When is channel catfish season in Arizona?

Arizona keeps channel 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 Arizona bag limit for channel catfish?

The Arizona daily bag limit for channel catfish is 10 / day combined channel + flathead catfish (lowered from the former 25 / day in the 2024 AZGFD simplification). The possession limit is 20 in possession combined (2× daily). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size channel catfish can you keep in Arizona?

The Arizona size rule for channel catfish is No statewide minimum. Trophy rule: AZ state-record channel catfish 33 lb 5.76 oz Upper Lake Mary 2017 (Carson Pete, 39.5 in — surpassed the prior 32 lb 4 oz Parker Canyon Lake 1987 record); Theodore Roosevelt Lake + Apache + Canyon + Saguaro Salt River chain produce 5-15 lb channel catfish routinely; AZGFD Community Fishing Program ~70 urban-park ponds in Phoenix + Tucson + Yuma + Sierra Vista carry catchable summer-stocked channel catfish urban-fishing program (~250,000 catfish stocked annually via Page Springs + Sterling Springs + Silver Creek + Bubbling Ponds State Fish Hatcheries).

Do you need a license to fish for channel catfish in Arizona?

Yes. Arizona requires a valid fishing license to fish for channel 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 Arizona license — compare resident and non-resident Arizona fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Arizona?

Yes. In Arizona, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines permitted on listed waters; Snagging prohibited; Live bait permitted; cut bait + stink bait + chicken liver common channel catfish bait; Arizona Fishing License required ages 10+ ($37 res annual / $55 NR annual); General Fishing license covers AZGFD Community Fishing Program urban-park waters — there is no separate Community Fishing License (it was folded into the General Fishing license); Colorado River boundary-water privilege (Lake Havasu + Lake Mohave + Lake Mead) is bundled into every Arizona license — no separate Colorado River Stamp has been required since 2014; Confirm current-year AZGFD Fishing Regulations for reach-specific exceptions.

Do specific Arizona waters have different channel catfish rules?

Yes. 6 named Arizona waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Upper Lake Mary, Theodore Roosevelt Lake, Lake Powell, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Arizona Channel catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Ictalurus punctatus

Last updated June 8, 2026

Arizona channel catfish fishery is anchored by the Salt River chain of four desert canyon reservoirs (Theodore Roosevelt + Apache + Canyon + Saguaro) + the Lower Colorado River chain (Lake Mead + Lake Mohave + Lake Havasu + Colorado River main stem reach) + Lake Powell (AZ/UT boundary) + the AZGFD Community Fishing Program urban-park ponds. The 2024 AZGFD simplification lowered the statewide catfish limit to 10 / day combined channel + flathead catfish (down from the former 25 / day). Lake Powell + Lake Mead + Lake Mohave + Lake Havasu carry naturally-reproducing channel catfish populations alongside introduced flathead catfish. Theodore Roosevelt Lake + Apache + Canyon + Saguaro carry the trophy channel + flathead fishery (Roosevelt produces 5-15 lb channel catfish routinely). The AZ state-record channel catfish 33 lb 5.76 oz came from Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff (Carson Pete, March 26, 2017, 39.5 in — surpassing the prior 32 lb 4 oz Parker Canyon Lake record of 1987). AZGFD Community Fishing Program (~70 urban-park ponds in Phoenix + Tucson + Yuma + Sierra Vista metropolitan areas) carries the catchable summer-stocked channel catfish urban-fishing program — AZGFD stocks ~250,000 catfish annually at Community waters via the Page Springs + Sterling Springs + Silver Creek + Bubbling Ponds State Fish Hatcheries. The Lower Colorado River main stem from Hoover Dam downstream through Davis + Parker + Imperial + Laguna + Morelos Dams to the international border with Mexico carries the wild self-sustaining channel + flathead catfish + carp + ESA-listed razorback sucker + bonytail + Colorado pikeminnow + humpback chub fishery under joint AZ/NV/CA Lower Colorado River reciprocal arrangement. Open year-round statewide.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide; June – September warm-water densest fishing window on Roosevelt + Apache + Canyon + Saguaro + Powell + Mead + Havasu; AZGFD Community Fishing Program summer-stocked catfish program at urban-park ponds.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 10 / day combined channel + flathead catfish (lowered from the former 25 / day in the 2024 AZGFD simplification)
Possession: 20 in possession combined (2× daily)

