Blue Catfish in the Potomac

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River

This cat was caught under the 14th street bridge in D.C. (Yes, I know, technically not Maryland). But I have caught many cats in the Maryland section of the river also. Caught 17 September, on a flutter spoon, while fishing for largemouth bass. Is this a channel catfish or a blue catfish? This the biggest I have caught on the Potomac.

DNR Answer: This is a blue catfish, an invasive species, which we encourage anglers to keep and eat rather than release. They are very tasty! An easy way to identify this species is to look at the anal fin (under the body towrd the rear of the fish). The blue catfish has a straight anal fin while a channel catfish has a rounded anal fin.

You can learn more about invasive catfish here: dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/catfish.aspx