Multiple catfish in impellers

[pres2028]

Sounds insane but: the last 3 times I've taken my 252SD out I've dealt with catfish in the impellers. My slip (Columbia Island Marina in DC / Virginia) must be a catfish magnet. Details:

#1: Start the engines without checking the impellers. She starts smoking after 2 minutes. Stop the engine, reach in to check the impeller, and feel fish guts. Spend an hour fishing out the beauty you see in the photo.

#2: Check the impellers first. Feel a fish. Try to scare it out, fin gets caught in impeller, have to fish out by hand.

#3: Check the impellers first. Feel a fish. Try to scare it out, seems like she's gone. Start the engine, apparently she wasn't gone and got sucked back in, more smoke. Another 30 minutes fishing out very bony catfish parts. Fun!

So as crazy as this sounds, has anyone dealt with this and come up with a solution?? I'm thinking of installing a catfish repelling beacon, or maybe I'll just figure out what music they hate and play that on repeat. Things I never could have guessed about owning a jet boat .

 

[Julian]

Before we bought our airdock we'd get catfish in the impellers all the time. Our daughter was younger at the time and would always come out with a friend, and their first job was to do "The Catfish Dance" on the swim deck to scare the catfish out of the impellers.

Not much fun pulling partially or majorly ground up fish out of the clean outs!!!

 

[Scottintexas]

maybe put a long towel down the cleanout hole around the shaft or maybe a large pool noodle with a slice cut in it to go around the shaft, just something to stop their progress to the actual impeller area,

 

[pres2028]

Before we bought our airdock we'd get catfish in the impellers all the time. Our daughter was younger at the time and would always come out with a friend, and their first job was to do "The Catfish Dance" on the swim deck to scare the catfish out of the impellers.

Not much fun pulling partially or majorly ground up fish out of the clean outs!!!

Good reminder for me to get that airdock!! And I'll get the kids started with the catfish dance - my 6 year old will love that.

 

[pres2028]

maybe put a long towel down the cleanout hole around the shaft or maybe a large pool noodle with a slice cut in it to go around the shaft, just something to stop their progress to the actual impeller area,

Great idea - towel should work here to fill in the smaller spaces (and avoid having the impeller rip off small pieces of the noodle). Gonna try it. Thanks!

 

[drewkaree]

I'm thinking a little Bisquick, garlic and onion powder, and some Old Bay seasoning. Milk and egg wash, with some Guinness mixed in. Now, I don't know where you want to put your fryer, that seems like it'll just make a mess on the swim deck, and the propane may fall overboard, so you might just have to set up shop on the dock.

Wat?

 

[Billtex2000]

Buddy of mine at the Jersey Shore sucked up a 3' long eel. Had to limp home and pull the pump to get it out.
I wish I still had the pic. Shut the motor right down!

 

[Matt Phillips]

I like the idea of the catfish dance!

Another idea may be to remove the kill switch and bump the starters a few times (I believe the engines will turn over but not start). I'd think that'd scare them out of their hidey hole.

 

[drewkaree]

I like the idea of the catfish dance!

Another idea may be to remove the kill switch and bump the starters a few times (I believe the engines will turn over but not start). I'd think that'd scare them out of their hidey hole.

Mine won't turn over, but maybe some models might

 

[ToddW850]

What in the world? And I thought the seaweed (sargassum) here was bad, haha

 

[Stealth]

Buddy of mine at the Jersey Shore sucked up a 3' long eel. Had to limp home and pull the pump to get it out.
I wish I still had the pic. Shut the motor right down!

As someone who boats at the Jersey Shore...... OMG

 

[Billtex2000]

As someone who boats at the Jersey Shore...... OMG

Barnegat Bay!