Blue catfish were introduced into Virginia waters in the 1970s for sport fishing. Native to the Mississippi and Ohio River basins, they can grow up to 150 pounds — and in the Chesapeake Bay, they have no natural predators. Unlike their bottom-feeding cousins, these fish feed on all of the crabs, oysters, and fish we depend on to keep the Bay in balance. But thanks to that varied diet, their flavor is clean, mild, and even a little sweet, drawing comparisons to striped bass or halibut.
This fish doesn’t just dominate the ecosystem, it outperforms expectations on the plate.
So we decided it deserved a name more fitting -
Blue catfish are an invasive species with no natural predators in the Chesapeake Bay. This has been a major contributor to the recent decimation of crab, fish, & oyster populations. With an insatiable appetite & lifespan of years, these fish wreak havoc on the Bay's ecosystem.
First released in the Rappahannock River in the '70s, it was believed the fish only lived in very fresh water. But Blue catfish thrived in the brackish waters of the Chesapeake Bay. To top it off, females produce hundreds of thousands of eggs over their lifetime - and males actively guards the nests.
Behind every catch is a battle for the future of the bay
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Bluecat Fisheries is dedicated to revitalizing the Chesapeake Bay by procuring, processing, and supplying these fish in the form of protein dense food, animal feed, soil applicant, and more. By providing a place for watermen to sell blue catfish year round, we are making strides in reclaiming the Bay and restoring its natural ecosystem.
Savor the sweet taste of sustainability with our wild-caught Bay Lion Filets. Perfect for breading & frying or buttering & seasoning.