The objectives of this research were to improve the film-forming properties of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus skin gelatin (CSG) by cross-linking with transglutaminase (TG), determine and optimize the TG reaction time, and characterize the mechanical and barrier properties of CSG edible film. Cross-linking of CSG was performed by TG for 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 min at $50^{circ}C$, and the reaction was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The color and mechanical and barrier properties of edible films fabricated with CSG cross-linked with TG were characterized. Gelatin yields from the extraction ranged from 18.2% to 23.3%. SDS-PAGE exhibited dark bands at 120 and 250 kDa, indicating successful TG-mediated cross-linking. The color of CSG film was not affected by TG cross-linking. The tensile strength of CSG films cross-linked with TG decreased from 42.59 to 21.73 MPa and the percent elongation increased from 42.92% to 76.96% as reaction times increased from 0 to 40 min. There was no significant difference in water vapor permeability of CSG films.