PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission has established a length limit on flathead catfish. The new rule limits the harvest of flathead catfish 30 inches or longer to one per day on inland waters, as part of the catfish daily limit. The original proposal was made at the November commission meeting and included all waters in the state, including border waters, and originated from the public petition process.

GFP staff attended a meeting to discuss catfish management with Iowa and Nebraska in February. The goal of that meeting was to develop common regulations for catfish on border waters. The department recommended to the commission that the “one-over-30 inches” regulation for flathead catfish also apply to the Nebraska border waters and the commission proposed that change.

The commission will consider formally adopting the change in flathead catfish regulations on the Nebraska border waters at their meeting in Custer State Park on May 7-8. Discussions will continue with Iowa with anticipated regulation changes to be considered later in the year.