Blue catfish were introduced to the Chesapeake Bay by humans in the 1970s and have quickly overrun the estuary. They eat crabs, clams, and young fish—ultimately disrupting the local ecosystem—and they reproduce fast. But their clean, mild flavor makes them worth catching. Harvesting them helps restore balance to the Bay while putting good food on our plates.
In parts of the Chesapeake, blue catfish now make up a majority of fish biomass – the weight of all living fish. In the James and Rappahannock Rivers of Virginia, they account for roughly 75 percent of all fish. One survey of the Patuxent River in southern Maryland recorded up to 1,250 blue catfish per acre. Across tributaries, an estimated 100 million are now thought to live in the Bay.
Introduced into local waters by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources as a recreational fishery in the 1970s, blue catfish thrive on a broad diet—crabs, clams, mussels, fish, even small mammals and amphibians. Their high reproductive rate leads to explosive population growth. They prey on juvenile crabs and striped bass and compete with native species across many habitats.
Annual removal estimates suggest 15 to 30 million pounds of blue catfish need to be harvested to simply stabilize the population. In the Potomac River alone, located in both Maryland and Virginia, harvests exceeded 3.1 million pounds in 2022. Landings across both states more recently hit upwards of 5 million pounds annually—a key step in reducing their impact.
Contrary to the "muddy farmed fish" stereotype, wild-caught blue catfish taste clean and mild. Their flesh is white, firm, and flaky, fitting as both a versatile ingredient and standalone meal.
Buyboat Brand blue catfish is processed at Tilghman Island Seafood, a locally owned USDA-certified facility located on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Their partnership ensures food safety, consistent handling standards, and full traceability from catch to finished package. All fillets are fully cooked using our kippering method and handled under cold-chain protocols.
