Catfishing at night.

General Fishing Discussion
1

I posted this in the freshwater section, but thought I might have more folks read it here:

Can someone give me some tips on nighttime Catfishing? About 15 years ago I went with a guy who put some sort of pellets out during the day in shallow water (Lake Marion). We went back that night and caught a bunch, but I can’t remember what kind of pellets or what we used for bait. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

John

Pathfinder 23 HPS

2

Dog food dry works but I would recommend canned. punch wholes in the can and the juices will bring them in.

3

John,

I will talk with you next week on this when i get back in town.

CB

4

Thanks Caleb.

John

Pathfinder 23 HPS

5

It was probably commercial catfish food pellets sold to fish farmers. We used to use it offshore for chumming. Really good for some fish! It’s made in a sinking and floating configuration. Most farm/feed/seed stores carry it in 50 lb. bags.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

6

Hey Cracker Larry,
What kind of fish do you catch when using this for chum?

7

I typically use cut bait on shallow flats on santee at night.
In July and August try the diversion canal using cut bait.

8
quote:
Hey Cracker Larry, What kind of fish do you catch when using this for chum?

Mostly used it when the big bluefish schools come through in the spring, also for cobia.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

9

You could sink a regular old chum bag full of frozen chum and mark it with a float. It might be cheaper than buying a 50 lb bag of sinking fish food.

Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole

10

Drifting from shallow to deep or deep to shallow using drift bags is my favorite way to locate catfish. Once you figure out where they are it gets really fun.

Do you have drift bags?

Drifting is more of a summer/fall/winter technique. If you are trying to find the big spawning fish, your shallow water chumming might be best. Shallow water with lots of stumps is what I would look for if that is the case.

Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole

11

Actually…I’d like to catch the smallest ones possible…to eat. I remember eating those smaller ones like an ear of corn> Either that or smaller fillets.

John

Pathfinder 23 HPS

12

Live bait for big ones, cut bait for little ones.

Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole