SlotGaugeCheck a catchBlue Catfish regulations in Virginia
· Freshwater · 2026 season
Blue Catfish size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia inland waters (statewide; special waters differ) | Open year-round | None | 20 per person per day |
Notes
- A 2026-10-31 check against the official source found a discrepancy in this species' zones. Read the official wording before keeping the fish: https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/media/creel-and-length-limits.pdf
Exact Virginia Marine Resources Commission wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- None
- Limit
- 20 per day
- Inland waters — as printed
- “Catfish (Blue): 20 per day; No statewide length limits (tidal rivers: no limit except 1 per day over 32 inches)”
Source: Virginia Marine Resources Commission, captured 2026-09-21 (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 Virginia Marine Resources Commission, not Wikipedia.
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Blue Catfish in Virginia?
None in Virginia state waters.
How many Blue Catfish can you keep per day in Virginia?
20 per person per day.
When is Blue Catfish season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
Is my Blue Catfish a keeper today?
Blue Catfish has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 20.