Catfish limits by state
Check before you keep a fish. These are statewide rules. Lakes, rivers and coastal zones often have their own limits, and rules can change during the year. Each state below has a link to its official rules.
- Free
- Official sources first
- Checked monthly
- Independent, not a state website
| State | Where | Size | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Catfish |
Statewide | – | No limit under 34"; only 1 over 34" | – |
| The over-34-inch limit does not apply in the Perdido, Conecuh, Blackwater, Yellow, Choctawhatchee, Chipola and Chattahoochee basins. Live catfish 34" or longer may not be taken out of state. Official source ADCNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Arizona Channel and flathead catfish |
Statewide | – | 10 in any combination | – |
| Arizona | Lake Mead and Lake Mohave (from 2026) | – | 25 | – |
| Arizona | Community Fishing waters (lakes / ponds) | – | 4 lakes / 2 ponds | – |
| Secondary source: Arizona Fishing Regulations (eRegulations)2 AZGFD official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Arkansas Catfish (except bullhead) |
Statewide | – | 10 in total | – |
| Official source AGFC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| California Catfish and bullhead |
Statewide | No minimum | No limit | Open all year |
| California | Colorado River and Southern districts; Inyo and Mono counties | – | 10 | – |
| Several counties (including Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Clara) have a limit of 5 at listed waters. Secondary source: California freshwater regulations booklet (eRegulations) CDFW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Colorado older data Channel, blue and flathead catfish |
Statewide | – | 10 in total | – |
| Note on this data: These limits come from a 2023 copy of Colorado's regulations, the newest we could check. Some may have changed since. Secondary source: Colorado fishing regulations (eRegulations) CPW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Connecticut Channel and white catfish |
Statewide | – | 6 in total | – |
| Connecticut | Community Fishing Waters | – | 3 in total | – |
| Official source CT DEEP official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| Georgia Channel and flathead catfish |
Statewide | – | No limit | – |
| Secondary source: Georgia sport fishing regulations (eRegulations) Georgia DNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Hawaii Channel catfish |
Statewide | No size limit listed | 3 | All year |
| Official source DLNR DAR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Idaho Other fish (crappie, yellow perch, sunfish, catfish) |
All regions (general rules) | – | No bag, length or possession limit | All year |
| Some waters have special limits on these species. Official source234567 IDFG official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Illinois Channel catfish |
Statewide | No statewide limit | No statewide limit | – |
| Official source IDNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Indiana Channel, blue and flathead catfish |
Rivers and streams | 13 in | No limit | All year |
| Indiana | Lakes | No size limit | 10 | All year |
| Indiana | Ohio River | 13 in; only 1 blue or flathead of 35 in or over and 1 channel of 28 in or over | No limit | All year |
| Trophy limits apply. Secondary source: Indiana Fishing Guide (eRegulations edition) Indiana DNR official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| Indiana Bullhead |
Statewide | No size limit | No limit | All year |
| Secondary source: Indiana Fishing Guide (eRegulations edition) Indiana DNR official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| Iowa older data Catfish |
Inland lakes | – | 8 (possession 30) | All year |
| Iowa | Inland streams | – | 15 (possession 30) | All year |
| Iowa | Mississippi River | – | No limit | All year |
| Note on this data: Size limits aren't shown: we couldn't confirm them from an official source. Bag limits and seasons are shown where we could. Many waters have exceptions (Iowa Admin. Code 571-81.2) not shown here, including length limits. Secondary source: Iowa Administrative Code 571-81.1 (Cornell Legal Information Institute) Iowa DNR official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| Kansas Channel catfish |
Statewide | – | 10 | – |
| Official source KDWP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Kansas Blue catfish |
Statewide | – | 5 | – |
| Official source KDWP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Kansas Flathead catfish |
Statewide | – | 5 | – |
| Official source KDWP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Kentucky Channel catfish |
Statewide | No limit under 28" | Unlimited under 28"; 1 fish 28" or longer | – |
| Possession limit 2 fish of 28" or more. Official source KDFWR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Kentucky Blue and flathead catfish |
Statewide | No limit under 35" | Unlimited under 35"; 1 of each species 35" or longer | – |
| Possession limit 2 of each 35" or more. Official source KDFWR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Louisiana Blue, channel and flathead catfish |
Statewide | Blue 12", channel 11", flathead 14" minimum | 100 in total | – |
