Channel catfish in Florida
Limits, records, best waters and stocking for channel catfish.
- 44.5 lbrecord
- 35lakes
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Fishing for Channel catfish in Florida
Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is managed by FWC as a freshwater species. FWC’s Big Catch program recognizes channel catfish from 25 inches or 12.0 lbs. The Florida record channel catfish weighed 44.5 pounds (Lake Bluff, 1985).
FWC lists channel catfish in 35 lakes with fishing pages on this site. FWC hatcheries stocked 948,707 channel catfish in the fiscal years on file.
channel catfish biology
Where to find channel catfish
“Channel catfish are found throughout Florida, and spawn in holes and crevices.”
Life cycle of channel catfish
“Primarily bottom feeders, channels also feed higher up.”
“Major foods are aquatic insects, crayfish, mollusks, crustaceans and fish – not detritus or decaying material.”
Quoted from the FWC species profile.
Florida record channel catfish
| Category | Weight (lb) | Where | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater | 44.5 | Lake Bluff | 1985 |
FWC freshwater state records and Catch a Florida Memory saltwater records. Angler names left out.
Florida lakes for channel catfish
- Lake RousseauCitrus County
- Kenansville LakeBrevard County, 2,500 acres
- Farm 13/Stick MarshBrevard County, 6,500 acres
- Tenoroc Fish Management AreaPolk County, 242 acres
- Saddle Creek Park LakesPolk County, 740 acres
- Newnans LakeAlachua County, 5,800 acres
- Blue Cypress LakeIndian River County, 5,500 acres
- Edward Medard ReservoirHillsborough County, 770 acres
- Karick LakeOkaloosa County, 58 acres
- Lake VictorHolmes County, 130 acres
- Lake ManateeManatee County, 1,400 acres
- Suwannee LakeSuwannee County, 63 acres
- Hurricane LakeOkaloosa County, 318 acres
- Lake StoneEscambia County, 130 acres
- Tsala Apopka Chain of LakesCitrus County, 19,111 acres
- Lake GriffinLake County, 16,505 acres
- Lake ParkerPolk County, 2,257 acres
- Lake CragoPolk County, 54 acres
- Lake PoinsettBrevard County
- Lake WinderBrevard County
- Lake WashingtonBrevard County
- Sawgrass LakeBrevard County
- Lake Hell 'n' BlazesBrevard County
- Lake ApopkaOrange County
- Lake HarrisLake County
- Little Lake HarrisLake County
- Lake EustisLake County
- Lake DoraLake County
- Lake BeauclairLake County
- Lake CarltonOrange County
- Lake YaleLake County
- Lake HardeeHardee County
- Deer LakeHardee County
- Lake FireflyHardee County
- Gator LakeHardee County
FWC top spots for channel catfish
- Hanna Park Ponds2026 Catfish list: Catfish numbers, sunshine bass numbers, bream numbers
- Lake Talquin2026 Catfish list:
- Lake Okeechobee2026 Catfish list: Trophy bass and TrophyCatch submissions, crappie numbers, catfish numbers
- Edward Medard Reservoir2026 Catfish list:
- Tenoroc Fish Management Area2026 Catfish list: Bass size and numbers, bream size and numbers, special opportunity for Sunshine Bass, special opportunity for catfish, catfish numbers
- Lake Thonotosassa2026 Catfish list:
Lakes where the FWC site page names channel catfish.
Where FWC stocks channel catfish
| Water | County | Fish | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Withlacoochee River – Silver Lake | Sumter | 173,600 | 2022-23 |
| Withlacoochee River | Hernando | 120,664 | 2021-22 |
| Welaka National Fish Hatchery | Putnam | 104,098 | 2021-22 |
| Withlacoochee River @ Trails End | Citrus | 76,551 | 2021-22 |
| Clear Lake | Orange | 31,900 | 2022-23, 2023-24 |
| Withlacoochee River @ Iron Bridge | Hernando | 21,609 | 2021-22 |
| Withlacoochee River @ River Road | Sumter | 20,775 | 2021-22 |
| Withlacoochee River @ Lacoochee | Pasco | 19,390 | 2021-22 |
| Lake Victor | Holmes | 15,500 | 2022-23, 2023-24 |
| Pine Meadows Conservation Area | Lake | 15,000 | 2023-24 |
| Tenoroc FMA – Lake 5 | Polk | 15,000 | 2023-24 |
| Okeeheelee FMA | Palm Beach | 12,011 | 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 |
| Watertown Lake FMA | Columbia | 10,997 | 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 |
| Pine Meadows | Lake | 10,660 | 2023-24 |
| Nathan Benderson Park | Sarasota | 10,000 | 2022-23 |
FWC Completed Stockings reports, fiscal years 2021-22 to 2023-24.
Other Florida freshwater fish
Before you target channel catfish
Is there a size limit on channel catfish in Florida?
The default freshwater bag covers channel catfish.
What is the biggest channel catfish caught in Florida?
It went 44.5 pounds, set in 1985.
Where do I catch channel catfish in Florida?
FWC names channel catfish in 35 lakes, including Lake Rousseau, Kenansville Lake and Farm 13/Stick Marsh.
Does FWC stock channel catfish?
FWC stocked 948,707 in recent fiscal years.
What qualifies a channel catfish as a Big Catch?
25 inches or 12.0 lbs.
What species name do channel catfish go by?
Ictalurus punctatus.
Which license do I need for channel catfish?
You need the Florida freshwater license at 16 and older.
When is channel catfish season closed?
FWC lists no closure for channel catfish.
Where does this channel catfish information come from?
The FWC profile, rule pages and record lists.