When is channel catfish season in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia bag limit for channel catfish?

The District of Columbia daily bag limit for channel catfish is 3 / day (DC DOEE, DCMR Title 19). The possession limit is 3 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size channel catfish can you keep in District of Columbia?

The District of Columbia size rule for channel catfish is 12 in minimum (DC DOEE). Trophy rule: DC recreational channel catfish record is currently vacant (DOEE Recreational Angling Records program launched 2022); a 7.5-lb fish holds the youth record. The Anacostia + Washington Channel deep holes produce the larger fish. DOEE fish-consumption advisory applies — confirm current guidance before harvesting for the table.

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

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

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

Yes. In District of Columbia, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; cut bait + bottom rigs (gizzard shad, chicken liver, nightcrawler); DC Fishing Licence required ages 16-64 ($10 res / $13 NR annual; online-only since 2022); Native channel catfish carries the 12 in / 3 per day limit; invasive blue catfish carries NO size or bag limit — identify before harvest; DOEE consumption advisory applies on the Tidal Potomac + Anacostia (legacy PCB / contaminant burden).

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

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

2026 regulation year

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

Ictalurus punctatus

Last updated June 3, 2026

Channel catfish is the District's native bottom-feeding catfish and one of the most accessible shoreline targets across the Tidal Potomac River + Anacostia River + Washington Channel — a fishery any DC angler can reach from Hains Point, the Anacostia banks, or Kingman Island with cut bait on a bottom rig. Unlike the invasive blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus, no limit) that has come to dominate the Potomac + Anacostia catfish catch by mass since the 1990s, the native channel catfish carries a genuine DC DOEE creel + size limit under DCMR Title 19 — a 12-inch minimum length + 3 fish per day. DOEE publishes a fish-consumption advisory for the Tidal Potomac + Anacostia because of legacy PCB + organic-contaminant body burden in the urban watershed; anglers who harvest catfish for the table are advised to keep smaller legal fish, remove the skin + fatty tissue, and confirm the current DOEE advisory. The Anacostia produces channel catfish to double-digit weights from the deeper tidal holes below the Sousa Bridge + the CSX rail bridge; the Washington Channel + the Potomac mainstem holes off Hains Point hold the better-conditioned fish. Standard tackle is a medium bottom rod with cut gizzard shad, chicken liver, or nightcrawler on a slip-sinker rig.

Compare channel catfish regulations across all states →

Get change alerts

Watch District of Columbia Channel catfish and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

Season

Open year-round Year-round on DC waters. DC DOEE 12 in min + 3 / day (DCMR Title 19). Native species — distinct from the no-limit invasive blue catfish.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 3 / day (DC DOEE, DCMR Title 19)
Possession: 3 in possession

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 12 in minimum (DC DOEE)
Trophy rule: DC recreational channel catfish record is currently vacant (DOEE Recreational Angling Records program launched 2022); a 7.5-lb fish holds the youth record. The Anacostia + Washington Channel deep holes produce the larger fish. DOEE fish-consumption advisory applies — confirm current guidance before harvesting for the table

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; cut bait + bottom rigs (gizzard shad, chicken liver, nightcrawler)
DC Fishing Licence required ages 16-64 ($10 res / $13 NR annual; online-only since 2022)
Native channel catfish carries the 12 in / 3 per day limit; invasive blue catfish carries NO size or bag limit — identify before harvest
DOEE consumption advisory applies on the Tidal Potomac + Anacostia (legacy PCB / contaminant burden)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific District of Columbia waters:

Anacostia River
12 in min, 3 / day (DC DOEE); deep tidal holes below the Sousa + CSX bridges
Washington Channel
12 in min, 3 / day (DC DOEE); deep-channel native channel catfish
Tidal Potomac River — DC waters
12 in min, 3 / day under DC DOEE; on the PRFC tidal mainstem channel catfish is not separately listed (blue catfish no limit, bullhead 6 in) — the jurisdictions differ

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.

The channel catfish rules on this page are sourced from District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) — Fisheries and Wildlife Division's official channel catfish regulation page.

Visit official District of Columbia fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Channel 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 channel catfish season in District of Columbia?: District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia bag limit for channel catfish?: The District of Columbia daily bag limit for channel catfish is 3 / day (DC DOEE, DCMR Title 19). The possession limit is 3 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size channel catfish can you keep in District of Columbia?: The District of Columbia size rule for channel catfish is 12 in minimum (DC DOEE). Trophy rule: DC recreational channel catfish record is currently vacant (DOEE Recreational Angling Records program launched 2022); a 7.5-lb fish holds the youth record. The Anacostia + Washington Channel deep holes produce the larger fish. DOEE fish-consumption advisory applies — confirm current guidance before harvesting for the table.
Do you need a license to fish for channel catfish in District of Columbia?: Yes. District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia license — compare resident and non-resident District of Columbia fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in District of Columbia?: Yes. In District of Columbia, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; cut bait + bottom rigs (gizzard shad, chicken liver, nightcrawler); DC Fishing Licence required ages 16-64 ($10 res / $13 NR annual; online-only since 2022); Native channel catfish carries the 12 in / 3 per day limit; invasive blue catfish carries NO size or bag limit — identify before harvest; DOEE consumption advisory applies on the Tidal Potomac + Anacostia (legacy PCB / contaminant burden).
Do specific District of Columbia waters have different channel catfish rules?: Yes. 3 named District of Columbia waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Anacostia River, Washington Channel, Tidal Potomac River — DC waters. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

← Back to District of Columbia regulations overview