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum
Trophy rule: AZ state-record channel catfish 33 lb 5.76 oz Upper Lake Mary 2017 (Carson Pete, 39.5 in — surpassed the prior 32 lb 4 oz Parker Canyon Lake 1987 record); Theodore Roosevelt Lake + Apache + Canyon + Saguaro Salt River chain produce 5-15 lb channel catfish routinely; AZGFD Community Fishing Program ~70 urban-park ponds in Phoenix + Tucson + Yuma + Sierra Vista carry catchable summer-stocked channel catfish urban-fishing program (~250,000 catfish stocked annually via Page Springs + Sterling Springs + Silver Creek + Bubbling Ponds State Fish Hatcheries)

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines permitted on listed waters
Snagging prohibited
Live bait permitted; cut bait + stink bait + chicken liver common channel catfish bait
Arizona Fishing License required ages 10+ ($37 res annual / $55 NR annual)
General Fishing license covers AZGFD Community Fishing Program urban-park waters — there is no separate Community Fishing License (it was folded into the General Fishing license)
Colorado River boundary-water privilege (Lake Havasu + Lake Mohave + Lake Mead) is bundled into every Arizona license — no separate Colorado River Stamp has been required since 2014
Confirm current-year AZGFD Fishing Regulations for reach-specific exceptions

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Arizona waters:

Upper Lake Mary
10 / day combined channel + flathead catfish; AZ state-record channel catfish 33 lb 5.76 oz Upper Lake Mary 2017 (Carson Pete, 39.5 in)
Theodore Roosevelt Lake
10 / day combined channel + flathead catfish; produces 5-15 lb channel catfish routinely
Lake Powell
10 / day combined channel + flathead catfish; UT/AZ joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir
Lake Mead + Lake Mohave
10 / day combined channel + flathead catfish; AZ/NV joint reciprocal compact
Lake Havasu
10 / day combined channel + flathead catfish; AZ/CA joint reciprocal compact
AZGFD Community Fishing Program
Channel catfish per posted Community-water bag limit (commonly 4 / day); AZGFD catchable summer-stocked program (~250,000 catfish stocked annually)

Official source

Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) publishes the authoritative 2026 Arizonafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The channel catfish rules on this page are sourced from Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD)'s official channel catfish regulation page.

Visit official Arizona fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Channel catfish closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Arizona Game and Fish Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any Arizona trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is channel catfish season in Arizona?: Arizona keeps channel 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 Arizona bag limit for channel catfish?: The Arizona daily bag limit for channel catfish is 10 / day combined channel + flathead catfish (lowered from the former 25 / day in the 2024 AZGFD simplification). The possession limit is 20 in possession combined (2× daily). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size channel catfish can you keep in Arizona?: The Arizona size rule for channel catfish is No statewide minimum. Trophy rule: AZ state-record channel catfish 33 lb 5.76 oz Upper Lake Mary 2017 (Carson Pete, 39.5 in — surpassed the prior 32 lb 4 oz Parker Canyon Lake 1987 record); Theodore Roosevelt Lake + Apache + Canyon + Saguaro Salt River chain produce 5-15 lb channel catfish routinely; AZGFD Community Fishing Program ~70 urban-park ponds in Phoenix + Tucson + Yuma + Sierra Vista carry catchable summer-stocked channel catfish urban-fishing program (~250,000 catfish stocked annually via Page Springs + Sterling Springs + Silver Creek + Bubbling Ponds State Fish Hatcheries).
Do you need a license to fish for channel catfish in Arizona?: Yes. Arizona requires a valid fishing license to fish for channel 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 Arizona license — compare resident and non-resident Arizona fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Arizona?: Yes. In Arizona, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines permitted on listed waters; Snagging prohibited; Live bait permitted; cut bait + stink bait + chicken liver common channel catfish bait; Arizona Fishing License required ages 10+ ($37 res annual / $55 NR annual); General Fishing license covers AZGFD Community Fishing Program urban-park waters — there is no separate Community Fishing License (it was folded into the General Fishing license); Colorado River boundary-water privilege (Lake Havasu + Lake Mohave + Lake Mead) is bundled into every Arizona license — no separate Colorado River Stamp has been required since 2014; Confirm current-year AZGFD Fishing Regulations for reach-specific exceptions.
Do specific Arizona waters have different channel catfish rules?: Yes. 6 named Arizona waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Upper Lake Mary, Theodore Roosevelt Lake, Lake Powell, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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