Sometime during the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan designated August as National Catfish Month, and Congress agreed. This was done to recognize the contribution that the United States catfish farming industry had made to the economy.
In today’s world the celebration of National Catfish Month includes not only the farmed fish but the catfish that swim in lakes and rivers, too. Here in Virginia the blue catfish has expanded into salty, tidal waters as far east as Hampton Roads at the edge of the Chesapeake Bay. The James and Rappahannock rivers have almost been taken over by these fresh-water transplants.   
The blue catfish, which has many cousins worldwide, is the dominant species. It is noted for its white, firm, delicately-flavored meat and is generally what the seafood gourmet desires, what the watermen and sports fishermen catch, and what the fish farmers raise. It is not a native to Virginia. They were brought here from the Midwest, from Mississippi th...