(2015) A state-sponsored experiment is aimed at controlling the invasive blue catfish in the James River, catching the fish using electro-fishing, then selling the fish commercially.
The blue catfish issue struck home for state Sen. Richard Stuart, R-King George, when he took one of his son’s high school friends to a favorite rockfish (striped bass) hot spot – an underwater sand bar by the mouth of Machodoc creek.
A blue catfish is pulled in from the James River near Deep Bottom Park in Henrico County. Biologists and fisheries technicians from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries were doing a survey and study of the fish which are taking over parts of the James.
A blue catfish is caught on the James River near Westover Plantation in Charles City County, August 12, 2015. Using electro fishing, the fish was stunned by an electric pulse sent into the water. The electric pulse disorients the fish which are then netted. The blue catfish is an invasive species. In a state-sponsored experiment, the fishermen used the electro fishing to catch the fish, then sell them comercially.
George Trice (left) and Bob Fisher unload blue catfish from their small boat onto a larger boat after catching the fish using electro-fishing, August 12, 2015. The electro fishing boat sends an electric pulse into the water, stunning the catfish which then come to the surface where they are caught with nets. The blue catfish is an invasive species. In a state-sponsored experiment, the fishermen used the electro fishing to catch the fish, then sell them comercially. On this day, over 4200 pounds of catfish were caught.
George Trice V empties blue catfish after netting them while electro-fishing boat on the James River near Westover Plantation in Charles City County, August 12, 2015. In a state-sponsored experiment, the fishermen use the electro-fishing to catch the fish, then sell them commercially.
In this 2015 image, blue catfish float in the James River after being stunned by an electric pulse sent into the water. George Trice V (left) and Paul Willshire navigate a boat while scooping up the fish with nets. The blue catfish is an invasive species. In a state-sponsored experiment, the fishermen used the electro fishing to catch the fish, then sell them commercially.
See photos of a state-sponsored experiment is aimed at controlling the invasive blue catfish in the James River, catching the fish using electro-fishing, then selling the fish commercially.
A blue catfish is caught on the James River near Westover Plantation in Charles City County, August 12, 2015. Using electro fishing, the fish was stunned by an electric pulse sent into the water. The electric pulse disorients the fish which are then netted. The blue catfish is an invasive species. In a state-sponsored experiment, the fishermen used the electro fishing to catch the fish, then sell them comercially.
P. KEVIN MORLEY/TIMES-DISPATCH
George Trice (left) and Bob Fisher unload blue catfish from their small boat onto a larger boat after catching the fish using electro-fishing, August 12, 2015. The electro fishing boat sends an electric pulse into the water, stunning the catfish which then come to the surface where they are caught with nets. The blue catfish is an invasive species. In a state-sponsored experiment, the fishermen used the electro fishing to catch the fish, then sell them comercially. On this day, over 4200 pounds of catfish were caught.
P. KEVIN MORLEY/TIMES-DISPATCH
A blue catfish in the James River, August 12, 2015.
P. KEVIN MORLEY/TIMES-DISPATCH
George Trice V empties blue catfish after netting them while electro-fishing boat on the James River near Westover Plantation in Charles City County, August 12, 2015. In a state-sponsored experiment, the fishermen use the electro-fishing to catch the fish, then sell them commercially.
P. KEVIN MORLEY/TIMES-DISPATCH
In this 2015 image, blue catfish float in the James River after being stunned by an electric pulse sent into the water. George Trice V (left) and Paul Willshire navigate a boat while scooping up the fish with nets. The blue catfish is an invasive species. In a state-sponsored experiment, the fishermen used the electro fishing to catch the fish, then sell them commercially.
P. KEVIN MORLEY/TIMES-DISPATCH
A blue catfish in the James River, August 12, 2015.
A blue catfish is pulled in from the James River near Deep Bottom Park in Henrico County. Biologists and fisheries technicians from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries were doing a survey and study of the fish which are taking over parts of the James.
