2026 regulation year
Largemouth bass Fishing Regulations by State (2026)
Micropterus nigricans
Last updated
Largemouth bass is regulated separately by each state. This page compares the open-season window, daily bag limit, and size or slot rule for largemouth bass across the 40 states fishregs covers deeply for 2026 — 14 set a defined harvest season and 26 keep it open year-round. Rules vary by state and often by individual water body, so confirm on the linked state page before fishing. New to bag, slot, and size limits? The glossary explains every term.
Largemouth bass regulations comparison by state
| State | Open season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Open year-round | 10 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted + redeye + shoal) | 12 in min statewide; 15 in min Tennessee River main-stem reservoirs (Guntersville, Wheeler, Wilson, Pickwick); 14 in min Lake Eufaula |
| Arizona | Open year-round | 6 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) no statewide minimum; Lake Havasu 13 in minimum; Lake Powell 20 smallmouth / 5 largemouth split | No statewide minimum (2024 AZGFD simplification retired the former reservoir slot rules); Lake Havasu 13 in minimumSlot: No statewide slot — the former Theodore Roosevelt + Apache + Canyon 13-16 in slot was retired in the 2024 AZGFD simplification; Lake Havasu 13 in minimum; Lake Powell 20 smallmouth / 5 largemouth split limit |
| Arkansas | Open year-round | 10 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) statewide; reduced to 6 / day combined on Beaver, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Table Rock, Lake Ouachita, Lake DeGray + Lake Greeson | No statewide minimum on most waters; 15 in LM/SM on Beaver + Bull Shoals + Table Rock (12 in spotted); 13 in LM on Lake Ouachita + Lake DeGray + Norfork (12 in SM); 12 in LM/SM on Greers Ferry; 14 in min on the Arkansas River + listed flowing watersSlot: No slot limits — Arkansas manages largemouth via straight minimum-length limits plus the statewide 10 / 6 daily structure (the old 'trophy slot lake' framing was not an AGFC rule) |
| California | Open year-round | 5 / day (black bass combined — largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) | 12 in minimum on lakes, reservoirs & the Delta; no minimum size on rivers, streams & canals |
| Connecticut | – · Statewide standard waters – · Designated Bass Management Lakes (Bantam, Candlewood, East Twin, others) | 6 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) statewide; 0 / day Bass Management Lakes April 1 – June 15 | 12 in min statewide; 16 in min on listed trophy reservoirs |
| Delaware | – · Statewide standard waters | 6 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) | 12 in min statewide; 15 in min listed special-regulation waters |
| District of Columbia | – · Anacostia River + DC freshwater + Rock Creek + C&O Canal – · Tidal Potomac (PRFC jurisdiction) – · Tidal Potomac (PRFC jurisdiction) | 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) — DC standard + PRFC harmonized | 12 in min DC freshwater + Anacostia; 15 in min Tidal Potomac March 1 – June 15 (PRFC spawning protection); 12 in min Tidal Potomac June 16 – Feb (PRFC) |
| Florida | Open year-round | 5 / day; only 1 may be over 16 in | No statewide minimum; 16 in trophy cap |
| Georgia | Open year-round | 10 / day combined black bass (largemouth + spotted + smallmouth + shoal + redeye) | 12 in min statewide most reservoirs; 14 in min on listed trophy lakes (Sinclair, West Point, Eufaula) |
| Hawaii | – · Wahiawā Public Fishing Area + Nuʻuanu Reservoir No. 4 + statewide freshwater | No statewide daily bag limit specified in HAR Title 13 Chapter 76; confirm current-year DAR PFA notice | 9 in fork length minimum at Wahiawā Public Fishing Area (PFA-specific DAR rule) |
| Illinois | Open year-round | 6 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) statewide; many cooling + state recreational lakes set 3 / day (Powerton 1 / day) | No statewide minimum length; 18 in min on Newton + Powerton + Baldwin cooling lakes; 14 in min on Carlyle / Rend / Lake Shelbyville + many state lakes; 12 in min Ohio + Wabash River boundary water |
| Indiana | – · Statewide | 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) statewide; 6 / day Ohio River main stem; 3 / day Lake Michigan IN waters | Lakes/reservoirs 14 in min; rivers + streams 12–15 in protected slot (release 12–15 in, keep ≤ 2 over 15 in); flat 12 in min in the 13 Ohio-River-border counties + Ohio River main stem; 14 in min Lake Michigan IN waters; 15 in min Patoka, 16 in min Cecil M. Harden Lake |
