Sandusky Bay is epicenter of Erie's channel catfish attention

Surprisingly, catfish are ranked ahead of walleyes as anglers' favorite freshwater species to fish for nationally, according to a survey taken by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The channel catfish population, while always abundant, has virtually exploded in Lake Erie's larger tributaries, especially the fish-rich nursery of the Sandusky Bay. In its May 2022 issue, the prestigious In-Fisherman Magazine pronounced channel catfishing in Sandusky Bay as "world class," in its North American Fishing Adventures section. Fish ranging from foot-long "squealers" to behemoth trophies exceeding 20 pounds are caught in good numbers from late April through at least September. Fisheries biologists with the Ohio Division of Wildlife cannot pinpoint all of the reasons for their population surge but cite better water quality as most likely responsible. More channel catfish are also being caught in the other Western Lake Erie tributaries including the Portage, Toussaint, Huron and Maumee rivers and incidentally while trolling, casting or ice fishing for walleyes or other target species in Lake Erie. There are a growing number of licensed fishing guides who now offer channel catfish excursions. I participated in three outings last summer with good success each trip and planned four trips out this season. Last Saturday with catfish guide Capt. Scott Heston, I landed a 15-pound, 8-ounce fish that measured 30½ inches. My brother Ronald had the next largest at 14-10 and 31 inches, with several others over 11 pounds also netted that morning. We elected not to keep any fish that day, which also included lots of "Fish Ohio" freshwater drum (sheepshead). Capt. Heston (740-243-1772) and Capt. Jeff Tipple (740-215-3484) dock in the Hidden Harbor Campgrounds Marina. Capt. Paul Schill (216-276-5658) from Castaway Campgrounds shares the bay with them. They all use pontoon or tri-toon boats for 4- or 6-hour trips for up to six anglers. They each use raw 30- to 40-count shrimp, threaded onto 3/0 kayle or circle hooks and 30-pound or greater test monofilament line on stout rods and spinning reels. Unfortunately, channel catfish from the Sandusky Bay still have a consumption advisory from the Ohio Department of Health, which recommends limiting servings to one 6-ounce portion per month due to the presence of PCBs and mercury that these bottom feeders still receive from the sediments. Smoked catfish from Lake Erie commercial fishermen are widely available locally, pairing well with cheese and crackers and a glass of locally produced wine or a favorite beer. While not specified for the Sandusky Bay specifically, anglers are advised elsewhere in Ohio to select channel catfish for the table that are under 18 inches. Such fish have fewer years of accumulating toxins. While there is no daily limit overall, to conserve trophy channel catfish, Ohio's fishing regulations allows only one over 28 inches long to be kept per day. Several tournaments are annually held in the Sandusky Bay, with one coming up Saturday at Bay View. The weigh-in is scheduled at 3:30 p.m. at Bubbles Laundry. Mark Cahlik, owner of Bays Edge Bait & Tackle Store in the epicenter of Sandusky Bay's catfishing activity, stocked up over the winter with lots of catfishing rods and specialized tackle. At his Bays Edge Fish Cleaning Station, full coolers of catfish weighing over 200 pounds are currently being brought in to be butchered. Taking home finished fillets instead of a cooler full of fish in the round after a successful outing on the bay is sometimes worth spending 65 cents a pound to return home with ready-to-prepare fish. As a testament to their popularity on the table, farm-raised catfish, raised in huge aquaculture facilities in the South are widely sold at local fish markets and grocery store seafood sections for about $10 per pound. Lake Erie's Sandusky Bay provides plenty of these fresh, local entrees for "free." For many, a plate of fried catfish, sweet potato fries, hushpuppies and cole slaw can't be beat.