A bill sponsored by Owensboro Rep. DJ Johnson would ban the commercial harvesting and transport of live trophy catfish from the lower Ohio River and its tributaries, a move supporters say is needed to protect the long-term health of the fish population.
House Bill 397 would prohibit the commercial fishing and transport of live trophy catfish beginning in 2027. Johnson, R-Owensboro, told the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee on Thursday that the bill would not affect recreational catfishing or tournaments.
The legislation targets the practice of removing large catfish from the river system and selling them to commercial lakes, Johnson said.
“In short, it takes 15 to 20 years for a catfish to reach trophy size,” Johnson said. “Left alone in their natural habitat, they can live much longer than that. But when removed from the river and placed on a commercial lake, their lifespan is much, much shorter.”
HB 397 defines a trophy catfish as a blue or flathead catfish measuring at least 35 inches in length, or a channel catfish measuring at least 28 inches. Violations would be classified as a Class A misdemeanor, and the bill would impose a $500 replacement fine for any trophy catfish wounded or killed during the process.
Johnson said trophy catfish can survive only a few months in lake environments, making conservation necessary to prevent long-term depletion.
“If we continue to remove a natural resource that takes years to create and place them in an environment for only a period of weeks or months, we will eventually deplete that resource entirely,” he said.
Nick Hart, a lobbyist for the Kentucky Waterways Alliance, told the committee the conservation community supports the bill, noting the role large fish play in reproduction.
“These are the breeders,” Hart said. “These are the fish that are going to create the next stock.”
House Majority Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles, R-Owensboro, asked for confirmation that the bill would not impact recreational activities in her district, including the Butler County Catfish Festival.
“I just want to go on the record and make sure this has no effect on changing the Butler County Catfish Festival — the catfish wrestling or the catfish catching,” Miles said.
Johnson said the legislation “does not impact the festival in any way.”
The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee voted unanimously to advance HB 397, with Rep. Tom Smith, R-Corbin, casting a “pass” vote. Smith said he plans to seek additional clarification from constituents before the bill reaches the House floor.
HB 397 now moves to the full House for consideration.
