When is channel catfish season in Maryland?

Open year-round statewide. Nontidal waters: no minimum size, 5 / day. Tidal / Chesapeake waters: no minimum size, NO creel limit. Regulated as a sport fish — distinct from the invasive blue + flathead catfish. 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 channel catfish?

The Maryland daily bag limit for channel catfish is 5 / day in nontidal waters; NO creel limit in tidal / Chesapeake waters. The possession limit is Nontidal: daily creel of 5 applies; tidal: no possession limit. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size channel catfish can you keep in Maryland?

The Maryland size rule for channel catfish is No minimum size statewide. Trophy rule: MD state-record channel catfish — Nontidal Division 27.92 lb (Upper Potomac River, 2004, Steven Trent Abell); Chesapeake Division 29.6 lb (1997, Kevin Kern).

Do you need a license to fish for channel catfish in Maryland?

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

Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Maryland?

Yes. In Maryland, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line, rod-and-reel; trotlines + jug lines permitted on nontidal waters per current DNR rule; MD non-tidal freshwater licence on inland waters; Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Fishing Licence (+ free DNR Tidal Registration) on tidal waters; Channel catfish is a regulated sport fish (5 / day nontidal, no limit tidal) — NOT subject to the no-limit harvest + live-release ban that applies to the invasive blue + flathead catfish.

Do specific Maryland waters have different channel catfish rules?

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

2026 regulation year

Maryland Channel catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Ictalurus punctatus

Last updated June 3, 2026

Channel catfish are Maryland's long-established sport catfish — naturalized across the Atlantic-slope drainages well over a century ago and found statewide in reservoirs, the Potomac and Susquehanna systems, the Eastern Shore tidal rivers, and countless farm ponds. They are regulated as a sport fish, NOT under the invasive-species rule: nontidal waters carry a 5-fish daily creel with no minimum size, open year-round, while tidal / Chesapeake waters carry no creel limit. This is the key Maryland distinction to keep straight — the INVASIVE blue catfish and flathead catfish (Mississippi-drainage transplants that exploded across the tidal Bay) have NO limit AND a transport-and-live-release ban, whereas the native-naturalized channel catfish keeps the 5-fish nontidal creel and may be released. The Upper Potomac River produced the Nontidal-Division state record at 27.92 lb (2004), and the Conowingo Dam tailwater on the lower Susquehanna holds strong channel-cat numbers year-round. The MD non-tidal freshwater licence covers inland channel cats; the Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Fishing Licence covers the tidal rivers.

Compare channel catfish regulations across all states →

Get change alerts

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

Season

Open year-round statewide. Nontidal waters: no minimum size, 5 / day. Tidal / Chesapeake waters: no minimum size, NO creel limit. Regulated as a sport fish — distinct from the invasive blue + flathead catfish.

Jan 1 – Dec 31Nontidal waters
No minimum size, 5 / day; open year-round
Jan 1 – Dec 31Tidal / Chesapeake waters
No minimum size, NO creel limit

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 5 / day in nontidal waters; NO creel limit in tidal / Chesapeake waters
Possession: Nontidal: daily creel of 5 applies; tidal: no possession limit

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No minimum size statewide
Trophy rule: MD state-record channel catfish — Nontidal Division 27.92 lb (Upper Potomac River, 2004, Steven Trent Abell); Chesapeake Division 29.6 lb (1997, Kevin Kern)

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line, rod-and-reel; trotlines + jug lines permitted on nontidal waters per current DNR rule
MD non-tidal freshwater licence on inland waters; Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Fishing Licence (+ free DNR Tidal Registration) on tidal waters
Channel catfish is a regulated sport fish (5 / day nontidal, no limit tidal) — NOT subject to the no-limit harvest + live-release ban that applies to the invasive blue + flathead catfish

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Maryland waters:

Potomac River — non-tidal (Upper Potomac)
No minimum size, 5 / day; MD state-record channel catfish water — 27.92 lb (2004)
Potomac River — tidal
No minimum size, NO creel limit (tidal); abundant channel catfish alongside the invasive blue catfish
Conowingo Dam tailwater
No minimum size, 5 / day (nontidal); strong channel-cat numbers below the dam year-round
Deep Creek Lake
No minimum size, 5 / day; channel catfish in the lake's catfish / panfish tier
Chesapeake Bay tidal tributaries
No minimum size, NO creel limit (tidal)

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

Visit official Maryland fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Channel catfish 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 channel catfish season in Maryland?: Open year-round statewide. Nontidal waters: no minimum size, 5 / day. Tidal / Chesapeake waters: no minimum size, NO creel limit. Regulated as a sport fish — distinct from the invasive blue + flathead catfish. 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 channel catfish?: The Maryland daily bag limit for channel catfish is 5 / day in nontidal waters; NO creel limit in tidal / Chesapeake waters. The possession limit is Nontidal: daily creel of 5 applies; tidal: no possession limit. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size channel catfish can you keep in Maryland?: The Maryland size rule for channel catfish is No minimum size statewide. Trophy rule: MD state-record channel catfish — Nontidal Division 27.92 lb (Upper Potomac River, 2004, Steven Trent Abell); Chesapeake Division 29.6 lb (1997, Kevin Kern).
Do you need a license to fish for channel catfish in Maryland?: Yes. Maryland 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 Maryland license — compare resident and non-resident Maryland fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Maryland?: Yes. In Maryland, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line, rod-and-reel; trotlines + jug lines permitted on nontidal waters per current DNR rule; MD non-tidal freshwater licence on inland waters; Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Fishing Licence (+ free DNR Tidal Registration) on tidal waters; Channel catfish is a regulated sport fish (5 / day nontidal, no limit tidal) — NOT subject to the no-limit harvest + live-release ban that applies to the invasive blue + flathead catfish.
Do specific Maryland waters have different channel catfish rules?: Yes. 5 named Maryland waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Upper Potomac River, Potomac River — tidal, Conowingo Dam tailwater, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

← Back to Maryland regulations overview