When is largemouth bass season in Hawaii?

Year-round on Wahiawā Public Fishing Area + Nuʻuanu Reservoir No. 4; statewide standard rule for freshwater game fishing. Those are the 2026 Hawaii dates; always confirm against Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) — Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.

What is the Hawaii bag limit for largemouth bass?

The Hawaii daily bag limit for largemouth bass is No statewide daily bag limit specified in HAR Title 13 Chapter 76; confirm current-year DAR PFA notice. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size largemouth bass can you keep in Hawaii?

The Hawaii size rule for largemouth bass is 9 in fork length minimum at Wahiawā Public Fishing Area (PFA-specific DAR rule). Trophy rule: Wahiawā trophy largemouth 6-8 lb come from the reservoir's deep submerged structure + shoreline weed edges; the reservoir's introduction of peacock bass (tucunaré, 1957) shares prey with largemouth + has shifted the competitive dynamics.

Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in Hawaii?

Yes. Hawaii requires a valid fishing license to fish for largemouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Hawaii license — compare resident and non-resident Hawaii fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for largemouth bass in Hawaii?

Yes. In Hawaii, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; powered boats restricted to electric trolling motors at Wahiawā Public Fishing Area; Aquatic Invasive Species rule HAR Chapter 95 — clean + drain + dry gear between waters; NO movement of live fish + bait between islands without DAR permit; Hawaiʻi Freshwater Game Fishing Licence REQUIRED ages 9+ ($5 res / $35 NR annual); Tournament special-event permit required for DAR-designated events on PFAs.

Do specific Hawaii waters have different largemouth bass rules?

Yes. 2 named Hawaii waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Wahiawā Public Fishing Area, Nuʻuanu Reservoir No. 4. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Hawaii Largemouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Micropterus nigricans

Last updated May 28, 2026

Largemouth bass is the marquee freshwater game fish of Hawaiʻi, introduced into the islands' few freshwater impoundments in the early 20th century and now established as the dominant warmwater predator in the Wahiawā Public Fishing Area (Lake Wilson, the 302-acre DAR-managed reservoir on the Kaukonahua Stream in central Oʻahu — Hawaiʻi's largest freshwater body) and Nuʻuanu Reservoir No. 4 (Oʻahu). Wahiawā is the marquee water: the reservoir holds a notable population of trophy-class largemouth alongside smallmouth bass + peacock bass (tucunaré, the only US peacock-bass-established jurisdiction outside Florida + south Texas) + channel catfish + bluegill + redear sunfish + tilapia + carp. A 9-inch fork length minimum applies to largemouth bass at Wahiawā Public Fishing Area under the PFA-specific DAR rule (HAR Title 13 Chapter 76). A Hawaiʻi Freshwater Game Fishing Licence is REQUIRED for all freshwater anglers age 9+ (resident $5 / non-resident $35 annual, with 7-day + 30-day short-term options for visitors). Aquatic Invasive Species rules under HAR Chapter 95 prohibit movement of live fish + bait between islands without DAR permit; every angler must clean + drain + dry gear between waters. Bank + small-boat fishing access at Wahiawā is via the State Fishing Area parking + boat-ramp; powered boats limited to electric trolling motors only; small kayak + canoe + jonboat tier dominates.

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Season

Year-round on Wahiawā Public Fishing Area + Nuʻuanu Reservoir No. 4; statewide standard rule for freshwater game fishing.

Jan 1 – Dec 31Wahiawā Public Fishing Area + Nuʻuanu Reservoir No. 4 + statewide freshwater
Open year-round with Hawaiʻi Freshwater Game Fishing Licence

Bag & possession

Daily bag: No statewide daily bag limit specified in HAR Title 13 Chapter 76; confirm current-year DAR PFA notice

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 9 in fork length minimum at Wahiawā Public Fishing Area (PFA-specific DAR rule)
Trophy rule: Wahiawā trophy largemouth 6-8 lb come from the reservoir's deep submerged structure + shoreline weed edges; the reservoir's introduction of peacock bass (tucunaré, 1957) shares prey with largemouth + has shifted the competitive dynamics

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; powered boats restricted to electric trolling motors at Wahiawā Public Fishing Area
Aquatic Invasive Species rule HAR Chapter 95 — clean + drain + dry gear between waters; NO movement of live fish + bait between islands without DAR permit
Hawaiʻi Freshwater Game Fishing Licence REQUIRED ages 9+ ($5 res / $35 NR annual)
Tournament special-event permit required for DAR-designated events on PFAs

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Hawaii waters:

Wahiawā Public Fishing Area
9 in fork min PFA-specific; year-round; introduced peacock bass + smallmouth + channel cat + bluegill + redear + tilapia + carp
Nuʻuanu Reservoir No. 4
Statewide standard rule; secondary Oʻahu freshwater venue

Official source

Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) — Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) publishes the authoritative 2026 Hawaiifishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official Hawaii fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Largemouth bass closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Hawaii trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is largemouth bass season in Hawaii?: Year-round on Wahiawā Public Fishing Area + Nuʻuanu Reservoir No. 4; statewide standard rule for freshwater game fishing. Those are the 2026 Hawaii dates; always confirm against Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) — Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the Hawaii bag limit for largemouth bass?: The Hawaii daily bag limit for largemouth bass is No statewide daily bag limit specified in HAR Title 13 Chapter 76; confirm current-year DAR PFA notice. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size largemouth bass can you keep in Hawaii?: The Hawaii size rule for largemouth bass is 9 in fork length minimum at Wahiawā Public Fishing Area (PFA-specific DAR rule). Trophy rule: Wahiawā trophy largemouth 6-8 lb come from the reservoir's deep submerged structure + shoreline weed edges; the reservoir's introduction of peacock bass (tucunaré, 1957) shares prey with largemouth + has shifted the competitive dynamics.
Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in Hawaii?: Yes. Hawaii requires a valid fishing license to fish for largemouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Hawaii license — compare resident and non-resident Hawaii fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for largemouth bass in Hawaii?: Yes. In Hawaii, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; powered boats restricted to electric trolling motors at Wahiawā Public Fishing Area; Aquatic Invasive Species rule HAR Chapter 95 — clean + drain + dry gear between waters; NO movement of live fish + bait between islands without DAR permit; Hawaiʻi Freshwater Game Fishing Licence REQUIRED ages 9+ ($5 res / $35 NR annual); Tournament special-event permit required for DAR-designated events on PFAs.
Do specific Hawaii waters have different largemouth bass rules?: Yes. 2 named Hawaii waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Wahiawā Public Fishing Area, Nuʻuanu Reservoir No. 4. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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