Channel Catfish in Georgia
Georgia limits, records and waters for channel catfish.
- No limitlimit
- 44 lb, 12 ozrecord
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channel catfish in Georgia: the short version
In Georgia rules, Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is treated as a game fish. Under statewide freshwater, the limit reads No limit and the season is open all year.
The Georgia freshwater record stands at 44 lb, 12 oz, caught in 1972. Our lake and river pages mention it on 309 waters.
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Description. “Olive and brown to dark blue body, back not humped, deeply forked tail, anal fin has a curved margin and 24-29 rays. Can exceed 40 lb; 5 to 10 lb typical.”
Habitat. “Streams, rivers, eddies and shallower water; lakes and ponds. Spawns in cavities in hollow logs, holes in undercut banks and beneath rocks when water reaches 70-75 degrees.”
Range. “Common throughout Georgia.”
Tips. “Most active in the evening or early night. Use worms, cut bait, shrimp, liver, blood and stink baits.”
Quoted from the WRD fish identification page. The WRD entry covers several related fish. Checked October 2026.
channel catfish limits by water type in Georgia
| Applies to | Limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide freshwater | No limit | Open all year |
| Statewide freshwater | Noodling (hand capture) legal March 1 – July 15 with a sport fishing license; only flathead, channel and blue catfish | March 1 – July 15 |
| Public Fishing Areas (unless otherwise posted or listed) | 5 | Open all year |
2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations (Georgia DNR). Checked October 2026.
channel catfish on the Georgia record lists
| List | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| freshwater | 44 lb, 12 oz | Altamaha River | 1972 |
WRD freshwater record list and CRD saltwater game fish records; angler names left out. Checked October 2026.
Where to fish for channel catfish in Georgia
Georgia lakes with channel catfish
- Clarks Hill Lake71,535 acres
- Lake Hartwell56,000 acres
- Lake Walter F. George45,180 acres
- Lake Lanier38,000 acres
- Lake Seminole37,500 acres
- Lake Richard B. Russell26,650 acres
- West Point Lake25,900 acres
- Lake Oconee19,050 acres
- Lake Sinclair14,750 acres
- Lake Allatoona11,860 acres
- Lake Blackshear8,500 acres
- Lake Chatuge7,050 acres
- Bartlett's Ferry Lake5,850 acres
- Lake Jackson4,750 acres
- Lake Nottely4,180 acres
- Lake Juliette3,600 acres
- Lake Blue Ridge3,290 acres
- Carters Lake3,220 acres
- Lake Oliver2,150 acres
- Lake Tobesofkee1,750 acres
- Lake Andrews1,540 acres
- Lake Chehaw1,400 acres
- Hard Labor Creek Reservoir1,370 acres
- Reregulation Reservoir1,030 acres
Georgia streams with channel catfish
- Ocmulgee RiverTelfair
- Chattahoochee RiverHall
- Altamaha RiverWayne
- Flint RiverBaker
- Oconee RiverLaurens
- Satilla RiverBrantley
- Etowah RiverCherokee
- Savannah RiverRichmond
- Ogeechee RiverJefferson
- Ohoopee RiverTattnall
- Saint Marys RiverCharlton
- Tallapoosa RiverHaralson
- Alapaha RiverBerrien
- Withlacoochee RiverLowndes
- Kinchafoonee CreekLee
- Oostanaula RiverGordon
- Suwannee RiverClinch
- Coosa RiverFloyd
WRD access point species flags and WRD fishing forecasts; largest waters first.
More Georgia fish like channel catfish
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Altamaha Bassfreshwater
- Bartram's Bassfreshwater
- Chattahoochee Bassfreshwater
- Redeye Bassfreshwater
- Shoal Bassfreshwater
- Smallmouth Bassfreshwater
- Spotted Bassfreshwater
- Suwannee Bassfreshwater
- Tallapoosa Bassfreshwater
- White Bassfreshwater
- Hybrid Striped Bassfreshwater
Georgia lakes and rivers near Channel Catfish in pictures
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Rivers Langley; SaveRivers, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Stelath, CC BY 4.0
Quick answers on Georgia channel catfish
What size limit covers channel catfish in Georgia?
No limit for statewide freshwater; season open all year.
How big is Georgia's record channel catfish?
44 lb, 12 oz on the freshwater list, from Altamaha River in 1972.
Which Georgia waters hold channel catfish?
309 water pages on this site, led by Clarks Hill Lake, Lake Hartwell and Lake Walter F. George.
Does WRD release channel catfish?
No WRD stocking list covers it.
Is channel catfish freshwater or saltwater in Georgia?
A game fish, Ictalurus punctatus; freshwater water.
Which months may I keep channel catfish?
Open all year on statewide freshwater.
What does a Georgia license cost to fish for channel catfish?
Georgia asks anglers 16 and older for a fishing license: $15 for residents and $50 for nonresidents, each good for 365 days from purchase.
Which Georgia guides target channel catfish?
No guide listing mentions it yet.
Line up a channel catfish trip in Georgia
The pages linked above carry access points and creel rules.