Blue Catfish in Indiana
Where blue catfish swim in Indiana, and what may be kept.
- no bag limitbag
- 104 lb.record
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Sizing up Indiana blue catfish
The Indiana regulations guide files blue catfish under "Catfish: Channel, Blue, Flathead (in rivers and streams)" in its statewide chart. What the guide prints for the day: Unlimited. On length the row says: 13 inches; not more than one blue catfish that’s at least 35 inches, one flathead catfish at least 35 inches, and one channel catfish at least 28 inches or longer may be kept.
DNR record keepers show 104 lb. for blue catfish: Ohio River, 1999.
Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus), Ictaluridae (North American catfishes).
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| Where | Row as printed | Daily | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| statewide | Catfish: Channel, Blue, Flathead (in rivers and streams) | Unlimited | 13 inches; not more than one blue catfish that’s at least 35 inches, one flathead catfish at least 35 inches, and one channel catfish at least 28 inches or longer may be kept |
| statewide | Catfish: Channel, Blue, Flathead (in lakes) | 10 | None; not more than one blue catfish that’s at least 35 inches, one flathead catfish at least 35 inches, and one channel catfish at least 28 inches or longer may be kept |
| Ohio River main stem | Blue Catfish | Unlimited | 13 inches; no more than one may be 35 inches or longer |
Statewide limits as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Where blue catfish rules differ on Indiana's border waters
| Water | Row as printed | Daily | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio River | Blue Catfish | Unlimited | 13 inches; no more than one may be 35 inches or longer |
Lake Michigan and Ohio River rows as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Indiana's top blue catfish by weight
| Weight as printed | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 104 lb. | Ohio River | 1999 |
Indiana DNR Indiana Record Fish Program list (keeper: Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife (Indiana Record Fish Program); angler names left off here), read November 5, 2026.
Same-family fish to blue catfish
- Black Bullheadno bag limit
- Brown Bullheadno bag limit
- Channel Catfishno bag limit
- Flathead Catfishno bag limit
- White Catfishno statewide row
- Yellow Bullheadno bag limit
Piscifun picks for a day out on Indiana blue catfish
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Snapshots of the water by Blue Catfish
Photo: Kyle Hartshorn, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Philip Brewer, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Indiana blue catfish, asked and answered
How many blue catfish can go home from an Indiana lake?
It reads Unlimited; the length column says 13 inches; not more than one blue catfish that’s at least 35 inches, one flathead catfish at least 35 inches, and one channel catfish at least 28 inches or long.
When was the Indiana blue catfish record set?
104 lb., landed at Ohio River in 1999.
Where do blue catfish live in Indiana?
This site ties it to no Indiana water page so far.
Is the blue catfish rule the same on every Indiana water?
No entry changes its rule by name; all-fish lines still count.
Has the Indiana DNR stocked blue catfish?
No stocking row names it.
Is one Indiana license enough for blue catfish?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
What is the Latin name the DNR gives blue catfish?
Ictalurus furcatus; family Ictaluridae (North American catfishes), on the DNR Fishes of Indiana list.
When can Indiana residents fish blue catfish without a license?
The Indiana DNR set Free Fishing Days for May 10, June 6-7, and Sept. 26, 2026, for Indiana residents (no license or trout/salmon stamp needed; all other rules apply). The daily bag still counts.
Plan a Hoosier trip for blue catfish
The lakes linked above show piers and ramps.