic credit: Zuri Hurley, illustrator / Sydney Sauls, author