When is blue catfish season in Alabama?

Alabama keeps blue catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What size blue catfish can you keep in Alabama?

The Alabama size rule for blue catfish is No minimum size; only 1 catfish per day may be 34 inches or longer (a combined trophy cap). No 34-inch cap in the seven exempt southeastern river basins.. Trophy rule: Alabama protects trophy catfish with a single statewide rule — unlimited catfish under 34 inches, only 1 fish 34 inches or longer per day across blue, channel, and flathead combined. It is unlawful to transport a live catfish 34 inches or longer beyond Alabama's boundaries. The Tennessee River chain (Wheeler, Wilson, Pickwick), the Alabama and Black Warrior rivers, and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta produce blue catfish to 120+ pounds — the state record came from Holt Reservoir..

Do you need a license to fish for blue catfish in Alabama?

Yes. Alabama requires a valid fishing license to fish for blue catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Alabama license — compare resident and non-resident Alabama fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for blue catfish in Alabama?

Yes. In Alabama, blue catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, juglines, limblines, and snag-lines permitted under Alabama WFF labeling rules; The catfish limit covers blue, channel, and flathead combined — only 1 fish 34 in or longer per day; Unlawful to transport a live catfish 34 in or longer beyond Alabama's boundaries; Alabama freshwater fishing licence required ages 16+ (resident annual $13 / non-resident annual $53).

Do specific Alabama waters have different blue catfish rules?

Yes. 5 named Alabama waters carry rules that override the statewide blue catfish regulation, including Wheeler Lake, Wilson Lake, Pickwick Lake, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Alabama Blue catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Ictalurus furcatus

Last updated May 30, 2026

Alabama is one of the nation's premier trophy blue catfish destinations — the state-record blue catfish weighed over 120 pounds, caught from Holt Reservoir on the Black Warrior River, and Wheeler Lake on the Tennessee River is a nationally ranked big-blue tournament fishery. The Tennessee River chain (Wheeler, Wilson, Pickwick, Guntersville), the Alabama and Coosa rivers, the Black Warrior–Tombigbee system, and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta all grow blue catfish into the 50-to-100-pound class. Alabama manages all catfish under a single combined statewide rule: there is no limit on catfish under 34 inches, and only one catfish 34 inches or longer may be kept per day — counted across blue, channel, and flathead together. The trophy cap is lifted in seven southeastern river basins (Perdido, Conecuh, Blackwater, Yellow, Choctawhatchee, Chipola, and Chattahoochee), and it is unlawful to transport any live catfish 34 inches or longer beyond the state line.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide. No limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish 34 inches or longer per day (the limit covers blue, channel, and flathead combined). The 34-inch cap does not apply in the Perdido, Conecuh, Blackwater, Yellow, Choctawhatchee, Chipola, and Chattahoochee river basins.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: No limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish 34 inches or longer per day (one rule covering blue + channel + flathead combined). Exempt: the Perdido, Conecuh, Blackwater, Yellow, Choctawhatchee, Chipola, and Chattahoochee river basins (no 34-in cap).
Possession: No possession limit under 34 in; 1 catfish 34 in or longer in possession

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No minimum size; only 1 catfish per day may be 34 inches or longer (a combined trophy cap). No 34-inch cap in the seven exempt southeastern river basins.
Trophy rule: Alabama protects trophy catfish with a single statewide rule — unlimited catfish under 34 inches, only 1 fish 34 inches or longer per day across blue, channel, and flathead combined. It is unlawful to transport a live catfish 34 inches or longer beyond Alabama's boundaries. The Tennessee River chain (Wheeler, Wilson, Pickwick), the Alabama and Black Warrior rivers, and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta produce blue catfish to 120+ pounds — the state record came from Holt Reservoir.

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines, juglines, limblines, and snag-lines permitted under Alabama WFF labeling rules
The catfish limit covers blue, channel, and flathead combined — only 1 fish 34 in or longer per day
Unlawful to transport a live catfish 34 in or longer beyond Alabama's boundaries
Alabama freshwater fishing licence required ages 16+ (resident annual $13 / non-resident annual $53)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Alabama waters:

Wheeler Lake (Tennessee River)
No limit under 34 in, 1 over 34 in/day; nationally ranked trophy blue catfish + tournament water
Wilson Lake (Tennessee River)
No limit under 34 in, 1 over 34 in/day; Wilson Dam tailwater trophy blue cats
Pickwick Lake (AL/TN/MS)
No limit under 34 in, 1 over 34 in/day; Tennessee River trophy catfish; boundary water
Holt Reservoir (Black Warrior River)
State-record blue catfish water (120+ lb); no limit under 34 in, 1 over 34 in/day
Chattahoochee River basin (AL/GA border)
EXEMPT from the 34-in trophy cap — no size limit on catfish; one of 7 exempt southeastern basins

Official source

Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division publishes the authoritative 2026 Alabamafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The blue catfish rules on this page are sourced from Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division's official blue catfish regulation page.

Visit official Alabama fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Blue catfish closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division's emergency-order feed — check it before any Alabama trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is blue catfish season in Alabama?: Alabama keeps blue catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Alabama bag limit for blue catfish?: The Alabama daily bag limit for blue catfish is No limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish 34 inches or longer per day (one rule covering blue + channel + flathead combined). Exempt: the Perdido, Conecuh, Blackwater, Yellow, Choctawhatchee, Chipola, and Chattahoochee river basins (no 34-in cap).. The possession limit is No possession limit under 34 in; 1 catfish 34 in or longer in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size blue catfish can you keep in Alabama?: The Alabama size rule for blue catfish is No minimum size; only 1 catfish per day may be 34 inches or longer (a combined trophy cap). No 34-inch cap in the seven exempt southeastern river basins.. Trophy rule: Alabama protects trophy catfish with a single statewide rule — unlimited catfish under 34 inches, only 1 fish 34 inches or longer per day across blue, channel, and flathead combined. It is unlawful to transport a live catfish 34 inches or longer beyond Alabama's boundaries. The Tennessee River chain (Wheeler, Wilson, Pickwick), the Alabama and Black Warrior rivers, and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta produce blue catfish to 120+ pounds — the state record came from Holt Reservoir..
Do you need a license to fish for blue catfish in Alabama?: Yes. Alabama requires a valid fishing license to fish for blue catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Alabama license — compare resident and non-resident Alabama fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for blue catfish in Alabama?: Yes. In Alabama, blue catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, juglines, limblines, and snag-lines permitted under Alabama WFF labeling rules; The catfish limit covers blue, channel, and flathead combined — only 1 fish 34 in or longer per day; Unlawful to transport a live catfish 34 in or longer beyond Alabama's boundaries; Alabama freshwater fishing licence required ages 16+ (resident annual $13 / non-resident annual $53).
Do specific Alabama waters have different blue catfish rules?: Yes. 5 named Alabama waters carry rules that override the statewide blue catfish regulation, including Wheeler Lake, Wilson Lake, Pickwick Lake, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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