What special fishing regulations apply at Lake Havasu?

Lake Havasu carries 5 special-regulation overlays that override Arizona's statewide 2026 rules, covering Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Striped bass, and Channel catfish. One of them reads: "AZ/CA joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir (anglers fishing the main stem may use AZ or CA license); smallmouth + largemouth bass 6 / day combined 13 in minimum — country's premier desert smallmouth fishery (4-6 lb fish routinely with 8+ lb fish landed annually); striped bass 10 / day; trout 10 / day; sunfish or crappie 25 / day combined (Lake Havasu carries the IGFA all-tackle world-record redear sunfish 5 lb 7.83 oz March 17, 2024 by Hudson Engalla); channel + flathead catfish 10 / day combined." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Lake Havasu?

Yes. Lake Havasu is in Arizona, so a valid Arizona fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Lake Havasu; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Arizona rules.

Do Lake Havasu's special rules replace Arizona's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Arizona's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lake Havasu by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Lake Havasu?

Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Striped bass, and Channel catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Lake Havasu, each linking to its full Arizona regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Arizona limits.

2026 regulation year

Lake Havasu 2026 — Arizona Fishing Regulations

Arizona statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 8, 2026

Lake Havasu carries 5 special-regulation overlays on top of Arizona's 2026 fishing rules — covering Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Striped bass, Channel catfish. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

AZ/CA joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir (anglers fishing the main stem may use AZ or CA license); smallmouth + largemouth bass 6 / day combined 13 in minimum — country's premier desert smallmouth fishery (4-6 lb fish routinely with 8+ lb fish landed annually); striped bass 10 / day; trout 10 / day; sunfish or crappie 25 / day combined (Lake Havasu carries the IGFA all-tackle world-record redear sunfish 5 lb 7.83 oz March 17, 2024 by Hudson Engalla); channel + flathead catfish 10 / day combined
Source: Arizona special-water list

Per-species rules on Lake Havasu

Largemouth bass regulations →
6 / day combined 13 in minimum; AZ/CA joint reciprocal compact; 4-6 lb fish routinely with 8+ lb fish landed annually
Smallmouth bass regulations →
6 / day combined 13 in minimum; AZ/CA joint reciprocal compact; 4-6 lb fish routinely with 8+ lb fish landed annually — country's premier desert smallmouth fishery
Striped bass regulations →
10 / day statewide limit; AZ/CA boundary reservoir fishable on the Arizona license
Channel catfish regulations →
10 / day combined channel + flathead catfish; AZ/CA joint reciprocal compact

Official source

Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) publishes the authoritative 2026 Arizona fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Arizona fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Arizona Game and Fish Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any Arizona trip during the active season.

Other special-regulation waters in Arizona

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Lake Havasu?: Lake Havasu carries 5 special-regulation overlays that override Arizona's statewide 2026 rules, covering Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Striped bass, and Channel catfish. One of them reads: "AZ/CA joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir (anglers fishing the main stem may use AZ or CA license); smallmouth + largemouth bass 6 / day combined 13 in minimum — country's premier desert smallmouth fishery (4-6 lb fish routinely with 8+ lb fish landed annually); striped bass 10 / day; trout 10 / day; sunfish or crappie 25 / day combined (Lake Havasu carries the IGFA all-tackle world-record redear sunfish 5 lb 7.83 oz March 17, 2024 by Hudson Engalla); channel + flathead catfish 10 / day combined." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Lake Havasu?: Yes. Lake Havasu is in Arizona, so a valid Arizona fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Lake Havasu; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Arizona rules.
Do Lake Havasu's special rules replace Arizona's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Arizona's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lake Havasu by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Lake Havasu?: Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Striped bass, and Channel catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Lake Havasu, each linking to its full Arizona regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Arizona limits.

← Back to Arizona regulations overview