| Iowa | Open year-round | 3 / day inland lakes + interior streams (6 possession); 5 / day on the boundary rivers — Mississippi + Missouri (10 possession) — combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) | 15 in min on public lakes (incl. the Iowa Great Lakes + the USACE reservoirs) except as posted; 12 in min on interior streams; 14 in min on the Mississippi River; 18 in min on 17 posted trophy lakes (Big Creek, Ada Hayden, Lake Ahquabi, Green Valley, Pleasant Creek + more); catch-and-release or protected slot on posted lakes (Lake Wapello C&R; Hawthorn 12–16; Sugema 12–18) |
| Kansas | Open year-round | 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) | 15 in min statewide; 18 in min on Tuttle Creek + Perry + Clinton + Hillsdale + Marion + Melvern + La Cygne + Glen Elder + Bone Creek; 15–21 in protected slot on Big Hill; 13–18 in protected slot on most State Fishing Lakes |
| Kentucky | Open year-round | 6 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) on most waters | 12 in minimum statewide; 15 in min on listed trophy watersSlot: Per-lake slots apply on listed waters; consult KDFWR Sportfish Identification + Special Regulations chart |
| Louisiana | Open year-round | 10 / day combined black bass (largemouth + spotted); 8 / day Toledo Bend, Sabine above Toledo Bend, Caddo, Poverty Point, Grand Bayou; 5 / day False River + Bussey Brake | No statewide minimum length; 14 in min Toledo Bend + Sabine above Toledo Bend + False River; 12 in min Sabine River below the dam to I-10; Eagle Lake 16 in min; Bussey Brake 18 in maximum (trophy release); protected slots — Poverty Point 15–19 in, Caddo 14–18 in (largemouth), Grand Bayou 14–17 in |
| Maine | – · South Zone lakes & ponds – · North Zone lakes & ponds – · Listed pre-spawn C&R artificial-only waters | North Zone: no daily limit; South Zone: 2 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) | No minimum length statewide; in the South Zone only 1 of the 2 fish may exceed 14 in |
| Maryland | – · Statewide standard waters – · Potomac River tidal section + listed Eastern Shore tidal tributaries | 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) statewide; 0 / day tidal Potomac Mar 5 – Jun 15 | 12 in min statewide; 15 in min Potomac River tidal section |
| Massachusetts | Open year-round | 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) | 12 in min statewide; no closed season |
| Michigan | – · Statewide possession season – · Lake St. Clair, St. Clair & Detroit rivers | 5 / day (combined largemouth + smallmouth) | 14 in minimum |
| Minnesota | Open year-round | 6 / day (largemouth + smallmouth combined) | No statewide minimum size; lake-specific regulations apply |
| Mississippi | Open year-round | 10 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) statewide; per-lake creel varies (5 – 15 / day on managed lakes) | No statewide minimum length; managed lakes use a harvest-at-or-under rule (Ross Barnett 14 in & under · 7 / day; Pickwick 15 in & under; Eagle Lake 16 in & under; Lake Bogue Homa + Lake Washington 15 in & under · 5 / day) or a protected slot (Lake Okhissa + Natchez State Park 18 – 22 in, 1 over 22 in) |
| Missouri | Open year-round | 6 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) | No statewide minimum on impoundments; 12 in min on streams; 15 in min largemouth + smallmouth (12 in spotted) on Lake of the Ozarks + Truman + Table Rock + Stockton + Bull Shoals + Norfork + Mark Twain + Smithville; 13 in min Pomme de Terre |
| Nebraska | Open year-round | 5 / day combined aggregate black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) | 15 in min + no more than one over 21 in statewide on inland waters; 12 in min only on the Missouri R between NE and Iowa/Missouri; no minimum on the Missouri R between NE and South Dakota (incl. Lewis & Clark Lake); 21 in min at 1 / day on selected Public Fishing Areas + Patriot Park Lake |
| New Hampshire | – · Statewide standard waters | 2 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) statewide (one of the lowest in the country) | 12 in min statewide |
| New Jersey | – · Statewide harvest season – · Statewide pre-spawn | 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth); 0 / day pre-spawn period | 12 in min statewide; 15 in min on listed trophy reservoirs |
| New Mexico | Open year-round | 5 / day statewide (10 possession), 14 in min; Trophy Bass Waters (Bill Evans Lake / Clayton Lake / Lake Roberts) 2 / day, 14 in min | 14 in min statewide |
| New York | – · Harvest window statewide | 5 / day (largemouth + smallmouth combined) | 12 in minimum statewide |
| North Carolina | Open year-round | 5 / day (most inland waters) | 14 in minimum statewide; per-lake slots may overrideSlot: Per-lake protected slots on listed reservoirs |
