2026 regulation year
West Virginia Blue catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Ictalurus furcatus
Last updated
Blue catfish are West Virginia's premier trophy catfish and the species behind a string of recent record-setting catches: the WV state-record blue catfish has been broken repeatedly over the past few years, with a roughly 71-pound fish taken from the Ohio River in Jackson County and a state-length record of 51.49 inches from the Kanawha River. Blue catfish are concentrated in the Ohio and Kanawha rivers, where the deep navigation channels, lock-and-dam tailwaters, and abundant shad and skipjack forage grow them to enormous size. WVDNR (W.Va. Code R § 58-60-5) sets a general-waters daily limit of 2 blue catfish, but on the Kanawha and Ohio rivers — where the fishery actually lives — the limit is 4 per day with a 25-inch minimum length, of which only one may be 35 inches or longer, and a possession limit of 8 (only two of which may exceed 35 inches). The 25-inch minimum plus the one-over-35 cap is a trophy-management structure designed to grow and protect the big-blue class that has been rewriting the state record. Blue catfish are caught on fresh cut bait (shad, skipjack) anchored or drifted through deep holes and tailrace eddies; the trophy bite peaks in late fall and winter.
Get change alerts
Watch West Virginia Blue catfish and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.
Season
Open year-round Open year-round; trophy fishery on the Ohio + Kanawha rivers. Late-fall / winter is the trophy bite. No closed season.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 2 / day general waters; 4 / day on the Kanawha + Ohio rivers
- Possession
- 8 in possession on the Kanawha + Ohio rivers (only 2 over 35 in)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 25 in minimum on the Kanawha + Ohio rivers; only one fish 35 in or longer per day
- Trophy rule
- Kanawha + Ohio rivers: 25 in minimum + only one over 35 in per day (8 possession, 2 over 35) — a trophy-management structure; WV state-record blue catfish broken repeatedly in recent years (now ~71 lb, Ohio River, Jackson County; state-length record 51.49 in, Kanawha River)
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; trotlines + limb lines + jugs permitted on listed waters under WVDNR rules (check current pamphlet)
- Fresh cut bait (shad, skipjack) fished in deep channels + lock-and-dam tailwaters is the standard big-blue tactic
- WV fishing licence required ages 15+ ($19 res / $37 NR annual)
- Kanawha + Ohio rivers: 25 in minimum length — release blue catfish under 25 in
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific West Virginia waters:
Ohio River main stem (WV waters)
4 / day, 25 in min, only one over 35 in, 8 possession (2 over 35); WV record-blue water (~71 lb, Jackson County)
Kanawha River
4 / day, 25 in min, only one over 35 in, 8 possession; state-length record 51.49 in
General waters (elsewhere)
2 / day (blue catfish are uncommon outside the Ohio + Kanawha)
Official source
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources — Wildlife Resources Section publishes the authoritative 2026 West Virginiafishing 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 West Virginia Division of Natural Resources — Wildlife Resources Section's official blue catfish regulation page.
Visit official West Virginia fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Blue catfish closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to West Virginia Division of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any West Virginia trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is blue catfish season in West Virginia?
- West Virginia 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 West Virginia bag limit for blue catfish?
- The West Virginia daily bag limit for blue catfish is 2 / day general waters; 4 / day on the Kanawha + Ohio rivers. The possession limit is 8 in possession on the Kanawha + Ohio rivers (only 2 over 35 in). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size blue catfish can you keep in West Virginia?
- The West Virginia size rule for blue catfish is 25 in minimum on the Kanawha + Ohio rivers; only one fish 35 in or longer per day. Trophy rule: Kanawha + Ohio rivers: 25 in minimum + only one over 35 in per day (8 possession, 2 over 35) — a trophy-management structure; WV state-record blue catfish broken repeatedly in recent years (now ~71 lb, Ohio River, Jackson County; state-length record 51.49 in, Kanawha River).
- Do you need a license to fish for blue catfish in West Virginia?
- Yes. West Virginia 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 West Virginia license — compare resident and non-resident West Virginia fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for blue catfish in West Virginia?
- Yes. In West Virginia, blue catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines + limb lines + jugs permitted on listed waters under WVDNR rules (check current pamphlet); Fresh cut bait (shad, skipjack) fished in deep channels + lock-and-dam tailwaters is the standard big-blue tactic; WV fishing licence required ages 15+ ($19 res / $37 NR annual); Kanawha + Ohio rivers: 25 in minimum length — release blue catfish under 25 in.
- Do specific West Virginia waters have different blue catfish rules?
- Yes. 3 named West Virginia waters carry rules that override the statewide blue catfish regulation, including Ohio River main stem (WV waters), Kanawha River, Elsewhere. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.