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- Catfish fishing in Arizona
Types of Catfish in Arizona
Catfish fishing spots in Arizona
Best baits and lures for Catfish in Arizona
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Regulations for Catfish in Arizona
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in Arizona can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Channel catfish as of August 7th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.
Channel catfish
Seasons
Open
Bag limit
10
Aggregate
10
Additional information
No size limit. These regulations apply statewide unless Site-Specific Special Regulations apply to that body of water. Click here to see Site-Specific Special Regulations Statewide includes all state and federal refuges, parks and monuments; open areas do not include any area closed to hunting, fishing, or trapping.Special Regulation Areas: (catfish bag limit includes channel catfish and flathead catfish)Community fishing lakes: bag limit = 4 catfishCommunity fishing ponds: bag limit = 2 catfishAlamar Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishAlvord Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishApache Lake: bag limit = 5 catfish when taken by bow and arrowBear Canyon Lake: no bag limit Beaver Creek (Wet and Dry): no bag limit Black Canyon Lake: no bag limit Bonsall Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishCanyon Lake: bag limit = 5 catfish when taken by bow and arrowCataract Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishCC Cragin Reservoir (Blue Ridge): no bag limit Chaparral Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishChevelon Canyon Lake: no bag limit City Reservoir: bag limit = 4 catfishCluff Ranch Ponds: catch and release only Colorado River-Glen Canyon Dam to Separation Canyon: no bag limit Copper Sky Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishCortez Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishCouncil Avenue Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishCrystal Gardens Water Treatment Facility (city of Avondale): catch and release only Dankworth Pond: bag limit = 4 catfishDave White Regional Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishDead Horse Ranch State Park Lagoons: bag limit = 4 catfishDesert Breeze Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishDesert West Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishDiscovery Park Ponds: bag limit = 2 catfishDogtown Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishEast Verde River: no bag limit Eastmark Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishEldorado Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishEncanto Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishEvelyn Hallman Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishFain Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishFestival Fields Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishFortuna Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishFrancis Short Pond: bag limit = 4 catfishFreestone Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishFriendship Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishGilbert Regional Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishGraham County Fairgrounds Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishGranite Basin Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishGreen Valley Park Lakes: bag limit = 4 catfishGreenfield Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishHeroes Regional Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishHorseshoe Lake: no bag limit Kaibab Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishKennedy Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishKiwanis Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishKnoll Lake: no bag limit Lakeside Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishLong Tom Lake: no bag limit Lower Goldwater: artificial flies and lures only; catch and release only Lower Lake Mary: bag limit = 4 catfishMansel Carter Oasis Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishMcQueen Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishOak Creek: no bag limit Pacana Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishPacific Avenue Athletic Complex Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishPaloma Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishPapago Park Ponds: bag limit = 2 catfishParker Canyon Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishPatterson Ponds: bag limit = 2 catfishPena Blanca Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishPioneer Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishRed Mountain Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishRedondo Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishRio Vista Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishRiverview Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishRoadrunner Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishRoper Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishSaguaro Lake: bag limit = 5 catfish when taken by bow and arrowSahuarita Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishSanta Fe Reservoir: bag limit = 4 catfishShow Low Creek Meadow: bag limit = 2 catfishSilverbell Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishSteele Indian School Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishStone Dam: bag limit = 4 catfishSundance Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishSurprise Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishTempe Town Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishThe Pond at Town Hall (town of Gilbert): catch and release onlyTucson waters in the city park system, but not in the CFP: bag limit = 4 catfishUpper Salt River (Roosevelt Diversion Dam upstream to the Reservation Boundary): no bag limit Verde River upstream of Horseshoe Dam including tributaries: no bag limitVeterans Oasis Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishVirgin River: no bag limitWater Ranch Park Lake: bag limit = 2 catfishWest Clear Creek: no bag limitWest Wetlands Pond: bag limit = 2 catfishWhitehorse Lake: bag limit = 4 catfishWillow Springs Lake: no bag limit Woods Canyon Lake: no bag limitYavapai Lakes: bag limit = 4 catfish
Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Channel Catfish by BlueGabe
Synonyms
Ictalurus punctatus
Regulations for
34°10′4.7″N 111°55′46″W
/-111.92943199999999,34.1679844991271,10,0.00,0.00/600x250?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiZmlzaGJyYWluLWRldiIsImEiOiJjbDl6ZDU2amEwZXFtM29rNmI5cTV5ZGZ3In0.PEsOW8Rbc7G-mIBHpNXeGQ&logo=false&attribution=false)
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FAQ
🎣 What Catfish species can you catch in Arizona?
Anglers in Arizona commonly catch several Catfish species, including Channel catfish, Flathead catfish, and Suckermouth catfish, according to reports from Fishbrain members.
These species can be found in many rivers and streams, lakes throughout the area. If you are targeting a specific species, you can use the to filter catches by species and see where anglers are catching them and which baits they are using.
These species can be found in many rivers and streams, lakes throughout the area. If you are targeting a specific species, you can use the to filter catches by species and see where anglers are catching them and which baits they are using.
📍 Where are the best places to catch Catfish in Arizona?
Catfish are caught in rivers and streams, lakes throughout Arizona. Popular fishing waters reported by Fishbrain members include Salt River, Tres Rios Wetlands, and Lakeside Park Lake.
The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Catfish have recently been caught.
The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Catfish have recently been caught.