James River · Virginia · Channel Catfish
James River Channel Catfish Fishing Regulations 2026
James River Channel Catfish regulations as of 2026-05-08: Status Permitted; Status Permitted; Status Permitted. Sourced from DWR.
Rules (108)
AbelOpen
- Status
- Permitted
AccotinkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
All Rivers Below The Fall LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No daily limit
All Rivers Below The Fall Line Other Than The Tidal James River And Its Tributaries Downstream To A Line Connecting Hog Point On Hog Island (Surry County) And The Downstream Point Of The Mouth Of College Creek (James City County)Open
- Status
- Permitted
No daily limit
AnnaOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Status
- Permitted
AppomattoxOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ArrowheadOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Augusta County Rec PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Bealer’s Ferry PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Beaverdam Cr.Open
- Status
- Permitted
Braley PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
BrieryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Buggs IslandOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Carroll County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
ChesdinOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ChickahominyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Chickahominy RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ClaytorOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Status
- Permitted
Clearbrook Forest Service LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clifton Forge ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clinch RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clinch River In Russell County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Clinch River In Scott County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Clinch River In Wise County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Coles Run ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
CookOpen
- Status
- Permitted
DanOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Dan RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
just west of Danville
Dickenson County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Douthat Forest Service LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Dry RunOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ElkhornOpen
- Status
- Permitted
FlannaganOpen
- Status
- Permitted
FrederickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
GastonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
GatewoodOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Germantown LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Giles County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Grayson County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Hone QuarryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Hunting Run ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Huntsman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
James River (Lower)Open
- Status
- Permitted
best fishing in the state
James River (Upper)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Status
- Permitted
James River And Its Tributaries Below The Fall Line Downstream To A Line Connecting Hog Point On Hog Island (Surry County) And The Downstream Point Of The Mouth Of College Creek (James City County)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 32"
No daily limit, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches longer than 32 inches only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Lake ChesdinOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 32 lbs. on 4-28-1980
Lake MooneyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LauraOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LaurelOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LexingtonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LincolnshireOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Locust ShadeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Lovill’s CreekOpen
- Status
- Permitted
MattaponiOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Maury RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Montgomery County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
MoomawOpen
- Status
- Permitted
MottsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Mtn. Run Ni ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
NewOpen
- Status
- Permitted
New RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Newman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North Fork Holston RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North Fork PoundOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North Fork Shenandoah RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North LandingOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Norton ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Nottoway RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
below Rt. 630 Bridge, more common
Old Cossey PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
PamunkeyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Pulaski County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
RappahannockOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Rappahannock RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 31 lbs. 8 oz. on 10-2-1992
ShenandoahOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Status
- Permitted
Shenandoah River (Main Stem)Open
- Status
- Permitted
SherandoOpen
- Status
- Permitted
SilverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
SkidmoreOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Slate LickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
South HolstonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Status
- Permitted
South Holston Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Max size
- 34"
- Slot max
- 34"
Only 1 catfish over 34 inches
StauntonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Tams City ParkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Tidal James RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
unlimited harvest of any size below the freshwater-saltwater demarcation line. See page 24 for more.
Tidal James River Below The Freshwater-Saltwater Demarcation LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
unlimited harvest of any size
Tidal Waters (Below Fall Line, See Page 12)Open
- Status
- Permitted
Tidal Waters (Below Fall Line)Open
- Status
- Permitted
Bowfin and catfish may be taken in tidal waters (below Fall Line, see page 12)
TomahawkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Urban Fishing WatersOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
NO CLOSED SEASON
Virginia Department Of Wildlife Resources LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Virginia Power Rec. PondsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Western Branch ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
WilkinsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Willis RobertsonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
WittenOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Woodrow Wilson PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Wythe County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Also known as
Rules above match the following common names in our regulations database: Catfish, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish.
Frequently asked questions
When is Channel Catfish season on James River?
Channel Catfish season on James River is set by DWR. See the rule table for state- and zone-specific dates.
What is the size limit for Channel Catfish on James River?
Minimum size for Channel Catfish on James River is 32 inches in James River And Its Tributaries Below The Fall Line Downstream To A Line Connecting Hog Point On Hog Island (Surry County) And The Downstream Point Of The Mouth Of College Creek (James City County). Slot or maximum sizes may apply elsewhere on the water; see the table above.
What is the daily bag limit for Channel Catfish on James River?
Daily bag limit for Channel Catfish on James River is 1 fish/day in James River And Its Tributaries Below The Fall Line Downstream To A Line Connecting Hog Point On Hog Island (Surry County) And The Downstream Point Of The Mouth Of College Creek (James City County).
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch. Last verified .