Regulations and Permits
As of March 1, 2006, the statewide regulations on catfish were adjusted so that anglers can now take five flathead catfish daily, five blue catfish daily and 10 channel catfish daily in all state waters, except where special regulations apply. Anglers should always check the Missouri Wildlife Code for specific regulations. This regulation represented a reduction in the blue catfish daily limit and was implemented so that the Department would have more opportunities to manage blue catfish in the future.
With this regulation, anglers need to accurately identify between channel
catfish and blue catfish to maximize their take home catch. Many anglers have
difficulty telling blue catfish from channel catfish. Coloration, for example,
is not always an accurate guide because coloration of individual fish can vary
due to fish age, gender, time of year and even water clarity.
However, the two species do have some very clear distinguishing characteristics.
The easiest way to tell them apart is by looking at the anal fin of each species.
Blue catfish anal fin margins are straight and are often tapered like a barber’s
comb while channel catfish anal fins have a mostly rounded margin.
Another characteristic is that the slope between the dorsal fin and the head is much more pronounced in blue cats.
