Night of Giants: After Dark Trophy Catfish Trips on the St. Joseph River

ST. JOSEPH FISHING FIELD GUIDE

Night of Giants: After Dark Trophy Catfish Trips on the St. Joseph River

A focused, five-hour after-dark outing with Gold Coast Fishing Co. (Capt. Todd Brill) that targets large river catfish and is useful for anglers planning a catch-and-release trophy night.

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Night of Giants: After Dark Trophy Catfish Trips on the St. Joseph River.

Duration
Contact operator
Location
St. Joseph
Operator
Gold Coast Fishing Co.
Category
Fishing
Robert Eric Crews
Founder & Editor, The Adventure Collective
Published Verified

The After Dark Trophy Catfish Trip is a deliberately paced, nighttime fishing experience on the St. Joseph that concentrates on landing very large river catfish. Designed for anglers aiming for trophy fish rather than constant action, the trip emphasizes quiet, patient fishing in pursuit of heavy channel cats and flatheads, with measurement and photographs available for replicas and records.

Highlights

Outing Highlights

THE TARGET

Giant River Catfish

This trip is aimed squarely at landing big cats — on a good night anglers can see multiple fish above 20 pounds. Channel catfish commonly run 10–20 lb, while flatheads range roughly 15–50 lb.

THE SETTING

Serene, After-Dark Fishing

The experience unfolds at night and is intentionally not action-packed: quiet, focused fishing where every bite can mean a once-in-a-night trophy. Expect the rhythm of the river to set the pace.

THE PROTOCOL

Catch-and-Release with Measurements

Trips are conducted 100% catch-and-release; the operator can take measurements and photos to document a catch and facilitate making a replica if desired.

What the day feels like

What the Night Feels Like

The outing is a focused five-hour night session that places anglers on the river with the express goal of finding and landing trophy catfish. It's paced for patience: anglers should expect several serious strikes on a productive night (reported averages are roughly 3–5 good bites), though some nights may produce few or no bites at all.

Suitability

Who it's for

Who this trip suits — and who should think twice.

1
Serious AnglersIdeal for anglers focused on landing trophy river catfish and willing to fish patiently through an outlined night session.
2
People Seeking Constant ActionNot ideal for anglers who want nonstop action; the trip targets large, often sporadic bites rather than continuous catches.
3
Small Groups & CouplesOperated with group pricing tiers for small parties; package sizes are structured for groups up to six participants.
4
Trophy DocumentersA good fit for those who care about documentation — the operator can take measurements and photos to assist with replica work — and who accept a strict catch-and-release policy.

Practical planner

Details to review before reserving

Timing & Duration

The After Dark Trophy Catfish Trip is a five-hour night trip.

Group Pricing

Rates are $500 for groups of 1–4 and $600 for groups of 5–6.

Catch Policy

The trip is conducted 100% catch-and-release; the operator can take measurements and photographs for documentation or replica-making.

Booking Notice

Review cancellation policies before reserving.

Frequently asked questions

Planning Your Outing

How long is the trip?

Each After Dark Trophy Catfish Trip runs five hours.

What are the rates?

Rates are $500 for groups of 1–4 and $600 for groups of 5–6.

Is this trip catch-and-release?

Yes — trips are 100% catch-and-release; the operator can take measurements and photos to facilitate replicas.

What size fish can I expect?

Channel catfish commonly run 10–20 pounds; flatheads typically run 15–50 pounds. On a good night anglers may see multiple fish above 20 pounds.

How many bites can I expect?

Anglers can expect roughly 3–5 good bites on a typical night, though some nights may produce few or no bites.

Who operates these trips?

The trips are run by Gold Coast Fishing Co.; Capt. Todd Brill is associated with the offering.