| Up to 25 undersized catfish may be kept in total. Toledo Bend and Caddo Lake have their own rules. Official source LDWF official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Massachusetts Sunfish, crappie, yellow perch and catfish |
Statewide | No minimum | No limit | Year-round |
| Covered by 'all other freshwater species', which has no limit. Official source MassWildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Michigan Channel catfish |
Statewide | 12" minimum | 10 | Open all year |
| Secondary source: Michigan fishing regulations (eRegulations) Michigan DNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Michigan Flathead catfish |
Statewide | 15" minimum | 5 | Open all year |
| Secondary source: Michigan fishing regulations (eRegulations) Michigan DNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Minnesota Channel catfish |
Statewide | Only 1 over 24" | 5 | – |
| Official source MN DNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Minnesota Flathead catfish |
Statewide | Only 1 over 24" | 2 | – |
| Official source MN DNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Mississippi Catfish |
Statewide | – | No limit | – |
| Mississippi | State fishing lakes and state park lakes | – | 10 | – |
| Mississippi | Waters shared with Alabama and Tennessee | – | Only 1 over 34" a day | – |
| Official source MDWFP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Missouri Channel catfish |
Statewide | – | 10 | – |
| Official source MDC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Missouri Blue catfish |
Statewide | – | 5 | – |
| Missouri | Truman Lake and Lake of the Ozarks | 26" to 34" protected; up to 2 over 34" | 5 | – |
| Official source MDC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Missouri Flathead catfish |
Statewide | – | 5 | – |
| Official source MDC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Montana older data Channel catfish |
Central District | – | 10 | – |
| Montana | Eastern District | – | 10 (20 in possession) | – |
| Note on this data: These limits come from a 2023 copy of Montana's regulations, the newest we could check, and FWP has proposed changes. Some limits may now be different. Secondary source: Montana fishing regulations (eRegulations) FWP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Nebraska Channel catfish |
Inland waters | No minimum; only 1 of 30" or longer | 5 at standing water, 10 at flowing water (20 in possession) | – |
| Official source Game and Parks official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Nebraska Blue catfish |
Statewide | No minimum | 1 (2 in possession) | – |
| Official source Game and Parks official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Nebraska Flathead catfish |
Statewide | No minimum; only 1 of 30" or longer | 5 (10 in possession) | – |
| Official source Game and Parks official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Nevada Catfish |
Lake Mead and Lake Mohave | – | 25 | – |
| Nevada | Colorado River below Davis Dam | – | 25 | – |
| Elsewhere, check the regional and water-specific rules. Secondary source: Nevada Fishing Regulations 2026 (NDOW guide on eRegulations) NDOW official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| New Hampshire Yellow perch, white perch, black crappie, sunfish and horned pout |
Statewide | – | 25 of each species, 50 in total | – |
| Secondary source: New Hampshire Fishing Digest 2026 (eRegulations) NH Fish and Game official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| New Jersey Channel catfish |
Statewide | 12" minimum | 5 | All year |
| Secondary source: NJ Fish & Wildlife freshwater fishing digest 2026 (eRegulations) NJ Fish & Wildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| New Jersey Bullheads |
Statewide | No minimum | 25 combined | All year |
| Secondary source: NJ Fish & Wildlife freshwater fishing digest 2026 (eRegulations) NJ Fish & Wildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| New Mexico Catfish (channel, blue, flathead) |
Statewide | No minimum | 15 | – |
| Bullheads and Special Summer Catfish waters excluded. No limit on the Animas and San Juan rivers in San Juan County. Official source2 NMDOW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| New Mexico Bluegill, sunfish, bullheads and other warm water fish |
Statewide | No minimum | 20 | – |
| Official source NMDOW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| North Dakota Channel catfish |
East of ND Highway 1 | Only 1 over 24" | 5 (5 in possession) | – |
| North Dakota | West of ND Highway 1 | No minimum | 20 (40 in possession) | – |
| North Dakota | Red and Bois de Sioux rivers | Only 1 over 24" | 5 | – |
| Official source NDGF official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Ohio Channel catfish |
Statewide | Only 1 may be 28" or longer | No limit under 28" | – |
| Official source ODNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Ohio Blue and flathead catfish |
Statewide | Only 1 of each may be 35" or longer | No limit under 35" | – |
| Official source ODNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Oklahoma Channel and blue catfish |
Statewide | Only 1 blue catfish over 30" | 15 in total | – |
| Official source ODWC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Oklahoma Flathead catfish |
