2026 regulation year
Louisiana Flathead catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
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Flathead catfish — known locally as 'op' or 'Opelousas' catfish — are Louisiana's live-bait ambush predator, prized as the best-eating of the three big catfish. They thrive in the Atchafalaya Basin, the Mississippi and Red Rivers, and the Ouachita system, where they hold under logjams, cypress root wads, and deep river bends. The LA state-record flathead catfish weighed 95 pounds, caught at Wax Lake by Roland Lasseigne in July 2007. Louisiana caps catfish at 100 fish per day in the aggregate across flathead + blue + channel together (an angler may also possess up to 25 undersized catfish), with a 14-inch minimum length on flathead catfish on most state waters. Caddo Lake, the Sabine River, and Toledo Bend are the exception — flathead there carry an 18-inch minimum length and a 10-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 flathead + blue + channel (aggregate); 10 / day on Caddo Lake, Sabine River, Toledo Bend
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 14 in min statewide; 18 in min on Caddo Lake, Sabine River, Toledo Bend
- Trophy rule
- LA state-record flathead catfish 95 lb (Wax Lake, Roland Lasseigne, 2007)
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line + jugline + trotline + setline permitted under LDWF gear-tag rules
- Tags + ID required on trotline + jugline gear; live bait favoured for flathead
- 100-fish daily limit applies in the aggregate to flathead + blue + channel together
- An angler may possess up to 25 undersized catfish
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Louisiana waters:
Atchafalaya Basin
14 in min, 100 / day aggregate; cypress-tupelo trophy flathead waters
Mississippi River (LA main stem)
14 in min, 100 / day aggregate; trophy flathead catfish
Red River (LA main stem)
14 in min, 100 / day aggregate; trophy flathead catfish
Ouachita River + Lake D'Arbonne
14 in min, 100 / day aggregate
Caddo Lake / Sabine River / Toledo Bend
18 in min, 10 / day
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 flathead catfish rules on this page are sourced from Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries's official flathead catfish regulation page.
Visit official Louisiana fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Flathead 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 flathead catfish season in Louisiana?
- Louisiana 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 Louisiana bag limit for flathead catfish?
- The Louisiana daily bag limit for flathead catfish is 100 / day combined flathead + blue + channel (aggregate); 10 / day on Caddo Lake, Sabine River, Toledo Bend. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size flathead catfish can you keep in Louisiana?
- The Louisiana size rule for flathead catfish is 14 in min statewide; 18 in min on Caddo Lake, Sabine River, Toledo Bend. Trophy rule: LA state-record flathead catfish 95 lb (Wax Lake, Roland Lasseigne, 2007).
- Do you need a license to fish for flathead catfish in Louisiana?
- Yes. Louisiana 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 Louisiana license — compare resident and non-resident Louisiana fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for flathead catfish in Louisiana?
- Yes. In Louisiana, flathead 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; live bait favoured for flathead; 100-fish daily limit applies in the aggregate to flathead + blue + channel together; An angler may possess up to 25 undersized catfish.
- Do specific Louisiana waters have different flathead catfish rules?
- Yes. 5 named Louisiana waters carry rules that override the statewide flathead catfish regulation, including Atchafalaya Basin, Mississippi River (LA main stem), Red River (LA main stem), and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.