Load PDF and Print This Page Whole, dressed, fresh, frozen, filet, steak. Blue catfish grow faster and live longer than the channel catfish. They are the largest member of the catfish family. They can grow to over 55 inches long and can wiegh more than 100 pounds. They can live up to 20-25 years. The blue catfish is considered an excellent food fish with white, firm, delicately flavored flesh. March to December in Virginia. 116 Calories (100 grams, 3.5 oz.) 18.2% Protein 4.3% Fat .37% Omega-3 Wild catfish can easily replace farm raised catfish, tilapia, haddock and cod in most recipes. Adult fish have stout bodies with prominently humped back in front of the dorsal fin. They resemble channel catfish by having deeply forked tails, but are dissimilar because they are unspotted and have a large straight edged anal fin. The back and upper sides are blue to slate gray, and the lower sides and belly are white. Catfish are generally harvested by day boats, in trap nets, haul seines, and trot lines. Virginia’s waters and products are regulated by federal and state agencies including the FDA, the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, insuring that only safe wholesome seafood reaches our customers.