SlotGaugeCheck a catchBlue Catfish regulations in Delaware
Catfishes · Freshwater · 2026 season
Blue Catfish size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| State waters | Open year-round | No size limit | No daily limit |
Notes
- INVASIVE: do not return to water. Kill immediately and contact Fish & Wildlife at 302-739-9914.
Exact DNREC wording
- Season
- Open Year-RoundINVASIVE: Please do not return to water. Immediately kill and contact Fish and Wildlife at 302-739-9914.
- Size
- No Size LimitINVASIVE: Please do not return to water. Immediately kill and contact Fish and Wildlife at 302-739-9914.
- Limit
- No LimitINVASIVE: Please do not return to water. Immediately kill and contact Fish and Wildlife at 302-739-9914.
Source: DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-09-20 (2026 season).
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About the blue catfish
Species of fish
The blue catfish is a large species of North American catfish, reaching a length of 65 in (170 cm) and a weight of 143 lb (65 kg). The continent's largest catfish, it can live to 20 years, with a typical fish being between 25–46 in (64–117 cm) and 30–70 lb (14–32 kg). Native distribution is primarily in the Mississippi River and Louisiana drainage systems, including the Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Arkansas Rivers, the Des Moines River in south-central Iowa, the Rio Grande, and south along the Gulf Coast to Belize and Guatemala.
Read more about Blue catfish on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.
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Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Blue Catfish in Delaware?
No size limit in Delaware state waters.
How many Blue Catfish can you keep per day in Delaware?
No daily limit.
When is Blue Catfish season in Delaware?
Open year-round.
Is my Blue Catfish a keeper today?
Blue Catfish is an invasive species: keep it, no size or daily limit, and do not return it to the water.