Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
Blue + channel: 50 combined per day, no more than 5 at 30 inches or longer; no minimum.
Identify your catch
Forked tail and a relatively straight-edged anal fin. Count anal-fin rays using an identification reference.
Habitat on Sam Rayburn
TPWD documents excellent year-round catfish fishing and extensive standing timber, channels and flooded cover.
Fishing approach
Look for structure and channels; fishing techniques vary by catfish species and conditions. TPWD does not publish a validated lake-wide bait ranking.
Fishing guidance describes documented approaches, not a promise of fish activity today.
Over 30 inches: women of childbearing age and children under 12 DO NOT EAT; adult men and women past childbearing age 2 meals/month.
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 Sam Rayburn lake guide and historical water-body records. Records establish occurrence, not current abundance.
Lake harvest rules ↗Eating guidance ↗Lake habitat & fishing guide ↗Species identification ↗