{"state":{"slug":"texas","abbr":"TX","name":"Texas","region":"Southwest"},"species":{"slug":"largemouth-bass","name":"Largemouth bass","scientificName":"Micropterus salmoides","category":"freshwater","intro":"Largemouth bass are Texas's flagship freshwater game fish, with most public reservoirs managed for trophy-class growth. Statewide rules apply unless a named water body carries a slot or special-regulation overlay (Lake Fork is the most-known example).","seasonSummary":"Open year-round statewide.","seasonWindows":"year-round","dailyBagLimit":"5 / day (combined with smallmouth and spotted bass)","possessionLimit":"10 in possession (combined black bass)","sizeLimit":"14 in minimum on most public reservoirs","slotLimit":"Slot limits on listed reservoirs (e.g. Lake Fork 16–24 in)","trophyRule":"ShareLunker entries 13 lb+ from Oct 1 – Apr 30 are eligible for the breeding program","gearRestrictions":["Pole-and-line only on most public waters","No trotline / jugline / throw line for black bass","Tournament release rules apply on listed reservoirs"],"waterBodyOverrides":[{"waterBody":"Lake Fork Reservoir","rule":"16–24 in slot; bass 24 in+ harvestable only with ShareLunker trophy tag"},{"waterBody":"Lake Falcon","rule":"Statewide 14 in minimum, 5 / day applies"},{"waterBody":"Sam Rayburn Reservoir","rule":"Statewide 14 in / 5 fish; bass tournament organisers must follow live-release rule"},{"waterBody":"Lake Conroe","rule":"Largemouth bass 16 in minimum length — stricter than the statewide 14 in; 5 black bass combined daily"},{"waterBody":"Caddo Lake","rule":"14–18 in slot — keep only bass 14 in or shorter or 18 in or longer; 8 black bass combined daily, no more than 4 of which may be 18 in or longer; shared TX/LA, LA reciprocity required on the LA side"},{"waterBody":"Moss Lake","rule":"16 in maximum — only bass 16 in or shorter may be kept; 5 black bass combined daily; a bass 24 in+ may be held briefly for a ShareLunker weigh-in, then released"},{"waterBody":"Mill Creek Lake","rule":"16 in maximum — only bass 16 in or shorter may be kept; 5 black bass combined daily; a bass 24 in+ may be held briefly for a ShareLunker weigh-in, then released"},{"waterBody":"Bellwood Lake","rule":"16 in maximum — only bass 16 in or shorter may be kept; 5 black bass combined daily; juglines, throwlines, and trotlines prohibited; ShareLunker weigh-in release for bass 24 in+"},{"waterBody":"Lake Davy Crockett","rule":"16 in maximum — only bass 16 in or shorter may be kept; 5 black bass combined daily; juglines, throwlines, and trotlines prohibited; ShareLunker weigh-in release for bass 24 in+"}],"publishedAt":"2026-05-20","updatedAt":"2026-06-08"},"waterBodyQuery":"lake-fork","waterBodyMatch":{"waterBody":"Lake Fork Reservoir","rule":"16–24 in slot; bass 24 in+ harvestable only with ShareLunker trophy tag"},"_meta":{"regulationYear":2026,"agency":"Texas Parks and Wildlife Department","agencyUrl":"https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing","generatedAt":"2026-09-17T05:52:29.135Z"}}