When is flathead catfish season in Arkansas?

Arkansas 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 Arkansas bag limit for flathead catfish?

The Arkansas daily bag limit for flathead catfish is 10 / day combined across channel + blue + flathead catfish statewide; no limit on the Mississippi River + Grand Lake. The possession limit is Triple the daily limit in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size flathead catfish can you keep in Arkansas?

The Arkansas size rule for flathead catfish is No statewide minimum size; 20 in min on the Ouachita River from Remmel Dam to Sandy Beach Access (flathead must be 20 in or longer to keep). Trophy rule: AR rod-and-reel state-record flathead 80 lb — Arkansas River, 1989, Wesley White of Hartford; the largest by any tackle is an 85 lb 6 oz trotline fish from Blackfish Lake (2023). Most Arkansas flatheads are in flowing water (Arkansas / Mississippi / White / Red / Ouachita rivers)..

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

Yes. Arkansas 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 Arkansas license — compare resident and non-resident Arkansas fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for flathead catfish in Arkansas?

Yes. In Arkansas, flathead catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, limblines, juglines and yo-yos permitted for catfish under AGFC labeling rules; Hogging (noodling / hand-grabbing) for catfish permitted on the Mississippi River May 1 – July 15; Combined catfish daily limit (channel + blue + flathead) = 10 / day statewide; 20 in min flathead on the Ouachita River (Remmel Dam – Sandy Beach Access); Live + cut bait most effective — flatheads ambush from woody cover + deep river holes; AGFC Fisheries Conservation Licence required ages 16+ ($11 res / $50 NR annual).

Do specific Arkansas waters have different flathead catfish rules?

Yes. 4 named Arkansas waters carry rules that override the statewide flathead catfish regulation, including Arkansas River, Mississippi River, Ouachita River (Remmel – Sandy Beach), and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

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

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Last updated June 8, 2026

Flathead catfish are native to Arkansas — primarily the larger river systems (the Arkansas, Mississippi, White, Red and Ouachita rivers), though they also thrive in some lakes. An ambush predator that holds around woody cover and deep holes and takes live bait, the flathead is the most challenging of the big three catfish to target. The AR rod-and-reel state record is 80 lb, caught from the Arkansas River in 1989 by Wesley White of Hartford; the largest flathead taken in Arkansas by any tackle is an 85 lb 6 oz trotline fish from Blackfish Lake (St. Francis County, 2023). Flathead fall under the combined statewide catfish daily limit of 10 fish (channel + blue + flathead together) with no statewide minimum size, except on the Ouachita River from Remmel Dam to Sandy Beach Access, where a flathead must be at least 20 inches to keep. The Mississippi River and Grand Lake carry no catfish limit at all. Possession is triple the daily limit.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide. Daily limit: 10 catfish per day combined across channel, blue and flathead, with no statewide minimum size — except a 20-inch flathead minimum on the Ouachita River from Remmel Dam to Sandy Beach Access. No limit on catfish on the Mississippi River + Grand Lake.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 10 / day combined across channel + blue + flathead catfish statewide; no limit on the Mississippi River + Grand Lake
Possession: Triple the daily limit in possession

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum size; 20 in min on the Ouachita River from Remmel Dam to Sandy Beach Access (flathead must be 20 in or longer to keep)
Trophy rule: AR rod-and-reel state-record flathead 80 lb — Arkansas River, 1989, Wesley White of Hartford; the largest by any tackle is an 85 lb 6 oz trotline fish from Blackfish Lake (2023). Most Arkansas flatheads are in flowing water (Arkansas / Mississippi / White / Red / Ouachita rivers).

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines, limblines, juglines and yo-yos permitted for catfish under AGFC labeling rules
Hogging (noodling / hand-grabbing) for catfish permitted on the Mississippi River May 1 – July 15
Combined catfish daily limit (channel + blue + flathead) = 10 / day statewide; 20 in min flathead on the Ouachita River (Remmel Dam – Sandy Beach Access)
Live + cut bait most effective — flatheads ambush from woody cover + deep river holes
AGFC Fisheries Conservation Licence required ages 16+ ($11 res / $50 NR annual)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Arkansas waters:

Arkansas River
10 / day combined catfish; AR rod-and-reel state-record flathead 80 lb (1989)
Mississippi River main stem
No limit on catfish; hogging permitted May 1 – July 15
Ouachita River (Remmel Dam – Sandy Beach Access)
Flathead must be 20 in or longer to keep
White River (below the trout zone)
10 / day combined catfish; lower-river flathead habitat

Official source

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) publishes the authoritative 2026 Arkansasfishing 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 Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)'s official flathead catfish regulation page.

Visit official Arkansas fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

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

Frequently asked questions

When is flathead catfish season in Arkansas?: Arkansas 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 Arkansas bag limit for flathead catfish?: The Arkansas daily bag limit for flathead catfish is 10 / day combined across channel + blue + flathead catfish statewide; no limit on the Mississippi River + Grand Lake. The possession limit is Triple the daily limit in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size flathead catfish can you keep in Arkansas?: The Arkansas size rule for flathead catfish is No statewide minimum size; 20 in min on the Ouachita River from Remmel Dam to Sandy Beach Access (flathead must be 20 in or longer to keep). Trophy rule: AR rod-and-reel state-record flathead 80 lb — Arkansas River, 1989, Wesley White of Hartford; the largest by any tackle is an 85 lb 6 oz trotline fish from Blackfish Lake (2023). Most Arkansas flatheads are in flowing water (Arkansas / Mississippi / White / Red / Ouachita rivers)..
Do you need a license to fish for flathead catfish in Arkansas?: Yes. Arkansas 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 Arkansas license — compare resident and non-resident Arkansas fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for flathead catfish in Arkansas?: Yes. In Arkansas, flathead catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, limblines, juglines and yo-yos permitted for catfish under AGFC labeling rules; Hogging (noodling / hand-grabbing) for catfish permitted on the Mississippi River May 1 – July 15; Combined catfish daily limit (channel + blue + flathead) = 10 / day statewide; 20 in min flathead on the Ouachita River (Remmel Dam – Sandy Beach Access); Live + cut bait most effective — flatheads ambush from woody cover + deep river holes; AGFC Fisheries Conservation Licence required ages 16+ ($11 res / $50 NR annual).
Do specific Arkansas waters have different flathead catfish rules?: Yes. 4 named Arkansas waters carry rules that override the statewide flathead catfish regulation, including Arkansas River, Mississippi River, Ouachita River (Remmel – Sandy Beach), and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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