When is striped bass season in Nevada?

Nevada keeps striped bass open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Nevada bag limit for striped bass?

The Nevada daily bag limit for striped bass is No daily limit (unlimited harvest) on the Nevada side of Lake Mead + Lake Mohave under the AZ/NV joint compact (the Arizona side of the same water carries a 25 / day limit) — NDOW-distinctive aggressive striped bass harvest. The possession limit is No possession limit (unlimited) on the Nevada side. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size striped bass can you keep in Nevada?

The Nevada size rule for striped bass is No minimum. Trophy rule: NV state-record striped bass 63 lb 0 oz Lake Mohave 2001 (Allan S. Cole, inventor of the A.C. Plug swimbait — caught below Hoover Dam) — one of the largest inland striped bass records in the country outside the Atlantic coastal fishery + Lake Texoma OK/TX; Lake Mead + Lake Mohave carry self-sustaining naturally-reproducing striped bass (one of only a handful of US inland reservoirs alongside Lake Texoma + Lake Norman NC + Lake Norfork AR); NDOW's no-limit framework reflects the boom-bust threadfin-shad forage cycle that periodically produces large, fast-growing year-classes.

Do you need a license to fish for striped bass in Nevada?

Yes. Nevada requires a valid fishing license to fish for striped 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 Nevada license — compare resident and non-resident Nevada fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for striped bass in Nevada?

Yes. In Nevada, striped bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling + casting to surface boils permitted; live + cut threadfin shad bait permitted; Either a Nevada or Arizona fishing license is honored on the main stem of Lake Mead + Lake Mohave under the AZ/NV joint reciprocal compact; NDOW Fishing License required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $80 NR annual); Trout Stamp not required for striped bass; Confirm current-year NDOW Fishing Regulations for the AZ/NV joint compact rules + any in-season changes.

Do specific Nevada waters have different striped bass rules?

Yes. 2 named Nevada waters carry rules that override the statewide striped bass regulation, including Lake Mead, Lake Mohave. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Nevada Striped bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

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Last updated May 30, 2026

Nevada's striped bass fishery is confined to the two Lower Colorado River reservoirs on the AZ/NV line — Lake Mead (247-sq-mi USBR Hoover Dam 1936 — Clark County NV + Mohave County AZ — country's largest reservoir by volume + by surface area when full) and Lake Mohave (28,260-acre USBR Davis Dam 1951 — 67-mile reservoir reach within Lake Mead NRA NPS — Clark County NV + Mohave County AZ) — administered under the long-standing AZ/NV joint reciprocal compact (NDOW + AZGFD). Striped bass were stocked in the Lower Colorado River chain in the 1960s and now reproduce naturally — Lake Mead + Lake Mohave are among the handful of US inland reservoirs with self-sustaining striped bass (alongside Lake Texoma OK/TX + Lake Norman NC + Lake Norfork AR). NDOW manages stripers for aggressive harvest: there is NO daily limit and NO possession limit on the Nevada side of Lake Mead + Lake Mohave (the Arizona side carries a 25 / day limit on the same water). Stripers school heavily and chase threadfin shad to the surface in summer 'boils,' with May – September the densest pre-spawn-through-post-spawn window and a striper run staging below Hoover Dam (Willow Beach, Lake Mohave) in fall and winter. NV state-record striped bass 63 lb 0 oz Lake Mohave 2001 (Allan S. Cole — inventor of the A.C. Plug swimbait — caught below Hoover Dam) is one of the largest inland striped bass records in the country outside the Atlantic coastal fishery + Lake Texoma. Open year-round.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round on Lake Mead + Lake Mohave; May – September pre-spawn through post-spawn + summer shad-boil surface fishing is the densest window; the striper run below Hoover Dam (Willow Beach, Lake Mohave) peaks fall through winter.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: No daily limit (unlimited harvest) on the Nevada side of Lake Mead + Lake Mohave under the AZ/NV joint compact (the Arizona side of the same water carries a 25 / day limit) — NDOW-distinctive aggressive striped bass harvest
Possession: No possession limit (unlimited) on the Nevada side

