SlotGaugeCheck a catchChannel Catfish regulations in New Jersey
· Freshwater · 2026 season
Channel Catfish size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey fresh waters (statewide; special waters differ) | Open year-round | 12 inch minimum | 5 per person per day |
Exact NJDEP Fish & Wildlife wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- 12 inches
- Limit
- 5
- Inland waters — as printed
- “Channel Catfish: Open year-round Statewide 12 inches 5”
Source: NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, 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 NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.
All 62 New Jersey species A–Z →
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Channel Catfish in New Jersey?
12 inch minimum in New Jersey state waters.
How many Channel Catfish can you keep per day in New Jersey?
5 per person per day.
When is Channel Catfish season in New Jersey?
Open year-round.
Is my Channel Catfish a keeper today?
A channel catfish is a keeper today if it measures at least 12 inches, with a daily limit of 5.