TEXAS FISH & WATER
Sources ↗
← Kemp
Kemp · Lake fish profile

Catfish

Kemp harvest rules
Daily bag
Species-specific
Length rule
Species-specific

For blue and channel catfish, no minimum length limit; daily bag limit = 25 in any combination, of which only 10 can be 20 inches or greater in length. For flathead catfish, minimum length = 18 inches and daily bag limit = 5.

Official lake regulations ↗
Channel Catfish
Channel Catfish · Identification features below.

Habitat on Kemp

Rocky points and flooded terrestrial vegetation provide cover.

Fishing approach

Lake guide guidance: TPWD suggests Texas-rigged plastics in brush for bass, crankbaits or topwaters near rocky points, live bait or hair jigs in deeper water for stripers, and docks or rocks for crappie.

Lake fishing guide ↗
Eating guidance

No active lake-specific advisory or possession ban was named in the reviewed DSHS directory. This does not guarantee that fish are safe to eat.

Official consumption guidance ↗

Species within this group

Channel Catfish

Harvest: For blue and channel catfish, no minimum length limit; daily bag limit = 25 in any combination, of which only 10 can be 20 inches or greater in length. For flathead catfish, minimum length = 18 inches and daily bag limit = 5.

Eating guidance: No active lake-specific advisory or possession ban was named in the reviewed DSHS directory. This does not guarantee that fish are safe to eat.

Forked tail; younger fish commonly show dark body spots. The anal-fin edge is more rounded than in blue catfish.

Blue Catfish

Harvest: For blue and channel catfish, no minimum length limit; daily bag limit = 25 in any combination, of which only 10 can be 20 inches or greater in length. For flathead catfish, minimum length = 18 inches and daily bag limit = 5.

Eating guidance: No active lake-specific advisory or possession ban was named in the reviewed DSHS directory. This does not guarantee that fish are safe to eat.

Forked tail and a relatively straight-edged anal fin. Count anal-fin rays using an identification reference.

Flathead Catfish

Harvest: For blue and channel catfish, no minimum length limit; daily bag limit = 25 in any combination, of which only 10 can be 20 inches or greater in length. For flathead catfish, minimum length = 18 inches and daily bag limit = 5.

Eating guidance: No active lake-specific advisory or possession ban was named in the reviewed DSHS directory. This does not guarantee that fish are safe to eat.

Broad flattened head, projecting lower jaw and a tail that is not deeply forked.

Individual lake profiles

Choose the species for its own identification, harvest rules and eating guidance on this lake.

Source & occurrence note

TPWD lake guide and reviewed fisheries evidence establish the listed species or group. Historical survey records do not establish current abundance.