When is blue catfish season in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia?

The District of Columbia size rule for blue catfish is No minimum size limit. Trophy rule: Tidal Potomac + Anacostia produce trophy 50+ lb blue catfish annually; MD state record 84+ lb from the Potomac is among the largest US East-Coast tidal-river blue catfish on record.

Do you need a license to fish for blue catfish in District of Columbia?

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

Are there gear restrictions for blue catfish in District of Columbia?

Yes. In District of Columbia, blue catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; standard heavy conventional 50-80 lb tackle + bottom rigs + cut bait (gizzard shad, herring, eel chunks); DC Fishing Licence required ages 16-64; DOEE + PRFC + MD DNR + VA DWR encourage harvest as invasive-species control; Commercial harvest requires separate DC Commercial Marine Licence + MD DNR commercial blue catfish permit.

Do specific District of Columbia waters have different blue catfish rules?

Yes. 3 named District of Columbia waters carry rules that override the statewide blue catfish regulation, including Tidal Potomac River — DC waters, Anacostia River, Washington Channel. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

District of Columbia Blue catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Ictalurus furcatus

Last updated May 28, 2026

Blue catfish is DC's most ecologically-significant invasive species — introduced to Virginia tidal tributaries of the Chesapeake (the Pamunkey, Mattaponi, James, and Rappahannock) in the 1970s + 1980s as a Virginia DGIF sportfish-stocking program, the species exploded across the entire Chesapeake watershed including the Tidal Potomac + Anacostia by the 1990s + 2000s. Blue catfish now dominate the DC catfish catch by mass, replacing the native white catfish + native channel catfish in many tidal-river segments. DOEE + Maryland DNR + Virginia DWR + the Potomac River Fisheries Commission have all designated blue catfish as an invasive species and ENCOURAGE unlimited harvest — there is no minimum size, no bag limit, no closed season on blue catfish in DC. The species reaches trophy size in the Tidal Potomac + Anacostia — 50-pound + fish are caught every year, with the Maryland state record (84+ lb from the Potomac) standing as among the largest blue catfish ever taken from a US East Coast tidal river. Standard tackle is heavy-conventional 50-80 lb bottom rig with cut bait (gizzard shad, herring, eel chunks). The species supports a documented commercial harvest fishery under DC Commercial Marine Licence + MD DNR commercial blue catfish permit, separately from the unlimited recreational invasive-species harvest framework.

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Season

Open year-round Year-round on the Tidal Potomac + Anacostia + DC waters. DOEE-designated invasive — unlimited recreational harvest encouraged.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: No daily bag limit (DOEE-designated invasive — unlimited recreational harvest)

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No minimum size limit
Trophy rule: Tidal Potomac + Anacostia produce trophy 50+ lb blue catfish annually; MD state record 84+ lb from the Potomac is among the largest US East-Coast tidal-river blue catfish on record

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; standard heavy conventional 50-80 lb tackle + bottom rigs + cut bait (gizzard shad, herring, eel chunks)
DC Fishing Licence required ages 16-64
DOEE + PRFC + MD DNR + VA DWR encourage harvest as invasive-species control
Commercial harvest requires separate DC Commercial Marine Licence + MD DNR commercial blue catfish permit

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific District of Columbia waters:

Tidal Potomac River — DC waters
No size or bag limit; trophy 50+ lb fish annually; PRFC jurisdiction
Anacostia River
No size or bag limit; DC DOEE jurisdiction; dominant catfish species by mass
Washington Channel
No size or bag limit; tidal-river deep-channel blue catfish concentration

Official source

District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) — Fisheries and Wildlife Division publishes the authoritative 2026 District of Columbiafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official District of Columbia fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Blue catfish closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment's emergency-order feed — check it before any District of Columbia trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is blue catfish season in District of Columbia?: District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia bag limit for blue catfish?: The District of Columbia daily bag limit for blue catfish is No daily bag limit (DOEE-designated invasive — unlimited recreational harvest). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size blue catfish can you keep in District of Columbia?: The District of Columbia size rule for blue catfish is No minimum size limit. Trophy rule: Tidal Potomac + Anacostia produce trophy 50+ lb blue catfish annually; MD state record 84+ lb from the Potomac is among the largest US East-Coast tidal-river blue catfish on record.
Do you need a license to fish for blue catfish in District of Columbia?: Yes. District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia license — compare resident and non-resident District of Columbia fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for blue catfish in District of Columbia?: Yes. In District of Columbia, blue catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; standard heavy conventional 50-80 lb tackle + bottom rigs + cut bait (gizzard shad, herring, eel chunks); DC Fishing Licence required ages 16-64; DOEE + PRFC + MD DNR + VA DWR encourage harvest as invasive-species control; Commercial harvest requires separate DC Commercial Marine Licence + MD DNR commercial blue catfish permit.
Do specific District of Columbia waters have different blue catfish rules?: Yes. 3 named District of Columbia waters carry rules that override the statewide blue catfish regulation, including Tidal Potomac River — DC waters, Anacostia River, Washington Channel. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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