New Mexico · Catfish (all species except bullheads)
Catfish (all species except bullheads) size limit in New Mexico
You can keep one today — within these limits
statewide (includes Ute Lake, Elephant Butte Reservoir)
Open year-round| Size limit | No size limit stated | total length |
|---|---|---|
| Daily bag | 15 | per person per day |
| Possession | 30 | total you may hold |
No minimum size, fifteen a day. The Animas and San Juan Rivers in San Juan County have no limit at all — not a water either of these two lakes is part of.
What we left out on purpose
- New Mexico's cold-water (trout and kokanee salmon) regulations, including the three-tier Special Trout Waters system (Red/Green/Xmas Chile Water), are not modelled here. Neither Ute Lake nor Elephant Butte Reservoir is a trout fishery or appears in the Special Trout Waters list — both are warm-water reservoirs, so this silo's New Mexico entry covers the warm-water table only.
- Special Summer Catfish Waters (2/day, 4 possession) and Trophy Bass Waters (2/day, 2 possession) are real exceptions to the statewide numbers, but apply only to a named list of small lakes and ponds that includes neither Ute Lake nor Elephant Butte Reservoir.
- The Animas and San Juan Rivers (San Juan County) have no catfish, striped bass, or pike limit at all — not modelled since neither river is a water this site covers.
- Eagle Nest Lake's no-limit, must-keep northern pike rule and Bluewater/Quemado Lakes' exclusive tiger muskie fishery are named-water specifics not relevant to Ute Lake or Elephant Butte Reservoir.
Other species limits in New Mexico
Where to try today
- El Vado Lake 7/10 · Biting
- Elephant Butte Reservoir 4/10 · Picky
- Heron Reservoir 7/10 · Biting
- Navajo Reservoir 7/10 · Biting
- Ute Lake 7/10 · Biting