When is blue catfish season in Louisiana?

Louisiana 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 Louisiana bag limit for blue catfish?

The Louisiana daily bag limit for blue catfish is 100 / day combined blue + channel + flathead (aggregate); 50 / day blue + channel combined on Caddo Lake, Sabine River, Toledo Bend (no more than 5 over 30 in). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size blue catfish can you keep in Louisiana?

The Louisiana size rule for blue catfish is 12 in min statewide; no minimum on Caddo Lake, Sabine River, Toledo Bend. Trophy rule: LA state-record blue catfish 114 lb (Mississippi River near Lake Providence, Lawson Boyte, 2014) — among the largest US rod-and-reel blue catfish.

Do you need a license to fish for blue catfish in Louisiana?

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

Are there gear restrictions for blue catfish in Louisiana?

Yes. In Louisiana, blue catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line + jugline + trotline + setline permitted under LDWF gear-tag rules; Tags + ID required on trotline + jugline gear; 100-fish daily limit applies in the aggregate to blue + channel + flathead together; An angler may possess up to 25 undersized catfish.

Do specific Louisiana waters have different blue catfish rules?

Yes. 5 named Louisiana waters carry rules that override the statewide blue catfish regulation, including Mississippi River (LA main stem), Atchafalaya Basin, Red River (LA main stem), and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Louisiana Blue catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Ictalurus furcatus

Last updated June 9, 2026

Blue catfish are Louisiana's premier trophy catfish — the Mississippi River, Atchafalaya Basin, Red River, and Ouachita River system grow them past the century mark. The LA state-record blue catfish weighed 114 pounds, caught on the Mississippi River near Lake Providence by 12-year-old Lawson Boyte of Oak Grove in March 2014; the fish measured 60½ inches with a 40-inch girth and ranks among the largest rod-and-reel blue cats ever landed in the United States. Louisiana caps catfish at 100 fish per day in the aggregate across blue + channel + flathead together (an angler may also possess up to 25 undersized catfish), with a 12-inch minimum length on blue catfish on most state waters. Caddo Lake, the Sabine River, and Toledo Bend are the exception — blue catfish carry no minimum length there but a 50-fish daily cap. Jugline, trotline, and setline harvest is allowed under LDWF gear-tag rules.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 100 / day combined blue + channel + flathead (aggregate); 50 / day blue + channel combined on Caddo Lake, Sabine River, Toledo Bend (no more than 5 over 30 in)

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 12 in min statewide; no minimum on Caddo Lake, Sabine River, Toledo Bend
Trophy rule: LA state-record blue catfish 114 lb (Mississippi River near Lake Providence, Lawson Boyte, 2014) — among the largest US rod-and-reel blue catfish

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line + jugline + trotline + setline permitted under LDWF gear-tag rules
Tags + ID required on trotline + jugline gear
100-fish daily limit applies in the aggregate to blue + channel + flathead together
An angler may possess up to 25 undersized catfish

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Louisiana waters:

Mississippi River (LA main stem)
12 in min, 100 / day aggregate; LA state-record blue 114 lb (2014)
Atchafalaya Basin
12 in min, 100 / day aggregate; cypress-tupelo trophy blue catfish waters
Red River (LA main stem)
12 in min, 100 / day aggregate; trophy blue catfish
Ouachita River + Lake D'Arbonne
12 in min, 100 / day aggregate
Caddo Lake / Sabine River / Toledo Bend
No minimum length, 50 / day (blue + channel combined); no more than 5 over 30 in

Official source

Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries publishes the authoritative 2026 Louisianafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The blue catfish rules on this page are sourced from Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries's official blue catfish regulation page.

Visit official Louisiana fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

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

Emergency orders →

Frequently asked questions

When is blue catfish season in Louisiana?: Louisiana 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 Louisiana bag limit for blue catfish?: The Louisiana daily bag limit for blue catfish is 100 / day combined blue + channel + flathead (aggregate); 50 / day blue + channel combined on Caddo Lake, Sabine River, Toledo Bend (no more than 5 over 30 in). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size blue catfish can you keep in Louisiana?: The Louisiana size rule for blue catfish is 12 in min statewide; no minimum on Caddo Lake, Sabine River, Toledo Bend. Trophy rule: LA state-record blue catfish 114 lb (Mississippi River near Lake Providence, Lawson Boyte, 2014) — among the largest US rod-and-reel blue catfish.
Do you need a license to fish for blue catfish in Louisiana?: Yes. Louisiana 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 Louisiana license — compare resident and non-resident Louisiana fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for blue catfish in Louisiana?: Yes. In Louisiana, blue catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line + jugline + trotline + setline permitted under LDWF gear-tag rules; Tags + ID required on trotline + jugline gear; 100-fish daily limit applies in the aggregate to blue + channel + flathead together; An angler may possess up to 25 undersized catfish.
Do specific Louisiana waters have different blue catfish rules?: Yes. 5 named Louisiana waters carry rules that override the statewide blue catfish regulation, including Mississippi River (LA main stem), Atchafalaya Basin, Red River (LA main stem), and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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