New York species

Channel Catfish in New York

Where channel catfish swim in New York, and what to keep.

5; minimum 12"limit
37 lb 9 ozrecord

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Photo of the species, not a New York water: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain

New York fish

What New York anglers should know about channel catfish

channel catfish belongs to the freshwater group in New York, and the 2026 tables carry it in 1 rule table. Under greenwood lake: 5; minimum 12″, with the season set at all year.

The 2025 catch of 37 lb 9 oz on Black River Bay remains the state best. DEC fishing lists name it on 20 lake and river pages here.

DEC’s beginner guide gives the usual size as 15-25 in./ grow to 37 in. Largest of the catfish/bullhead species in New York State, its forked tail makes younger fish easy to identify. The tail becomes worn and less forked with age, however.

5; minimum 12"first DEC row

37 lb 9 ozstate record

1DEC rows

20water pages

Size note and fact from the DEC I FISH NY beginner guide (I FISH NY Beginners' Guide to Freshwater Fishing, Chapter 1 Fishes of New York (DEC, 2016)).

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Limits

Keeping channel catfish legally in New York

Rule table	Where	Limit	Season
Greenwood Lake	Greenwood Lake	5; minimum 12"	All year

2026 DEC freshwater fishing regulations web pages (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation), read October 24, 2026; figures checked twice on October 25, 2026.

All New York regulation pages

Records

The channel catfish mark New York anglers chase

Entry	Weight	Angler	Water	County	Date
Catfish, Channel	37 lb 9 oz	Dylan Kampnich	Black River Bay	Jefferson	May 3, 2025

DEC state record fish table, DEC Current NY State Record Fish table, as of December 10, 2025; retrieved October 24, 2026.

Where to look

Pages that list channel catfish

DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Rivers lists, DEC trout reaches, stocking lists and state records; largest waters first.

Related fish

Photographs

Pictures of fishing water around Channel Catfish

Susquehanna River, New York — Susquehanna River
Photo: PointsofNoReturn, CC BY-SA 4.0

Long Island Sound, New York — Long Island Sound
Photo: Russ, CC BY 2.0

Gardiners Bay, New York — Gardiners Bay
Photo: DanTD, CC BY-SA 4.0

Peconic Bay, New York — Peconic Bay
Photo: Leonard J. DeFrancisci, CC BY-SA 3.0

Answers

Catching Channel catfish in the Empire State: answers

What is the New York bag limit on channel catfish?

5; minimum 12" under greenwood lake, season all year; other tables set their own figures.

Where was the record channel catfish caught in New York?

37 lb 9 oz from Black River Bay, caught by Dylan Kampnich (May 3, 2025).

What New York water is a good bet for channel catfish?

20 water pages here list it, starting with Lake Champlain, Oneida Lake and Great Sacandaga Lake.

Where are channel catfish stocked in New York?

Not on the DEC stocking lists for 2023 to 2026.

What kind of fish is channel catfish for DEC?

Freshwater on the DEC list.

When is channel catfish season open in New York?

All year under greenwood lake.

Do I need a license to fish for channel catfish?

Anglers 16 and older need a DEC freshwater fishing license: $25.00 a year for residents, $50.00 for nonresidents, $5.00 for residents 70 and older, with 1-day and 7-day options.

How current are the channel catfish rules here?

From the 2026 DEC regulation pages and the state record table, read October 24, 2026 and checked again October 25, 2026.

Find channel catfish near you

Every listed lake and stream has its own page here.

New York species New York regulations