Blue Catfish in Alabama
blue catfish under the 2026-27 Alabama rules.
- no daily capcreel
- 120 lbs., 4 oz.record
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Quick facts on Alabama blue catfish
The freshwater row that governs blue catfish is the one called "Catfish (under 34 inches)". That comes to no daily limit; the season reads open all year. The limit is shared by every fish in that group, not counted per species. On the ADCNR species page it is Ictalurus furcatus.
The heaviest one ADCNR has certified is 120 lbs., 4 oz., by John Paul Nichols in 2012, from Holt Reservoir. 9 water pages on this site list it, starting with Wheeler Lake, Lake Martin and Millers Ferry Reservoir.
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| Row as printed | Waters | Creel and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish (under 34 inches) | Public fresh waters statewide | No daily limit | open all year |
| Catfish (over 34 inches) | Public fresh waters statewide | 1 a day | open all year |
This size limit shall not apply to catfish harvested from the Perdido, Conecuh, Blackwater, Yellow, Choctawhatchee, Chipola, and Chattahoochee rivers basins. It shall be unlawful to transport live catfish 34 inches in length or greater beyond the boundaries of this State.
Limits as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition) (limits page; digest PDF), read November 1, 2026.
Alabama record-book blue catfish
| List | Weight | Angler | Water | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| freshwater | 120 lbs., 4 oz. | John Paul Nichols | Holt Reservoir | March 9, 2012 |
ADCNR (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division for freshwater; Marine Resources Division State Record Fish Committee for saltwater); freshwater list, saltwater list, read November 1, 2026.
Lakes, rivers and bays for blue catfish in Alabama
Alabama lake pages that name blue catfish
- Wheeler Lake57,278 acres
- Lake Martin39,180 acres
- Millers Ferry Reservoir17,200 acres
- Wilson Lake15,500 acres
- Woodruff Lake12,510 acres
- Coffeeville Lake8,500 acres
- Lake Jordan6,800 acres
- Holt Lake3,296 acres
- Yates Lake1,980 acres
ADCNR reservoir, river and public fishing lake species lists, the record waters and the MRD inshore species; largest waters first.
More Alabama species near blue catfish
- Channel Catfishfreshwater
- Flathead Catfishfreshwater
- White Catfishfreshwater
The country around Blue Catfish through a lens
Photo: Jody Claborn, Public domain
Photo: formulanone, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Olin Gilbert, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jody Claborn, Public domain
Alabama blue catfish, the usual questions
What is the Alabama daily creel for blue catfish?
Daily: No daily limit. Season: open all year.
Who caught the Alabama record blue catfish?
ADCNR lists 120 lbs., 4 oz., John Paul Nichols, 2012, Holt Reservoir.
Which Alabama water pages on this site name blue catfish?
Look at Wheeler Lake, Lake Martin and Millers Ferry Reservoir; 9 pages in all.
Is the Alabama blue catfish limit the same everywhere?
No digest exception names it.
What season covers Alabama blue catfish?
Season as printed: open all year.
Which Alabama license should I carry for blue catfish?
Freshwater anglers need an Alabama fishing license from 16 on ($17.45 resident, $68.20 nonresident for 2026-27); residents 65 and older are exempt.
Who certifies an Alabama blue catfish record?
The freshwater rules: biologist identification, certified scales, two witnesses, form filed within three months.
Which Latin name does ADCNR give blue catfish?
ADCNR uses Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus).
Look for blue catfish near your Alabama base
Start from a water above for launch sites.