Bullhead in Utah
Bullhead in Utah: daily limits dated by guidebook, water exceptions and record entries.
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What DWR says about Bullhead
Starting January 1, 2027, the Utah default for bullhead is the "Bullhead" row: 24 a day. That matches the 2026 guidebook, which stays in effect until December 31, 2026.
Fish Utah lists it on 25 waters with pages here; DWR rates it likely at 10 of them. The guidebook prints 2 water entries naming it, Deer Creek Reservoir for one. Utah keeps 4 record entries for it.
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 9 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
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| Statewide row | 2027 daily | 2026 daily | Note as printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullhead | 24 | same |
The limits here are from the 2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, which takes effect January 1, 2027; the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook stays in force through December 31, 2026 and differs only where a row says so.
Two daily limits may be on hand, fish at home excluded, and only one at Flaming Gorge.
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 9 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
Utah Admin. Code R657-13 (R657-13-19), last changed June 23, 2026 as printed on the DWR rules page, read November 11, 2026.
Special Utah rules for bullhead
| Water as printed | County | Rule lines | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Creek Reservoir | Wasatch County | No limit on black bullhead catfish. Anglers must not release any black bullhead catfish they catch. All black bullhead catfish must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Pelican Lake | Uintah County | (NEW) No limit for bullhead. | NEW 2027 |
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 35-58 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
Where Utah's record bullhead came from
| Category | Weight | Length | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catch and keep (by weight) | 3 lbs. 4 oz. | 16" | Cutler Reservoir | 1999 | |
| Catch and release (by length) | – | 17 ⅝" | Quail Creek Reservoir | 2026 | |
| Spearfishing | 1 lb. 3 oz. | 12 ⅜" | Pineview Reservoir | 2009 | |
| Setline | 1 lb. 1 oz. | 10 ½" | Cutler Reservoir | 2016 |
Utah state record fish as DWR lists them (records page), read November 11, 2026.
Utah reservoirs and streams naming bullhead
The labels are DWR's, quoted from the planner, plus stocked where a hatchery row appears; none is a promise of fish.
- Lake PowellDWR: likely; Kane County
- Utah LakeDWR: likely; Utah County
- Cutler ReservoirDWR: likely; Cache County
- Recapture ReservoirDWR: likely; San Juan County
- Jordan RiverDWR: likely; Salt Lake County
- Holmes Creek ReservoirDWR: likely; Davis County
- Pioneer Park PondDWR: likely; Box Elder County
- Kidney PondDWR: likely; Salt Lake County
- Midas PondDWR: likely; Salt Lake County
- Smith Family Park PondDWR: likely; Weber County
- Pineview ReservoirDWR: possible; Weber County
- Mona ReservoirDWR: possible; Juab County
- Pelican LakeDWR: possible; Uintah County
- Quail Creek ReservoirDWR: possible; Washington County
- Gunlock ReservoirDWR: possible; Washington County
- Baker ReservoirDWR: possible; Washington County
- Bountiful LakeDWR: possible; Davis County
- Burraston PondsDWR: possible; Juab County
- Lower Provo River (Center Street Bridge to I-15)DWR: possible; Utah County
- Riverfront PondDWR: possible; Salt Lake County
- Sunset PondDWR: possible; Salt Lake County
- Gunnison Bend and DMAD ReservoirsDWR: possible; Millard County
- Little Montes ReservoirDWR: possible; Uintah County
- Sand Hollow ReservoirDWR: possible; Washington County
- Deer Creek ReservoirDWR: invasive species; Wasatch County
Utah DWR Fish Utah planner (dwrapps.utah.gov), read November 11, 2026.
Photo of Lake Powell: Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public domain
Before a Utah Bullhead outing
Which Utah limit covers bullhead?
Starting January 1, 2027, the Utah default for bullhead is the "Bullhead" row: 24 a day. That matches the 2026 guidebook, which stays in effect until December 31, 2026.
Where in Utah is the bullhead limit different?
The guidebook prints 2 water entries naming it, Deer Creek Reservoir for one.
What does the DWR record book show for bullhead?
3 lbs. 4 oz. out of Cutler Reservoir in 1999, a catch and keep (by weight) record.
Which Utah reservoirs list bullhead?
Try Lake Powell, Utah Lake and Cutler Reservoir, among 25 pages.
Is bullhead catch-and-release in Utah?
Utah does not make it release-only statewide.
What Utah license covers a day after bullhead?
Anglers 12 and older need a Utah fishing license; both the 2026 and 2027 guidebooks print $40 for a resident 365-day adult license and $120 for a nonresident.
Who keeps the Utah bullhead record?
Records go to DWR through its online page, one table per method.
What does Utah's two-limit possession rule mean for bullhead?
The guidebook defines possession as two limits; the Flaming Gorge rule cuts it to one.