Statewide | – | 5 | – |
| Official source ODWC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Pennsylvania older data Sunfish, yellow perch, crappie, catfish and other panfish |
Statewide | No minimum | 50 combined | All year |
| Note on this data: Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries aren't covered here: their limits differ from the inland rules shown. Panfish Enhancement waters have size limits. Figures from the 2025 summary; the Commission's 2026 book confirms the dates noted. Check the current summary book before fishing. Secondary source: Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (eRegulations, 2025 edition) PFBC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Rhode Island Crappie, perch, sunfish, catfish and other freshwater fish |
Statewide | No minimum | No limit | No closed season |
| Listed by DEM as 'all other freshwater fish'. Local exceptions may apply. Official source2 RIDEM official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| South Carolina Blue catfish |
Most waters | No minimum | 150 | – |
| South Carolina | Lakes Marion and Moultrie, upper Santee River, Pee Dee River (NC line to US 301) | No minimum; only 2 over 32" | 25 | – |
| Effective May 15, 2026. Only 2 over 32" a day also applies on the Congaree and Wateree rivers. Secondary source: South Carolina hunting and fishing regulations 2026-27 (eRegulations) SCDNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| South Dakota Channel and flathead catfish |
Statewide | Only 1 flathead of 30" or longer | 10 (possession 20) | – |
| Official source2 SD GFP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| South Dakota White bass, rock bass and bullhead |
Statewide | No minimum | No limit | – |
| Official source2 SD GFP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Tennessee Catfish |
Statewide | Only 1 may be over 34" | No limit under 34" | – |
| Official source TWRA official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Texas Channel and blue catfish |
Statewide | No minimum | 25 in total, only 10 of them 20" or longer | – |
| Official source TPWD official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Texas Flathead catfish |
Statewide | 18" minimum | 5 | – |
| Official source TPWD official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Utah Channel catfish |
Statewide | No statewide minimum | 8 | – |
| Secondary source: Utah Fishing Guidebook (eRegulations) Utah DWR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Vermont Panfish (yellow perch, crappie, sunfish, bullhead) |
Statewide | Crappie 8"; others no minimum | 50 panfish in total, no more than 25 crappie | All year |
| Secondary source: Vermont Fishing Regulations 2026-27 (eRegulations) Vermont Fish & Wildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Vermont Chain pickerel, catfish and other species |
Statewide | No minimum | No limit | All year |
| Listed under 'all other species' in the general regulations. Secondary source: Vermont Fishing Regulations 2026-27 (eRegulations) Vermont Fish & Wildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Virginia Channel, white and flathead catfish |
Statewide | No minimum | 20 | – |
| Official source DWR / VMRC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Virginia Blue catfish |
Statewide | No minimum | 20 | – |
| Virginia | Kerr Reservoir and tributaries | Only 1 over 32" | 20 | – |
| Virginia | Tidal James River below the fall line, and Gaston | Only 1 over 32" | No daily limit | – |
| Official source DWR / VMRC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Washington Channel catfish |
Lakes, ponds and reservoirs | No minimum | 5 | – |
| Washington | Rivers, streams and beaver ponds | No size rule | No limit | – |
| Secondary source: Washington Sport Fishing Rules 2026 (eRegulations edition) WDFW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| West Virginia Channel catfish |
Statewide | No minimum | 4 (possession 8) | – |
| West Virginia | All rivers and streams, and certain large impoundments | No minimum | 30 (possession 60) | – |
| Official source WVDNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| West Virginia Blue catfish |
Statewide | 25" minimum | 2 (no possession limit) | – |
| Official source WVDNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Wisconsin older data Catfish |
Statewide | Varies by water; check the DNR lake lookup | 25 total | – |
| Wisconsin | Lake Winnebago system | Varies by water; check the DNR lake lookup | Only 1 flathead catfish | – |
| Note on this data: Only statewide daily bag limits are shown. Size limits, and many bag limits, are set lake by lake, so they aren't listed here. Official source WDNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Wisconsin older data Rock, white and yellow bass, and bullheads |
Statewide | No minimum | No limit | – |
| Note on this data: Only statewide daily bag limits are shown. Size limits, and many bag limits, are set lake by lake, so they aren't listed here. Official source WDNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Wyoming Channel catfish |
Statewide | No statewide size limit | 6 | – |
| Secondary source: 2026 Wyoming Fishing Regulations (eRegulations edition) WGFD official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||