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No minimum
Trophy rule: NV state-record striped bass 63 lb 0 oz Lake Mohave 2001 (Allan S. Cole, inventor of the A.C. Plug swimbait — caught below Hoover Dam) — one of the largest inland striped bass records in the country outside the Atlantic coastal fishery + Lake Texoma OK/TX; Lake Mead + Lake Mohave carry self-sustaining naturally-reproducing striped bass (one of only a handful of US inland reservoirs alongside Lake Texoma + Lake Norman NC + Lake Norfork AR); NDOW's no-limit framework reflects the boom-bust threadfin-shad forage cycle that periodically produces large, fast-growing year-classes

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling + casting to surface boils permitted; live + cut threadfin shad bait permitted
Either a Nevada or Arizona fishing license is honored on the main stem of Lake Mead + Lake Mohave under the AZ/NV joint reciprocal compact
NDOW Fishing License required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $80 NR annual); Trout Stamp not required for striped bass
Confirm current-year NDOW Fishing Regulations for the AZ/NV joint compact rules + any in-season changes

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Nevada waters:

Lake Mead
No daily limit + no possession limit (unlimited) on the NV side under the AZ/NV joint compact (AZ side 25 / day); naturally-reproducing population; summer threadfin-shad boils + below-Hoover-Dam striper run
Lake Mohave
No daily limit + no possession limit (unlimited) on the NV side under the AZ/NV joint compact (AZ side 25 / day); NV state-record striped bass 63 lb 0 oz Lake Mohave 2001 (Allan S. Cole); striper run below Hoover Dam (Willow Beach) peaks fall through winter

Official source

Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) publishes the authoritative 2026 Nevadafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The striped bass rules on this page are sourced from Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW)'s official striped bass regulation page.

Visit official Nevada fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Striped bass closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Nevada Department of Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any Nevada trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is striped bass season in Nevada?: Nevada keeps striped bass open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Nevada bag limit for striped bass?: The Nevada daily bag limit for striped bass is No daily limit (unlimited harvest) on the Nevada side of Lake Mead + Lake Mohave under the AZ/NV joint compact (the Arizona side of the same water carries a 25 / day limit) — NDOW-distinctive aggressive striped bass harvest. The possession limit is No possession limit (unlimited) on the Nevada side. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size striped bass can you keep in Nevada?: The Nevada size rule for striped bass is No minimum. Trophy rule: NV state-record striped bass 63 lb 0 oz Lake Mohave 2001 (Allan S. Cole, inventor of the A.C. Plug swimbait — caught below Hoover Dam) — one of the largest inland striped bass records in the country outside the Atlantic coastal fishery + Lake Texoma OK/TX; Lake Mead + Lake Mohave carry self-sustaining naturally-reproducing striped bass (one of only a handful of US inland reservoirs alongside Lake Texoma + Lake Norman NC + Lake Norfork AR); NDOW's no-limit framework reflects the boom-bust threadfin-shad forage cycle that periodically produces large, fast-growing year-classes.
Do you need a license to fish for striped bass in Nevada?: Yes. Nevada requires a valid fishing license to fish for striped 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 Nevada license — compare resident and non-resident Nevada fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for striped bass in Nevada?: Yes. In Nevada, striped bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling + casting to surface boils permitted; live + cut threadfin shad bait permitted; Either a Nevada or Arizona fishing license is honored on the main stem of Lake Mead + Lake Mohave under the AZ/NV joint reciprocal compact; NDOW Fishing License required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $80 NR annual); Trout Stamp not required for striped bass; Confirm current-year NDOW Fishing Regulations for the AZ/NV joint compact rules + any in-season changes.
Do specific Nevada waters have different striped bass rules?: Yes. 2 named Nevada waters carry rules that override the statewide striped bass regulation, including Lake Mead, Lake Mohave. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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