2026 regulation year
Louisiana Channel catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Ictalurus punctatus
Last updated
Channel catfish are Louisiana's most widely distributed catfish — found in every river, bayou, oxbow, and reservoir in the state, from the Atchafalaya Basin and Mississippi River to small bayous and farm ponds. They are the bread-and-butter catfish of Louisiana rod-and-reel, jugline, and trotline anglers. The LA state-record channel catfish weighed 30 pounds (1977). Louisiana caps catfish at 100 fish per day in the aggregate across channel + blue + flathead together (an angler may also possess up to 25 undersized catfish), with an 11-inch minimum length on channel catfish on most state waters. Caddo Lake, the Sabine River, and Toledo Bend are the exception — channel 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 channel + blue + 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
- 11 in min statewide; no minimum on Caddo Lake, Sabine River, Toledo Bend
- Trophy rule
- LA state-record channel catfish 30 lb (1977)
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 channel + blue + 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)
11 in min, 100 / day aggregate
Atchafalaya Basin
11 in min, 100 / day aggregate; channel catfish throughout the river swamp
Red River (LA main stem)
11 in min, 100 / day aggregate
Ouachita River + Lake D'Arbonne
11 in min, 100 / day aggregate
Caddo Lake / Sabine River / Toledo Bend
No minimum length, 50 / day (channel + blue 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 channel catfish rules on this page are sourced from Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries's official channel catfish regulation page.
Visit official Louisiana fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Channel 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.
Frequently asked questions
- When is channel catfish season in Louisiana?
- Louisiana 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 Louisiana bag limit for channel catfish?
- The Louisiana daily bag limit for channel catfish is 100 / day combined channel + blue + 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 channel catfish can you keep in Louisiana?
- The Louisiana size rule for channel catfish is 11 in min statewide; no minimum on Caddo Lake, Sabine River, Toledo Bend. Trophy rule: LA state-record channel catfish 30 lb (1977).
- Do you need a license to fish for channel catfish in Louisiana?
- Yes. Louisiana 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 Louisiana license — compare resident and non-resident Louisiana fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Louisiana?
- Yes. In Louisiana, channel 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 channel + blue + flathead together; An angler may possess up to 25 undersized catfish.
- Do specific Louisiana waters have different channel catfish rules?
- Yes. 5 named Louisiana waters carry rules that override the statewide channel 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.