Species profile
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Identify Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 43 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 39 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Tennessee); the most generous is 100 (Wisconsin).
Across 7 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 16.8 in (≈ 1 ft 5 in).
Confirmed by 9,323 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Texas, Ohio, and North Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Distinguished by its deeply forked tail and scattered dark spots on the sides.
- Has 8 sensitive barbels around its mouth that detect both touch and taste.
- The IGFA all-tackle world record weighed 58 pounds, caught in South Carolina in 1964.
- North America's most widely fished catfish, stocked in ponds and reservoirs across the country.
- Can detect dissolved amino acids from prey at extremely low concentrations — essentially tasting the water.
Where Channel Catfish are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Channel Catfish
Background
Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is North America's most numerous catfish species. It is the official fish of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States, they are the most fished catfish species with approximately 8 million anglers targeting them per year. The popularity of channel catfish for food has contributed…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Channel Catfish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Channel Catfish?
Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 39 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Channel Catfish?
Channel Catfish is Ictalurus punctatus.
Is Channel Catfish regulated for fishing?
Yes — Channel Catfish has fishing regulations in 43 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Channel Catfish?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Channel Catfish along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.