Blue Catfish in Washington
WDFW limits, the state record and Washington water for blue catfish.
- No min. size. Nolimit
- 17.75 lbsrecord
Pick for blue catfishPiscifun LumiCat II catfish rod48% OFFSale $114.99 Photo of the fish itself, not a Washington water: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
_(53011311615).jpg){kind=link}
Washington blue catfish in brief
In the 2026-27 WDFW pamphlet, blue catfish come under the statewide freshwater line "Crappie, Northern Pikeminnow, Peamouth Chub, Perch, Suckers, Sunfish, Catfish (Except Channel), Rock Bass, Striped Bass". The rule text says: No min. size. No daily limit.
Washington's heaviest on the WDFW list: 17.75 lbs, Columbia River, 1975, angler Rangle Hawthorne. Of the 1 Washington pages that mention it, start with Columbia River. Biologists call it Ictalurus furcatus.
For the blue catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 WDFW size and daily limits for blue catfish
| Pamphlet row | Waters | Limit as printed | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crappie, Northern Pikeminnow, Peamouth Chub, Perch, Suckers, Sunfish, Catfish (E | all freshwater | No min. size. No daily limit. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), PDF page 27 (pamphlet PDF; eRegulations statewide freshwater page), read October 31, 2026.
blue catfish in the WDFW record book
| Listing | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Catfish | 17.75 lbs | Rangle Hawthorne | Columbia River | July 9, 1975 |
WDFW sport fish records, read October 31, 2026; record list.
Finding blue catfish across Washington
Rivers worth a drift for blue catfish
- Columbia RiverStevens County
WDFW Fish Washington and high lake layer species lists, WDFW SWIFD distribution, record waters and 2026 trout plants; largest waters first.
More Washington fish beside blue catfish
- Black Bullheadfreshwater
- Brown Bullheadfreshwater
- Channel Catfishfreshwater
- Flathead Catfishfreshwater
- White Catfishfreshwater
- Yellow Bullheadfreshwater
A camera walk along the water near Blue Catfish
Photo: Richard Probst – Shot in a Frame, CC BY 2.0
Photo: JOHN LLOYD, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Pacific Fishery Management Council, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Washington answers about blue catfish
How many blue catfish can go home from a Washington trip?
The 2026-27 line reads: No min. size. No daily limit.
Is there a WDFW record for blue catfish?
Rangle Hawthorne caught it at Columbia River in 1975: 17.75 lbs.
Which Washington waters hold blue catfish?
Try Columbia River; 1 pages carry it.
Are blue catfish stocked in Washington?
It is not among the 2026 WDFW plants.
Do some Washington lakes carry their own blue catfish numbers?
No lake or river changes its rule.
What dates apply to Washington blue catfish?
Read the season as Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31. In-season emergency rules take priority.
Do nonresidents need a license for Washington blue catfish?
Anglers 16 and older need a Washington Freshwater license ($39.95 resident, $115.85 nonresident for 2026-27) or a Combination license; salmon, steelhead and sturgeon also take a catch record card.
How is a blue catfish record certified in Washington?
The WDFW Sport Fish Record Coordinator; the fish must be weighed on a certified scale, not frozen, and seen at a WDFW office.
Go after Washington blue catfish
Open a water above for ramps and rules.