Virginia regulations
Channel Catfish Regulations in Virginia 2026
Virginia Channel Catfish regulations: Daily bag 20 fish/day, Slot max 34 inches, Max size 34 inches. Sourced from DWR.
Rules (100)
- Gear
- No Live Bait
- Gear
- No Live Bait
- Gear
- No Live Bait
- Gear
- No Live Bait
- Gear
- No Live Bait
- Gear
- No Live Bait
- Gear
- No Live Bait
- Gear
- No Live Bait
- Gear
- No Live Bait
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Max size
- 34"
- Slot max
- 34"
- Status
- Permitted
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Channel Catfish on famous Virginia waters
Dedicated rule pages for Channel Catfish on the most-targeted destinations in Virginia.
Other Virginia fish regulations
Other regulated species in Virginia with current rule pages — same DWR source, same verification cadence.
- Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow)303 rules
- Smallmouth Bass118 rules
- Largemouth Bass109 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)83 rules
- Stripers (Striped Bass)80 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)70 rules
- Yellow Perch54 rules
- White Perch54 rules
- Muskie (Muskellunge)44 rules
- Blue Catfish31 rules
- Fluke (Summer Flounder)5 rules
- Redfish (Red Drum)4 rules
- Cobia3 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 Virginia.
Frequently asked questions
When is Channel Catfish season in Virginia?
Channel Catfish season in Virginia is set by DWR. Some zones may have specific open windows; see the rule table above.
What is the size limit for Channel Catfish in Virginia?
Virginia 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 Virginia?
Daily bag limit for Channel Catfish in Virginia is 20 fish/day in South Holston Reservoir, per DWR.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/26VAFW_LR_2026-01-14-181617_afxs.pdf
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/resources/VA/26VAFW_LR.pdf