When is channel catfish season in Texas?

Texas 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 Texas bag limit for channel catfish?

The Texas daily bag limit for channel catfish is 25 / day (channel + blue combined); only 10 may be 20 in or longer. The possession limit is 50 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size channel catfish can you keep in Texas?

The Texas size rule for channel catfish is No minimum length statewide (only 10 of the 25 daily may be 20 in or longer).

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

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

Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Texas?

Yes. In Texas, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Pole-and-line on public waters; Trotlines, juglines, and throwlines permitted with licence endorsement and gear-tag rules; No more than 50 hooks per angler across all passive gear.

Do specific Texas waters have different channel catfish rules?

Yes. 8 named Texas waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Lake Tawakoni, Lake Texoma, Lewisville Lake, and 5 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

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

Ictalurus punctatus

Last updated June 8, 2026

Channel catfish are the bread-and-butter freshwater target across Texas — every public reservoir, river, and tank holds them. The statewide rule pools channel and blue catfish under one 25 / day combined limit.

Compare channel catfish regulations across all states →

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 25 / day (channel + blue combined); only 10 may be 20 in or longer
Possession: 50 in possession

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No minimum length statewide (only 10 of the 25 daily may be 20 in or longer)

Gear restrictions

Pole-and-line on public waters
Trotlines, juglines, and throwlines permitted with licence endorsement and gear-tag rules
No more than 50 hooks per angler across all passive gear

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Texas waters:

Lake Tawakoni
Trophy blue-catfish water; no minimum length, 25 channel + blue combined daily, of which only 5 may be 20 in or longer and only 1 of those 30 in or longer (stricter than the statewide 10-over-20-in allowance)
Lake Texoma
TX/OK reciprocity zone — on the TX side: no minimum length, 15 channel + blue combined daily with only 1 blue catfish 30 in or longer; flathead no minimum, 5 / day
Lewisville Lake
Heavily-fished urban reservoir; no minimum length, 25 channel + blue combined daily, of which only 5 may be 20 in or longer and only 1 of those 30 in or longer
Hubbard Creek Reservoir
No minimum length, 25 channel + blue combined daily, of which only 5 may be 20 in or longer and only 1 of those 30 in or longer — a top West Texas blue-catfish water (Stephens County)
Lake Kirby
No minimum length, 25 channel + blue combined daily, of which only 5 may be 20 in or longer and only 1 of those 30 in or longer — Abilene municipal lake (Taylor County)
Lake Proctor
Blue and channel catfish 14 in minimum length, 15 combined daily — stricter than the statewide no-minimum/25 rule (Comanche County USACE reservoir)
Sheldon Lake
Blue and channel catfish 14 in minimum length, 15 combined daily; pole-and-line only, no more than two poles (Sheldon Lake State Park, Houston)
Abilene State Park Lake
Blue and channel catfish 14 in minimum length, 15 combined daily; pole-and-line only, no more than two poles (Taylor County)

Official source

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department publishes the authoritative 2026 Texasfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official Texas fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Channel catfish closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any Texas trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is channel catfish season in Texas?: Texas 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 Texas bag limit for channel catfish?: The Texas daily bag limit for channel catfish is 25 / day (channel + blue combined); only 10 may be 20 in or longer. The possession limit is 50 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size channel catfish can you keep in Texas?: The Texas size rule for channel catfish is No minimum length statewide (only 10 of the 25 daily may be 20 in or longer).
Do you need a license to fish for channel catfish in Texas?: Yes. Texas 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 Texas license — compare resident and non-resident Texas fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Texas?: Yes. In Texas, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Pole-and-line on public waters; Trotlines, juglines, and throwlines permitted with licence endorsement and gear-tag rules; No more than 50 hooks per angler across all passive gear.
Do specific Texas waters have different channel catfish rules?: Yes. 8 named Texas waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Lake Tawakoni, Lake Texoma, Lewisville Lake, and 5 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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