When is blue catfish season in Tennessee?

Tennessee 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 Tennessee bag limit for blue catfish?

The Tennessee daily bag limit for blue catfish is No creel limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish over 34 inches per day (Tennessee's catfish limit is one rule covering blue + channel + flathead combined). Mississippi River: same — no creel limit, only 1 fish over 34 inches per day.. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size blue catfish can you keep in Tennessee?

The Tennessee size rule for blue catfish is No length limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish per day may exceed 34 inches (a trophy-protection cap).. Trophy rule: Tennessee protects trophy catfish with a single statewide rule — unlimited catfish under 34 inches, only 1 fish over 34 inches per day across blue, channel, and flathead combined. The Mississippi River at Memphis and the Tennessee + Cumberland River reservoirs (Kentucky Lake, Pickwick, Cherokee, Cumberland tailwaters) produce trophy blue catfish over 50 lb..

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

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

Are there gear restrictions for blue catfish in Tennessee?

Yes. In Tennessee, blue catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, juglines, and limblines permitted with TWRA labeling rules; The catfish limit covers blue, channel, and flathead combined — only 1 fish over 34 in per day; Commercial catfishing requires a separate TWRA commercial licence; the sport rule applies to recreational anglers; Tennessee fishing licence required ages 13+ (resident annual $34 / non-resident all-species $99 or fish-only $50).

Do specific Tennessee waters have different blue catfish rules?

Yes. 5 named Tennessee waters carry rules that override the statewide blue catfish regulation, including Mississippi River, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

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

Ictalurus furcatus

Last updated May 30, 2026

Blue catfish are Tennessee's trophy catfish — the Mississippi River at Memphis is one of the South's premier big-blue destinations, and the Tennessee River chain (Kentucky Lake, Pickwick, Wheeler tailwater) plus the Cumberland River reservoirs hold dense, fast-growing populations that produce fish well over 50 pounds. Tennessee manages all catfish under a single, unusually liberal statewide rule: there is no creel limit on catfish shorter than 34 inches, and an angler may keep only one catfish longer than 34 inches per day — a structure that lets anglers fill a cooler with eating-size fish while protecting the trophy class. The 34-inch rule is counted across blue, channel, and flathead catfish combined. Commercial catfishing on some waters operates under a separate TWRA licence; the rule above is the recreational sport-fishing limit.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide. No creel limit on catfish less than 34 inches; only 1 catfish over 34 inches may be harvested per day (the limit covers blue, channel, and flathead combined). Mississippi River: same rule.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: No creel limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish over 34 inches per day (Tennessee's catfish limit is one rule covering blue + channel + flathead combined). Mississippi River: same — no creel limit, only 1 fish over 34 inches per day.

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No length limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish per day may exceed 34 inches (a trophy-protection cap).
Trophy rule: Tennessee protects trophy catfish with a single statewide rule — unlimited catfish under 34 inches, only 1 fish over 34 inches per day across blue, channel, and flathead combined. The Mississippi River at Memphis and the Tennessee + Cumberland River reservoirs (Kentucky Lake, Pickwick, Cherokee, Cumberland tailwaters) produce trophy blue catfish over 50 lb.

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines, juglines, and limblines permitted with TWRA labeling rules
The catfish limit covers blue, channel, and flathead combined — only 1 fish over 34 in per day
Commercial catfishing requires a separate TWRA commercial licence; the sport rule applies to recreational anglers
Tennessee fishing licence required ages 13+ (resident annual $34 / non-resident all-species $99 or fish-only $50)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Tennessee waters:

Mississippi River (TN western boundary)
No creel limit, only 1 catfish over 34 in per day; premier trophy blue catfish water at Memphis
Kentucky Lake (Tennessee River impoundment)
No creel limit, only 1 over 34 in per day; trophy blue + channel catfish; KY reciprocity
Lake Barkley (Cumberland River impoundment)
No creel limit, only 1 over 34 in per day; reciprocal with KY
Old Hickory Lake (Cumberland River)
No creel limit, only 1 over 34 in per day; Cumberland River trophy blue + flathead catfish
Pickwick Lake (TN/AL/MS)
No creel limit, only 1 over 34 in per day; Tennessee River trophy catfish

Official source

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency publishes the authoritative 2026 Tennesseefishing 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 Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's official blue catfish regulation page.

Visit official Tennessee fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Blue catfish closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's emergency-order feed — check it before any Tennessee trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is blue catfish season in Tennessee?: Tennessee 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 Tennessee bag limit for blue catfish?: The Tennessee daily bag limit for blue catfish is No creel limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish over 34 inches per day (Tennessee's catfish limit is one rule covering blue + channel + flathead combined). Mississippi River: same — no creel limit, only 1 fish over 34 inches per day.. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size blue catfish can you keep in Tennessee?: The Tennessee size rule for blue catfish is No length limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish per day may exceed 34 inches (a trophy-protection cap).. Trophy rule: Tennessee protects trophy catfish with a single statewide rule — unlimited catfish under 34 inches, only 1 fish over 34 inches per day across blue, channel, and flathead combined. The Mississippi River at Memphis and the Tennessee + Cumberland River reservoirs (Kentucky Lake, Pickwick, Cherokee, Cumberland tailwaters) produce trophy blue catfish over 50 lb..
Do you need a license to fish for blue catfish in Tennessee?: Yes. Tennessee 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 Tennessee license — compare resident and non-resident Tennessee fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for blue catfish in Tennessee?: Yes. In Tennessee, blue catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, juglines, and limblines permitted with TWRA labeling rules; The catfish limit covers blue, channel, and flathead combined — only 1 fish over 34 in per day; Commercial catfishing requires a separate TWRA commercial licence; the sport rule applies to recreational anglers; Tennessee fishing licence required ages 13+ (resident annual $34 / non-resident all-species $99 or fish-only $50).
Do specific Tennessee waters have different blue catfish rules?: Yes. 5 named Tennessee waters carry rules that override the statewide blue catfish regulation, including Mississippi River, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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