SlotGaugeCheck a catchChannel Catfish regulations in Maryland
· Freshwater · 2026 season
Channel Catfish size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland nontidal waters (statewide; special areas differ) | Open year-round | No size limit | 5 per person per day |
Exact Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- None
- Limit
- Daily—5 Possession—10
- Inland waters — as printed
- “CHANNEL CATFISH | None | Open Year Round | Daily—5 Possession—10”
Source: Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).
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About the channel catfish
Species of fish
The channel catfish, known informally as the "channel cat", is a species of catfish native to North America. They are North America's most abundant catfish species, and the official state fish of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Tennessee. The channel catfish is the most fished species of catfish in the United States, with around 8 million anglers angling them per year. The popularity of channel catfish for food has contributed to the rapid expansion of this species' aquaculture in the United States. It has also been widely introduced to Europe, Asia and South America, and many countries consider it an invasive species.
Read more about Channel catfish on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services, not Wikipedia.
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Channel Catfish in Maryland?
No size limit in Maryland state waters.
How many Channel Catfish can you keep per day in Maryland?
5 per person per day.
When is Channel Catfish season in Maryland?
Open year-round.
Is my Channel Catfish a keeper today?
Channel Catfish has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 5.