Texas regulations
Channel Catfish Regulations in Texas 2026
Texas channel catfish regulations in 2026: 25 fish/day bag limit. Zone-specific exceptions may apply — see the rule table below. Sourced from TPWD.
Rules (24)
Texas statewideCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 25 fish/day
No harvest of largemouth bass, channel catfish, or any sunfish species is allowed. in any combination - only 10 can be 20 inches or greater in length
Bellwood Lake In Smith CountyClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Juglines may not be used in the following: Bellwood Lake in Smith County
Boerne City Lake In Kendall CountyClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Juglines may not be used in the following: Boerne City Lake in Kendall County
Brushy Creek Lake And Brushy Creek Downstream From The Lake To The Williamson/Milam County LineClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Juglines may not be used in the following: Brushy Creek Lake and Brushy Creek downstream from the lake to the Williamson/Milam County line
Canyon Lake Project #6 In Lubbock CountyClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Juglines may not be used in the following: Canyon Lake Project #6 in Lubbock County
Community Fishing LakesClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Juglines may not be used in the following: Community Fishing Lakes
Dixieland Reservoir In Cameron CountyClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Juglines may not be used in the following: Dixieland Reservoir in Cameron County
Fresh WaterOpen
- Status
- Permitted
May be used to take channel, blue, and flathead catfish in fresh water only.
Lake Bastrop In Bastrop CountyClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Juglines may not be used in the following: Lake Bastrop in Bastrop County
Lake Bryan In Brazos CountyClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Juglines may not be used in the following: Lake Bryan in Brazos County
Lakes Coffee Mill And Davy Crockett In Fannin CountyClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Juglines may not be used in the following: Lakes Coffee Mill and Davy Crockett in Fannin County
Reservoirs Or Sections Of Rivers Lying Totally Within The Boundaries Of State ParkClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Juglines may not be used in the following: Reservoirs or sections of rivers lying totally within the boundaries of state park
Sabine River (From Toledo Bend Dam To Sabine Pass)Open
- Status
- Permitted
no MLL; daily bag and possession limit = 50 in any combination, of which no more than 5 may be 30 inches or greater in length
Sam RayburnOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no MLL; daily bag and possession limit = 50 in any combination, of which no more than 5 may be 30 inches or greater in length
Sheldon Harris
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
- Min size
- 14"
combined daily bag limit
South Concho River From Lone Wolf Dam To Bell Street DamClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Juglines may not be used in the following: South Concho River from Lone Wolf dam to Bell Street dam
TawakoniOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no MLL; daily bag limit = 25 fish in any combination. In the 25-fish bag, no more than 5 fish 20 inches or greater in length may be retained, and no more than 1 of those can be 30 inches or greater in length.
TexomaOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no minimum length; combined daily bag limit = 15 fish. Only 1 blue catfish 30 inches or greater in length may be retained each day.
Toledo Bend*Open
- Status
- Permitted
no MLL; daily bag and possession limit = 50 in any combination, of which no more than 5 may be 30 inches or greater in length
Trinity River
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
only 2 fish can be 24 inches or greater in length
WacoOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no MLL; daily bag limit = 25 fish in any combination. In the 25-fish bag, no more than 5 fish 20 inches or greater in length may be retained, and no more than 1 of those can be 30 inches or greater in length.
Channel Catfish on famous Texas waters
Dedicated rule pages for Channel Catfish on the most-targeted destinations in Texas.
Other Texas fish regulations
Other regulated species in Texas with current rule pages — same TPWD source, same verification cadence.
- Blue Catfish23 rules
- Flathead Catfish19 rules
- Red Snapper17 rules
- Largemouth Bass15 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)12 rules
- Stripers (Striped Bass)7 rules
- Redfish (Red Drum)6 rules
- Speckled Trout (Spotted Seatrout)6 rules
- Black Drum3 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)3 rules
- Tarpon2 rules
- Sheepshead2 rules
- Flounder2 rules
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 Texas.
Frequently asked questions
When is Channel Catfish season in Texas?
Channel Catfish season in Texas is set by TPWD. Some zones may have specific open windows; see the rule table above.
What is the size limit for Channel Catfish in Texas?
Minimum size for Channel Catfish in Texas is 14 inches in Sheldon Harris, per TPWD. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Channel Catfish in Texas?
Daily bag limit for Channel Catfish in Texas is 15 fish/day in Sheldon Harris, per TPWD.
Official sources cited
- https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_l2000_1170b.pdf
- https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with TPWD before keeping a catch.