When is flathead catfish season in Alabama?

Alabama keeps flathead 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 flathead catfish?

The Alabama daily bag limit for flathead 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 seven southeastern 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 flathead catfish can you keep in Alabama?

The Alabama size rule for flathead 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's combined catfish rule protects trophy flatheads — unlimited under 34 inches, only 1 fish 34 inches or longer per day across blue, channel, and flathead together. Live catfish 34 inches or longer may not leave the state. The Alabama River near Selma produced the 80-pound state record; the Coosa, Tombigbee, Black Warrior, and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta are the other trophy-flathead strongholds..

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

Yes. Alabama requires a valid fishing license to fish for flathead 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.

Do specific Alabama waters have different flathead catfish rules?

Yes. 5 named Alabama waters carry rules that override the statewide flathead catfish regulation, including Alabama River, Coosa River chain, Tombigbee River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

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

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Last updated May 30, 2026

Flathead catfish are Alabama's premier predator catfish — unlike blue and channel cats they hunt live prey, and the Alabama River, the Coosa, the Tombigbee–Black Warrior system, and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta grow them into the 50-to-80-pound class. The Alabama state-record flathead weighed 80 pounds, caught from the Alabama River near Selma. Flatheads fall under Alabama's combined statewide catfish rule: no limit on fish under 34 inches, and only one catfish 34 inches or longer per day across blue, channel, and flathead together. The 34-inch cap is lifted in seven southeastern river basins (Perdido, Conecuh, Blackwater, Yellow, Choctawhatchee, Chipola, and Chattahoochee), and live catfish 34 inches or longer may not be transported out of state — a guard against the spread of this aggressive, range-expanding predator.

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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 seven southeastern 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's combined catfish rule protects trophy flatheads — unlimited under 34 inches, only 1 fish 34 inches or longer per day across blue, channel, and flathead together. Live catfish 34 inches or longer may not leave the state. The Alabama River near Selma produced the 80-pound state record; the Coosa, Tombigbee, Black Warrior, and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta are the other trophy-flathead strongholds.

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines, juglines, limblines, and snag-lines permitted under Alabama WFF labeling rules; flatheads favour live bait
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:

Alabama River
No limit under 34 in, 1 over 34 in/day; 80-lb state-record flathead water near Selma
Coosa River chain
No limit under 34 in, 1 over 34 in/day; trophy flathead + blue catfish
Tombigbee River
No limit under 34 in, 1 over 34 in/day; Black Warrior–Tombigbee trophy flatheads
Mobile-Tensaw River system
No limit under 34 in, 1 over 34 in/day; premier delta flathead water (freshwater reaches)
Choctawhatchee River basin
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 flathead catfish rules on this page are sourced from Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division's official flathead catfish regulation page.

Visit official Alabama fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Flathead 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 flathead catfish season in Alabama?: Alabama keeps flathead 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 flathead catfish?: The Alabama daily bag limit for flathead 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 seven southeastern 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 flathead catfish can you keep in Alabama?: The Alabama size rule for flathead 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's combined catfish rule protects trophy flatheads — unlimited under 34 inches, only 1 fish 34 inches or longer per day across blue, channel, and flathead together. Live catfish 34 inches or longer may not leave the state. The Alabama River near Selma produced the 80-pound state record; the Coosa, Tombigbee, Black Warrior, and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta are the other trophy-flathead strongholds..
Do you need a license to fish for flathead catfish in Alabama?: Yes. Alabama requires a valid fishing license to fish for flathead 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 flathead catfish in Alabama?: Yes. In Alabama, flathead catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, juglines, limblines, and snag-lines permitted under Alabama WFF labeling rules; flatheads favour live bait; 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 flathead catfish rules?: Yes. 5 named Alabama waters carry rules that override the statewide flathead catfish regulation, including Alabama River, Coosa River chain, Tombigbee River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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