Blue catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

A state link is a recorded source association, not a catch guarantee or confirmation that targeting is legal. Check current regulations with the responsible state agency.

Peak months
Typical depth
Typical size
Catch minimum: 36 inches or 25
National record

See state records · Browse all fishing records

Recorded profile

habitat summary: Originally found in the Escambia and Yellow rivers in northwest Florida, they are now also in the Apalachicola and Suwannee. Blues occur in big rivers and in the lower reaches of major tributaries. They prefer clearer, swifter water than other catfish, and are usually found over sand, gravel or rock bottoms.
diet: eat aquatic insects and small fish while larger blues prefer crayfish, mussels and other fish.
preferred bait: Most are caught bottom fishing with cut fish, or stink baits rigged on large hooks with heavy lead sinkers.
preferred lures: Not recorded
techniques: One of the strongest freshwater fish; blues are caught on bush hooks or trotlines as well as rod and reel. Most are caught bottom fishing with cut fish, or stink baits rigged on large hooks with heavy lead sinkers. Image Credit: © Duane Raver, Jr.
peak months: Not recorded

States with a source record

Alabama · Arkansas · Arizona · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Iowa · Illinois · Indiana · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Massachusetts · Maryland · Maine · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Mississippi · North Carolina · North Dakota · Nebraska · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · Nevada · New York · Ohio · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Virginia · Vermont · Wisconsin · West Virginia

Source evidence by state

Alabama — Blue Catfish · seed: www.outdooralabama.com · www.outdooralabama.com
Arkansas — Blue Catfish · seed: www.agfc.com · www.agfc.com
Arizona — Blue Catfish · seed: www.azgfd.com · www.azgfd.com
California — Blue Catfish · seed: wildlife.ca.gov · wildlife.ca.gov · nrm.dfg.ca.gov · wildlife.ca.gov
Colorado — Blue Catfish · seed: cpw.state.co.us · cpw.state.co.us
Connecticut — Blue Catfish · seed: portal.ct.gov · portal.ct.gov
Delaware — Blue Catfish · seed: dnrec.delaware.gov · dnrec.delaware.gov
Florida — Blue Catfish · enriched: myfwc.com · myfwc.com · myfwc.com
Georgia — Blue Catfish · seed: georgiawildlife.com · georgiawildlife.com · georgiawildlife.com
Iowa — Blue Catfish · seed: www.iowadnr.gov · www.iowadnr.gov
Illinois — Blue Catfish · seed: dnr.illinois.gov · dnr.illinois.gov
Indiana — Blue Catfish · seed: www.in.gov · www.in.gov
Kansas — Blue Catfish · seed: ksoutdoors.com · ksoutdoors.com
Kentucky — Blue Catfish · seed: fw.ky.gov · fw.ky.gov
Louisiana — Blue Catfish · seed: www.wlf.louisiana.gov · www.wlf.louisiana.gov · www.wlf.louisiana.gov
Massachusetts — Blue Catfish · seed: www.mass.gov · www.mass.gov · www.mass.gov
Maryland — Blue Catfish · seed: dnr.maryland.gov · dnr.maryland.gov · dnr.maryland.gov
Maine — Blue Catfish · seed: www.maine.gov · www.maine.gov
Michigan — Blue Catfish · seed: www.michigan.gov · www2.dnr.state.mi.us · www.michigan.gov
Minnesota — Blue Catfish · seed: www.dnr.state.mn.us · files.dnr.state.mn.us · www.dnr.state.mn.us
Missouri — Blue Catfish · seed: mdc.mo.gov · mdc.mo.gov
Mississippi — Blue Catfish · seed: www.mdwfp.com · dmr.ms.gov · www.mdwfp.com
North Carolina — Blue Catfish · seed: www.ncwildlife.gov · auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov · www.deq.nc.gov · www.ncwildlife.gov
North Dakota — Blue Catfish · seed: gf.nd.gov · gf.nd.gov
Nebraska — Blue Catfish · seed: outdoornebraska.gov · outdoornebraska.gov
New Hampshire — Blue Catfish · seed: www.wildlife.nh.gov · www.wildlife.nh.gov
New Jersey — Blue Catfish · seed: dep.nj.gov · dep.nj.gov · dep.nj.gov
New Mexico — Blue Catfish · seed: www.wildlife.state.nm.us · www.wildlife.state.nm.us
Nevada — Blue Catfish · seed: www.ndow.org · www.ndow.org
New York — Blue Catfish · seed: dec.ny.gov · dec.ny.gov · dec.ny.gov · dec.ny.gov · dec.ny.gov
Ohio — Blue Catfish · seed: dam.assets.ohio.gov · ohiodnr.gov
Oklahoma — Blue Catfish · seed: www.wildlifedepartment.com · www.wildlifedepartment.com
Pennsylvania — Blue Catfish · seed: www.pa.gov · www.pa.gov · www.pa.gov
Rhode Island — Blue Catfish · seed: dem.ri.gov · dem.ri.gov
South Carolina — Blue Catfish · seed: www.dnr.sc.gov · www.dnr.sc.gov · www.dnr.sc.gov · www.dnr.sc.gov
South Dakota — Blue Catfish · seed: gfp.sd.gov · gfp.sd.gov
Tennessee — Blue Catfish · seed: www.tn.gov · www.tn.gov
Texas — Blue Catfish · seed: tpwd.texas.gov · tpwd.texas.gov
Virginia — Blue Catfish · seed: dwr.virginia.gov · mrc.virginia.gov
Vermont — Blue Catfish · seed: vtfishandwildlife.com · vtfishandwildlife.com
Wisconsin — Blue Catfish · seed: dnr.wi.gov · dnr.wisconsin.gov
West Virginia — Blue Catfish · seed: wvdnr.gov · wvdnr.gov

LoveToFish is a national fishing guide. Fish species coverage spans all 50 states. Ramp, charter, bait shop, and creator directories currently cover Florida. Verify current local regulations with the responsible agency.