Monsters on the Ohio, Owensboro’s annual catfish tournament, will hold its 10th annual competition on Oct. 12. Tournament officials said 125 different boats have entered this year, which is up from this time last year, when 80 boats had entered, but still not at the 150 boats that typically compete.
The premier tournament is regarded as one of the best in the country, and even though catfish numbers are way up compared to last year, tournament organizer Aaron Wheatley says there are still some kinks Kentucky needs to work out before Monsters on the Ohio can realistically compete with catfish tournaments in other states.
However, the number of catfish swimming in the Ohio River is one thing Wheatley is excited about this year.
“It seems better all the way up and down the river,” he said. “There’s more fish in the river for three reasons — higher water levels, migration of fish and regulations.”
The Ohio River has seen high water levels the last two years, which means better spawning. And even though Wheatley says regulations in Kentucky could use better enforcement from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, he’s optimistic about the number of fish he’s been seeing in the river. The problem is, he says, these fish aren’t as big as they are in other states.
In states like Tennessee and Alabama, catfish are bigger and more prevalent because those states have better regulations for catfish, and those regulations are enforced, Wheatley said.
“You can’t transport live fish across state lines there,” he said. “Years ago, the Ohio River was one of the biggest catfish destinations, but it didn’t take long to put a dent in our numbers.”
In the Newburgh pool — where Owensboro’s catfish tournament will be held — commercial fishermen are allowed to fish at a 4-over-40, meaning they can take at least four 40-inch fish across state lines. Wheatley says that puts more pressure on the Newburgh pool, where sports fisherman are only allowed one fish over 35 inches.
Size matters when it comes to catfish, Wheatley said, and the Newburgh pool has some decent-sized fish this year, but nothing like Wheatley has seen in other states.
“Why would guys who catch bigger fish come here?” he asked. “I saw guys catching 98 and 100-pounders in Alabama. Am I going to go to Alabama and get a 100-pounder, or a 10- to 15-pounder here? It’s a no-brainer.”
Over the last 42 days, Wheatley says he’s spent 37 of them fishing on the river. Not once has he seen anyone from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife on the water, enforcing regulations.
Wheatley says he’s reached out to Kentucky Fish & Wildlife numerous times about enforcing regulations on the Ohio River, but the organization hasn’t expressed any interest in bettering their services. Even more, the organization has announced they will stop using catfish tournament data to do analytical studies on catfish, Wheatley said.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife could not be reached for comment.
“If they’d enforce regulations on the Ohio River, it could all turn around,” he said. “Ten years ago, downtown development in Owensboro was just starting. Monsters on the Ohio was the biggest thing going, but then people realized they weren’t going to catch big fish. This tournament should be the biggest thing happening for Owensboro every year. It should be having an enormous economic impact on the city.”
Wheatley compared Owensboro to Decatur, Ala., where he has gone fishing several times before. With one-over-34 regulations on their river, Decatur’s catfish tournaments brought in an estimated $270 million in tourism last year.
“That should be Owensboro,” Wheatley said. “Now, there are tournaments popping up everywhere. Even with our fish population growing, it’s a slow process.”
Unlike big-pay states like Texas, which offer $30,000 prizes for first-place catches, Monster on the Ohio offers a first-place prize based on the amount of entry fees it collects. Those interested can still register for the tournament on Oct. 11 at the captain’s meeting, held at the Owensboro Sportscenter from 4 – 5 p.m.
