When is blue catfish (invasive) season in Maryland?

Year-round — no closed season; INVASIVE species with no minimum size and no bag limit on Maryland tidal waters. Those are the 2026 Maryland dates; always confirm against Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — Fisheries Service (Inland + Tidal) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.

What is the Maryland bag limit for blue catfish (invasive)?

The Maryland daily bag limit for blue catfish (invasive) is No limit — DNR encourages unlimited harvest to reduce invasive predation pressure on native Bay forage. The possession limit is No limit. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size blue catfish (invasive) can you keep in Maryland?

The Maryland size rule for blue catfish (invasive) is No minimum size — invasive species rule on Maryland tidal waters. Trophy rule: Maryland state-record blue catfish 84 lb 0 oz (2012, tidal Potomac); 100+ lb fish caught annually from tidal Potomac + tidal Susquehanna; trophy fish should be reported to DNR for invasive tracking.

Do you need a license to fish for blue catfish (invasive) in Maryland?

Yes. Maryland requires a valid fishing license to fish for blue catfish (invasive), 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 Maryland license — compare resident and non-resident Maryland fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for blue catfish (invasive) in Maryland?

Yes. In Maryland, blue catfish (invasive) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; rod-and-reel; trotlines + jug lines permitted (per current DNR rule); Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Fishing Licence + MD DNR Tidal Registration required for tidal waters; non-tidal licence for non-tidal sections; DNR encourages reporting trophy catches for invasive tracking; Live release of blue or flathead catfish into Maryland waters is PROHIBITED — invasive species (transport-and-release ban).

Do specific Maryland waters have different blue catfish (invasive) rules?

Yes. 5 named Maryland waters carry rules that override the statewide blue catfish (invasive) regulation, including Potomac River — tidal, Conowingo Dam tailwater, Chesapeake Bay, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Maryland Blue catfish (invasive) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Ictalurus furcatus

Last updated May 26, 2026

Blue catfish are Mississippi-drainage natives that were stocked in the James and Rappahannock Rivers in Virginia in the 1970s — they have since exploded across the entire tidal Chesapeake Bay drainage and now dominate the tidal Potomac, tidal Susquehanna, Patuxent, Choptank, Nanticoke, and Wicomico Rivers as one of the highest-biomass species in the system. Maryland classifies blue catfish (and flathead catfish) as INVASIVE — there is NO closed season, NO minimum size, and NO bag limit on Maryland tidal waters. DNR actively encourages unlimited harvest to reduce predation pressure on native Chesapeake Bay forage species (menhaden, white perch, river herring, juvenile striped bass). The tidal Potomac River (Wilson Bridge to Point Lookout) regularly produces 50+ lb blue catfish, with the Maryland state-record blue catfish standing at 84 lb 0 oz (2012, tidal Potomac). 100+ lb fish are caught annually from the tidal Potomac + tidal Susquehanna. The Conowingo Dam tailwater holds trophy blue cats year-round. PRFC compact applies on the tidal Potomac (MD Tidal + VA Saltwater + PRFC licences all reciprocally honored). Maryland-distinctive: commercial blue catfish harvest is encouraged + supported through DNR market-development grants — invasive species rule, not a fishery to be protected.

Compare blue catfish (invasive) regulations across all states →

Get change alerts

Watch Maryland Blue catfish (invasive) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

Season

Year-round — no closed season; INVASIVE species with no minimum size and no bag limit on Maryland tidal waters.

Jan 1 – Dec 31Statewide tidal + non-tidal waters
No closed season — invasive species

Bag & possession

Daily bag: No limit — DNR encourages unlimited harvest to reduce invasive predation pressure on native Bay forage
Possession: No limit

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No minimum size — invasive species rule on Maryland tidal waters
Trophy rule: Maryland state-record blue catfish 84 lb 0 oz (2012, tidal Potomac); 100+ lb fish caught annually from tidal Potomac + tidal Susquehanna; trophy fish should be reported to DNR for invasive tracking

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; rod-and-reel; trotlines + jug lines permitted (per current DNR rule)
Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Fishing Licence + MD DNR Tidal Registration required for tidal waters; non-tidal licence for non-tidal sections
DNR encourages reporting trophy catches for invasive tracking
Live release of blue or flathead catfish into Maryland waters is PROHIBITED — invasive species (transport-and-release ban)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Maryland waters:

Potomac River — tidal
No closed season, no minimum, no bag limit; densest MD blue catfish population — 50–100+ lb fish routine; PRFC compact
Conowingo Dam tailwater
No closed season, no minimum, no bag limit; trophy blue catfish year-round
Chesapeake Bay
No closed season, no minimum, no bag limit; tidal Susquehanna blue cat
Chesapeake Bay
No closed season, no minimum, no bag limit; tidal tributary blue cat
Patapsco River
No closed season, no minimum, no bag limit; emerging trophy blue catfish fishery

Official source

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — Fisheries Service (Inland + Tidal) publishes the authoritative 2026 Marylandfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The blue catfish (invasive) rules on this page are sourced from Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — Fisheries Service (Inland + Tidal)'s official blue catfish (invasive) regulation page.

Visit official Maryland fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Blue catfish (invasive) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Maryland Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Maryland trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is blue catfish (invasive) season in Maryland?: Year-round — no closed season; INVASIVE species with no minimum size and no bag limit on Maryland tidal waters. Those are the 2026 Maryland dates; always confirm against Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — Fisheries Service (Inland + Tidal) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the Maryland bag limit for blue catfish (invasive)?: The Maryland daily bag limit for blue catfish (invasive) is No limit — DNR encourages unlimited harvest to reduce invasive predation pressure on native Bay forage. The possession limit is No limit. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size blue catfish (invasive) can you keep in Maryland?: The Maryland size rule for blue catfish (invasive) is No minimum size — invasive species rule on Maryland tidal waters. Trophy rule: Maryland state-record blue catfish 84 lb 0 oz (2012, tidal Potomac); 100+ lb fish caught annually from tidal Potomac + tidal Susquehanna; trophy fish should be reported to DNR for invasive tracking.
Do you need a license to fish for blue catfish (invasive) in Maryland?: Yes. Maryland requires a valid fishing license to fish for blue catfish (invasive), 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 Maryland license — compare resident and non-resident Maryland fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for blue catfish (invasive) in Maryland?: Yes. In Maryland, blue catfish (invasive) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; rod-and-reel; trotlines + jug lines permitted (per current DNR rule); Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Fishing Licence + MD DNR Tidal Registration required for tidal waters; non-tidal licence for non-tidal sections; DNR encourages reporting trophy catches for invasive tracking; Live release of blue or flathead catfish into Maryland waters is PROHIBITED — invasive species (transport-and-release ban).
Do specific Maryland waters have different blue catfish (invasive) rules?: Yes. 5 named Maryland waters carry rules that override the statewide blue catfish (invasive) regulation, including Potomac River — tidal, Conowingo Dam tailwater, Chesapeake Bay, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

← Back to Maryland regulations overview