Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
For blue and channel catfish, no minimum length limit; daily bag and possession limit = 25 blue and channel catfish in any combination. In the 25-fish bag, no more than 5 fish 20 inches or greater in length may be retained, and no more than 1 of those can be 30 inches or longer. For flathead catfish, minimum length = 18 inches and daily bag = 5.
Identify your catch
Forked tail and a relatively straight-edged anal fin. Count anal-fin rays using an identification reference.
Habitat on Kirby
Willow trees, flooded brush, dam rocks and shoreline bulrush provide cover.
Fishing approach
Lake guide guidance: TPWD identifies offshore areas for blue catfish and shoreline vegetation for channel catfish. Minnows and small jigs can be worked around willows for crappie.
Fishing guidance describes documented approaches, not a promise of fish activity today.
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.
Harvest permission and eating restrictions are separate.
General species guide
A large catfish found in rivers and reservoirs. Fish and other aquatic animals form its diet.
General Blue Catfish profile →Sources & lake evidence
TPWD lake guide and reviewed fisheries evidence establish the listed species or group. Historical survey records do not establish current abundance.
Lake harvest rules ↗Eating guidance ↗Lake habitat & fishing guide ↗Species identification ↗