2026 regulation year
Fishing Regulations by Fish Species (2026)
Last updated
fishregs is organized by state, but anglers chasing one fish across several states need the opposite view. Each species below links to a state-by-state comparison of its 2026 open season, daily bag limit, and size or slot rule — drawn from the same official state-agency data behind every state page.
Compare a species across states
- Largemouth bassFreshwaterMicropterus nigricans40 states →
- Smallmouth bassFreshwaterMicropterus dolomieu35 states →
- WalleyeFreshwaterSander vitreus34 states →
- Channel catfishFreshwaterIctalurus punctatus26 states →
- Striped bassSea-runMorone saxatilis25 states →
- Crappie (white + black)FreshwaterPomoxis annularis / Pomoxis nigromaculatus22 states →
- Blue catfishFreshwaterIctalurus furcatus17 states →
- Lake troutFreshwaterSalvelinus namaycush16 states →
- Trout (rainbow / brown / brook)FreshwaterOncorhynchus mykiss / Salmo trutta / Salvelinus fontinalis14 states →
- Flathead catfishFreshwaterPylodictis olivaris13 states →
- Northern pikeFreshwaterEsox lucius13 states →
- Yellow perchFreshwaterPerca flavescens13 states →
- Rainbow troutFreshwaterOncorhynchus mykiss12 states →
- Brown troutFreshwaterSalmo trutta10 states →
- MuskellungeFreshwaterEsox masquinongy10 states →
- Brook troutFreshwaterSalvelinus fontinalis8 states →
- Chinook salmon (king salmon)Sea-runOncorhynchus tshawytscha8 states →
- Kokanee salmonFreshwaterOncorhynchus nerka8 states →
- Cutthroat troutFreshwaterOncorhynchus clarkii7 states →
- Spotted seatrout (speckled trout)SaltwaterCynoscion nebulosus6 states →
- SteelheadSea-runOncorhynchus mykiss6 states →
- Summer flounder (fluke)SaltwaterParalichthys dentatus6 states →
- Red drum (redfish)SaltwaterSciaenops ocellatus5 states →
- White bassFreshwaterMorone chrysops5 states →
Also covered in a few states
These species have deep coverage in only a handful of states so far — not yet enough for a standalone comparison. Find them on the relevant state pages while coverage expands.
- Landlocked Atlantic salmon4 states
- Coho salmon (silver salmon)3 states
- Sunfish (bluegill)3 states
- Tautog (blackfish)3 states
- Black sea bass2 states
- Bluefish2 states
- California halibut2 states
- Chain pickerel2 states
- Sockeye salmon (red salmon)2 states
- Spotted bass2 states
- Weakfish (squeteague)2 states
- Apache trout1 state
- Arctic grayling1 state
- Bonefish (ʻōʻio)1 state
- Flounder (summer + southern)1 state
- Giant trevally (ulua / papio)1 state
- ʻŌpakapaka (pink snapper / Deep 7)1 state
- King salmon (chinook)1 state
- Lingcod1 state
- Mahimahi (dolphinfish)1 state
- Mangrove snapper (gray snapper)1 state
- Moi (Pacific threadfin)1 state
- Northern snakehead1 state
- Pacific blue marlin (kajiki)1 state
- Redfish (red drum)1 state
- Rockfish1 state
- Scup (porgy)1 state
- Sheepshead1 state
- Snook1 state
- Southern flounder (saltwater)1 state
- Tarpon1 state
- White sturgeon1 state
- Yellowfin tuna (ahi)1 state