Monster Catfish
How I'm Targeting a 30kg Catfish: The Plan
Next week I'm going after a monster. Here's where I'm fishing, what I'm using, and what would count as a win.
Most of my catfish fishing is about steady results. This trip is different. I'm going to aim for a single big fish, and everything in the plan is built around that.
The Goal
I expect to land plenty of fish over 20kg. But a win, for me, is anything over 30kg. That's the fish I'm planning the whole session around.
The Spot: Deep Drop-Offs
I'm staying on the Bloemhof River, but moving to a new spot at the caravan park. It has drop-offs between 8 and 10 metres deep. Bigger catfish like deep holes, so that's where I'll be putting the baits. The water is also quieter there than where I've been fishing recently, which matters for big fish that spook easily.
The Bait: A Live Carp
For a monster, I'm going big. When I get a carp of 3 to 4kg, I'll hook it alive on a special rig. It's not a mudfish this time. A bait that size does two things: it calls in big fish, and it's less likely to be taken by the small ones.
The Gear
This is heavy-duty tackle, because a fish of this size will destroy anything lighter:
Two 7-foot rods built for monster catfish. Two reels, a big one and a normal one. 100lb line with a 120lb leader, and 10/0 circle hooks. If you want the full thinking behind this kind of setup, I explain it in my gear post.
The Boat
We'll have a boat for this one, and it makes a big difference. A big fish runs, and if you're stuck on the bank you often can't follow it. With a boat, you can go after it and keep it out of the snags.
Day and Night
We're fishing both. Big catfish don't keep office hours, so the plan is a full session through the day and into the night.
What I'm Keeping to Myself
I won't show the whole rig here. I'll show a part of it in my videos and lives, so you can see what I'm using for the big ones.
What Happens Next
I'll report back after the trip with what worked and what didn't, whether there's a monster in the photos or not.
Want the full system?
This is one piece of the puzzle — the free Catfish Quick-Start Guide covers bait, rigs, and timing to put it all together. If you're ready to go deeper, the Ultimate Catfish Guide breaks down the complete approach: rigs, seasonal patterns, and dam-specific tactics.
Get the Free Guide Get the Ultimate Guide