You will be fine unless you live in my area. The temperature has been over a 100 degrees for quite a while with a heat index of 112 to 115. If it was this hot the fish may be spoiled after 3 hrs. But But you didn’t mention a terrific heat so you should be all right.

Okay, so if I understand correctly, you had some live catfish, and you killed each one just prior to cleaning it. However, as you were cleaning them, you were interrupted here and there, and some of the cleaned catfish were at room temperature for up to 3 hours. I hope at least that it was covered during this time and not exposed to any contaminated surfaces, flies, or other bugs. Then, after the 3 hours, you put them on ice or in a refrigerator. Is that right?

If that’s what you’re saying, then you should be okay, but I’d cook it sooner rather than later. Take a big whiff of the fish when you’re ready to cook it. If it has an obvious rotten odor, a smell I can only describe as “that garbage smell,” then chuck it. But if it smells okay, you’ll be fine. Cook it well, obviously. The same goes if you froze it after the 3 hours — when you thaw it out again, check it thoroughly and cook it well.