Channel catfish and blue catfish are among the most sought-after fish species in Missouri. Now, creel limits for the two species have changed.

Even though the two species are different in many ways, they have been subject to the same fishing rules for years.

Those rules included a daily limit of 10 channel or blue catfish in the aggregate. In other words, anglers could keep a total of 10 channel and blue catfish daily. That could have been five of each, or eight blue catfish and two channel cats.

Now, on all Missouri waters except where special catfish management regulations apply, the daily limit is 10 channel catfish and five blue catfish daily. This means an angler can keep more catfish than in the past – up to 10 channel cats and five blues.

However, they can’t keep as many blue catfish as in the past. The daily limit of five flathead catfish has not changed.

Anglers should note that some waters where blue catfish live are not affected by the new regulation.

Table Rock, Norfork and Bull Shoals reservoirs continue under a daily limit of 10 channels, blues and flatheads in the aggregate.

The special catfish management zone below Truman Dam still has a daily limit of four channels, blues and flatheads in the aggregate with only one catfish over 24 inches allowed.