I remember the time where you use to catch saltwater cats every trip, multiple fish a trip. In the 90’s and into the 2000’s I think. Haven’t caught one in ages. I’ve read where DNR now requires you to throw them back if you catch one and that some kind of sea virus hit the species. Has anyone come across one any time recently, are they still around?
I caught one on our week long family vacation to isle of palms last year in the icw
96 sundance 1900, 135 Johnson
So I guess they can still be caught, just that its very rare to catch one. Anyone else…
i haven’t caught one in 3 years, i also haven’t gotten a flounder on rod and reel all year, so maybe we can chalk it up to me being bad at fishing!
I’ve fished in Charleston for 8 years and have never seen or caught one.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
Personal Trout Slot Limit: 16"-20" Creel: 2
Wow- I remember fishing in the Charleston Harbor growing up in the 90’s, and they were one of if not the most numerous fish around. No limit to how many you would catch and decent size too. They were certainly bait stealers and would leave you with cut hands with those sharp fins poking you. Hard to believe they were just wiped out like that.
Here’s an article I found that talks about this- http://savannahnow.com/john-burke/2007-06-27/dwindling-sc-saltwater-catfish-prompt-new-state-regulations
I had heard how rare they were to catch so I was surprised that our one week out of the year down there I caught one
Actually my first time ever fishing In a boat on my own in charleston
96 sundance 1900, 135 Johnson
I used to catch them all the time too when I was really young. I remember i learned how to correctly hold a catfish on a saltwater one. Never even thought about the fact I haven’t seen one in years…
That’s an interesting subject. We used to catch Gafftopsail cats back in 60s in the Gulf off central Florida. I’ve never caught one up here because I just figured they weren’t common up here. Now I wonder if they are rare in the Gulf too, I suspect they are.
I plan on living forever, so far so good
Egret 167, Etec 130
Wooden Driftboat
Jon Boat & 2 Canoes