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Pennsylvania regulations

Channel Catfish Regulations in Pennsylvania 2026

Pennsylvania Channel Catfish regulations as of 2026-05-08: Daily bag 50 fish/day; Status Open; Gear Spears Or Gigs. Sourced from Fish & Boat Commission.

About Channel Catfish

Rules (16)

Pennsylvania statewide
Gear
Bow And Arrow
Bow and arrow (including compound bows and crossbows) may be used for taking ONLY snakeheads, carp, suckers and catfish on all Commonwealth waters, day or night.
Commonwealth Inland WatersOpen
Status
Open
Daily bag
50 fish/day
Open year-round combined species
Commonwealth Waters
Gear
Spears Or Gigs
Conowingo Reservoir (Combined)
Daily bag
15 fish/day
Conowingo Reservoir Up To Holtwood DamOpen year-round
Season opens
Jan 1
Season closes
Dec 31
Daily bag
5
Conowingo Reservoir, Combined Species
Daily bag
15 fish/day
Lake ErieOpen
Status
Open
Daily bag
50 fish
Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries. Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.; (combined species)
Lake Erie (Erie Co.)
Gear
Consumption Advisory
1 meal/month | PCB
Mahoning RiverClosed
Status
Prohibited
Do Not Eat
Mahoning River (Lawrence Co.)Closed
Status
Prohibited
Do Not Eat
Ohio RiverClosed
Status
Prohibited
over 18” Do Not Eat
Ohio River (Beaver Co.)Closed
Status
Prohibited
over 18 inches, Do Not Eat

Channel Catfish on famous Pennsylvania waters

Dedicated rule pages for Channel Catfish on the most-targeted destinations in Pennsylvania.

Also known as

Channel Catfish is also called Catfish. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Pennsylvania.

Frequently asked questions

When is Channel Catfish season in Pennsylvania?

Channel Catfish season in Pennsylvania runs from Jan 1 to Dec 31 per Fish & Boat Commission.

What is the size limit for Channel Catfish in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania does not publish a state-wide minimum size for Channel Catfish. Check zone-specific rules above.

What is the daily bag limit for Channel Catfish in Pennsylvania?

Daily bag limit for Channel Catfish in Pennsylvania is 50 fish/day in Commonwealth Inland Waters, per Fish & Boat Commission.

Official sources cited

Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with Fish & Boat Commission before keeping a catch. Last verified .

← All Pennsylvania fishing regulations