Noodling for Catfish

June 11, 2009

Question: I saw a story on a morning news show this week talking about “noodling for catfish” in Oklahoma. This reminded me of when I lived in South Carolina where it was legal to “noodle.” I know it sounds crazy but it is a lot of fun. I would like to try it again but cannot find anything in the California fish and game laws covering this. I do not want to be in violation if it is illegal. Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. (S. Freeman, Riverside)

Answer: Good question. I have both good news and bad news on this one for you.

First the bad news … despite how much fun it probably is, noodling for catfish is not legal in California because catfish (and nearly every California fish in inland waters) may only be legally taken through angling. That means: “To take fish by hook and line with the line held in the hand, or with the line attached to a pole or rod held in the hand or closely attended in such manner that the fish voluntarily takes the bait or lure in its mouth” (CCR Title 14, Section 1.05).

The following are the only exceptions allowing for freshwater fish to be taken by hand: 1) bait fish, 2) lamprey, 3) crayfish, 4) live carp in the Colorado River District that will be used for bait, and 5) suckers, but the exceptions only apply to you if you’re a registered member of the Pit River Indian Tribe in Shasta County.

Now for the good news … you get to keep your fingers!

What is Noodling? “Noodling” is a type of hand fishing for catfish that is legally practiced in rivers, lakes or ponds in a handful of southeastern states. Noodling is when a person wades or swims into water at least chest deep and inserts a hand down into holes under mud banks, rocks, or inside of hollow logs. Then, using bare hands as bait, the noodler wiggles their fingers in the hole in hopes that they find what they’re looking for. If the noodler is lucky, a monster catfish will strike and attempt to swallow their hand. The noodler then must pull the fish out onto land or onto a waiting boat without being pulled under water.

Such fish are most aggressive during the nesting season when the males will chase the females off their nests, and then take over. The males then lurk protectively over the nests, guarding them intensely while waiting for their brood to hatch.

In the states where noodling is common, catfish can weigh more than 100 pounds, making this a very dangerous sport. People in pursuit of these enormous whiskered fish have drowned trying to land them, or have lost fingers or been badly bitten when they’ve tangled with snapping turtles or snakes encountered in the murky waters by mistake.

By the way, there are goliath-sized catfish in our state, too – you just have to use a hook and line to catch them. The largest California state record blue catfish was taken by an angler from San Diego in July 2008. The fish weighed in at more than 113 lbs.!

Dang. I was hoping to try noodling for lingcod...

Dang. I was hoping to try noodling for lingcod...

That would be legal in salt water.  Go for it, I look forward to the trip report

Dang. I was hoping to try noodling for lingcod...

That would be legal in salt water.  Go for it, I look forward to the trip report

Do you want the prehospital report. Or the post hospital report. The Landlord may do a little noodling of his own.