| Ohio | Open year-round | 5 / day combined with smallmouth (black bass) | 12 in minimum most reservoirs; 15 in on listed slot watersSlot: Per-lake protected slots on listed trophy reservoirs |
| Oklahoma | Open year-round | 6 / day combined largemouth + smallmouth (spotted bass no limit) | Lakes/reservoirs: no minimum, only 1 of the 6 over 16 in (since Sept 2022). Rivers/streams: 14 in min on largemouth + smallmouth, only 1 a smallmouth. Spotted bass no size limit |
| Pennsylvania | – | 5 / day combined with smallmouth (black bass) | 12 in minimum statewide; 15 in min on Big Bass Program watersSlot: Big Bass Program: 15 in min, 4 / day combined; statewide elsewhere 12 in min, 5 / day |
| Rhode Island | – · Statewide standard waters | 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) | 12 in min statewide |
| South Carolina | Open year-round | 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + redeye); 10 / day combined on Lake Keowee + Lake Robinson (Greenville County) | No statewide minimum on largemouth (any length); smallmouth 12 in min statewide; 14 in min largemouth on Lake Murray + the Savannah chain (Hartwell, Russell, Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah, Stevens Creek Reservoir, Chattooga + Savannah Rivers); Lake Keowee + Lake Robinson (Greenville) 12 in min |
| Tennessee | Open year-round | 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) on most waters | 15 in minimum most reservoirs; Chickamauga 15–18 in protected slotSlot: Chickamauga Lake: 15–18 in protected slot — only 1 fish over 18 in per 5-fish daily bag, remaining 4 must be under 15 in |
| Texas | Open year-round | 5 / day (combined with smallmouth and spotted bass) | 14 in minimum on most public reservoirsSlot: Slot limits on listed reservoirs (e.g. Lake Fork 16–24 in) |
| Virginia | Open year-round | 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) | 12 in min statewide; 14 in min Smith Mountain Lake + Lake Gaston + Buggs Island + Chickahominy + listed trophy reservoirs |
| Washington | Open year-round | Lakes / ponds / reservoirs: 5 / day, with a protective slot — only largemouth under 12 in may be retained, except 1 over 17 in may be kept. Rivers / streams / beaver ponds: no size or daily limit. Columbia River mouth → Chief Joseph Dam: all daily + size limits suspended (WDFW invasive-removal rule). | Lakes / ponds / reservoirs protective slot — retain only largemouth under 12 in, plus a single fish over 17 in. No size limit in rivers / streams / beaver ponds or the Columbia mainstem invasive-removal reach.Slot: Lakes / ponds / reservoirs — only largemouth bass under 12 in may be retained within the 5-fish daily limit, except 1 fish over 17 in may be kept (protective slot to build trophy bass). |
| West Virginia | Open year-round | 6 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) | 12 in minimum statewide; 14 in min on listed trophy lakes |
| Wisconsin | – · Northern zone harvest | 5 / day (largemouth + smallmouth combined) | 14 in minimum statewide |
Figures are statewide defaults for 2026. Specific lakes, rivers, and coastal zones can carry their own largemouth bass rules — open any state row for the full season map, gear restrictions, and named water-body overrides.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is there a nationwide largemouth bass season or bag limit?
- No. Each US state sets its own largemouth bass rules. Across the 40 states covered here, 26 keep harvest open year-round while 14 define a closed season, and daily bag and size limits differ from state to state. Use the table above to compare, then open a state page for the exact current rule.
- Does my fishing license cover largemouth bass in every state?
- No. A fishing license is valid only in the state that issued it, apart from a few border-water reciprocity agreements. To fish largemouth bass in another state you generally need that state's non-resident license — compare non-resident fees on the license-fees page and check the reciprocity page for shared-water exceptions.
- Why do largemouth bass rules vary so much between states?
- Largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) is a freshwater species, and each state manages it for its own water temperatures, spawning timing, population health, and fishing pressure. Many states also set tougher rules on specific lakes or rivers, so the statewide figure shown here can be overridden on a named water body — always confirm on the linked state page before fishing.
- Why does one state show more than one largemouth bass season?
- Several states split largemouth bass into management zones — different coasts, river drainages, or regions open and close on different dates. Where that happens the table shows each zone's window; the state page lists the full zone map.