2026 regulation year
Texas Largemouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Micropterus salmoides
Last updated
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).
Season
Open year-round Open year-round statewide.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day (combined with smallmouth and spotted bass)
- Possession
- 10 in possession (combined black bass)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 14 in minimum on most public reservoirs
- Slot
- Slot limits on listed reservoirs (e.g. Lake Fork 16–24 in)
- Trophy rule
- ShareLunker entries 13 lb+ from Oct 1 – Apr 30 are eligible for the breeding program
Gear restrictions
- Pole-and-line only on most public waters
- No trotline / jugline / throw line for black bass
- Tournament release rules apply on listed reservoirs
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Texas waters:
Lake Fork Reservoir
16–24 in slot; bass 24 in+ harvestable only with ShareLunker trophy tag
Lake Falcon
Statewide 14 in minimum, 5 / day applies
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Statewide 14 in / 5 fish; bass tournament organisers must follow live-release rule
Lake Conroe
Statewide rule; community lake exemptions do not apply
Caddo Lake
Shared TX/LA: TX licence valid on TX waters; LA reciprocity required on LA side
Official source
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department publishes the authoritative 2026 Texasfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.