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Blue Catfish

Blue Catfish

Blue Catfish are North America's largest catfish species and thrive throughout Louisiana's waters, particularly in the Mississippi River drainage system where they are native. These powerful fish can reach over 100 pounds.

They're opportunistic predators using their exceptional sense of smell and taste receptors throughout their body to locate food.

Scientific Name: Ictalurus furcatus

Physical Characteristics:
  • Distinguished from channel catfish by their straight-edged anal fin with 30-36 rays, lack of dark spots, bluish-gray coloration, and deeply forked tail.
  • Can reach over 100 pounds.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Prefer large rivers with swift currents and sandy or gravel bottoms, but also inhabit major reservoirs.
  • Blue catfish populations have exploded since 2016 when Mississippi River water flowed into Lake Pontchartrain through multiple Bonnet Carré spillway openings, creating new habitat and allowing blues to establish in traditionally saltwater areas.
  • They can tolerate brackish conditions up to 22 parts per thousand salinity.

Key Locations

  • Mississippi River, Red River locks 4 and 5, Atchafalaya River near Morgan City, lower Atchafalaya at Morgan City near the floodwall and railroad bridge, Lake Pontchartrain near the Causeway and railroad trestles, Toledo Bend, Lake D'Arbonne.

Specific Spots

  • Target outside river bends with mud bottoms in deep holes of 30-45 feet.
  • Focus on channel bends with stumps, laydown logs, and rock piles in 20-30 feet of water.
  • Dam tailraces, rocky channel banks in 10-15 feet of water.

Blue Catfish FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Blue Catfish in Louisiana?

Top baits include cut skipjack herring, fresh cut shad, river shrimp, and market shrimp. Fluorescent green worms created by feeding nightcrawlers Worm-Glo three days before fishing. Live shad for juglines.

When is the best time to fish for Blue Catfish in Louisiana?

Prime blue catfish season runs from early April through late July, with winter months (December-February) offering excellent trophy opportunities. The lower Atchafalaya at Morgan City reaches fever pitch from mid-April to end of June.

How do you catch Blue Catfish in Louisiana?

Carolina rigs with sliding sinkers. Chumming with soured grain or fish scraps can concentrate fish, and juglines with live shad work well in April when blues are actively feeding in 10-15 feet of water along rocky channel banks.

Where do Blue Catfish live in Louisiana?

Prefer large rivers with swift currents and sandy or gravel bottoms, but also inhabit major reservoirs. Blue catfish populations have exploded since 2016 when Mississippi River water flowed into Lake Pontchartrain through multiple Bonnet Carré spillway openings, creating new habitat and allowing blues to establish in...

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