Largemouth bass limits by state
Check before you keep a fish. These are statewide rules. Lakes, rivers and coastal zones often have their own limits, and rules can change during the year. Each state below has a link to its official rules.
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| State | Where | Size | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Black bass |
Statewide | No statewide minimum | 10 in total; no more than 5 smallmouth | – |
| Includes Alabama, shoal, Coosa, Warrior, Cahaba, Tallapoosa and Chattahoochee bass. Shoal bass may not be kept in several east Alabama creeks; many lakes have their own length limits. Official source ADCNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Arizona Black bass |
Statewide | – | 6 in any combination | – |
| Arizona | Community Fishing waters (lakes / ponds) | 13" minimum | 2 lakes / 1 pond | – |
| Secondary source: Arizona Fishing Regulations (eRegulations) AZGFD official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Arkansas Black bass |
Statewide | – | 10 in total; no more than 4 smallmouth | – |
| No statewide length limit, but smallmouth minimums apply by zone (10" Ouachita/Boston Zone, 12-13" in parts of the Ozark Zone) and many lakes have their own limits. Official source AGFC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| California Black bass |
Lakes, reservoirs and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta | 12" minimum | 5 | Open all year |
| California | Rivers, streams, canals and private ponds | No minimum | 5 | Open all year |
| California | Colorado River District | 13" minimum | 6 | Open all year |
| Many lakes have their own limits, and some Inyo and Mono County streams close from November 16 to late April. Secondary source: California freshwater regulations booklet (eRegulations) CDFW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Colorado older data Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass |
Statewide | – | 5 in total | – |
| Colorado | West of the Continental Divide | – | Smallmouth: no limit | – |
| Note on this data: These limits come from a 2023 copy of Colorado's regulations, the newest we could check. Some may have changed since. Secondary source: Colorado fishing regulations (eRegulations) CPW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Connecticut Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Lakes, ponds and Connecticut River | 12" minimum | 6 in total | – |
| Connecticut | Other rivers and streams | No minimum | 6 in total | – |
| Housatonic River from the Massachusetts line to Bleachery Dam is catch and release only. Official source CT DEEP official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| Delaware Largemouth bass |
Statewide | 12 in (15 in at Becks Pond) | 6 (2 at Becks Pond) | All year |
| Secondary source: Delaware Fishing Guide (eRegulations edition) DNREC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Florida Black bass |
Statewide | No minimum for largemouth (Florida) bass; Suwannee, shoal, spotted and Choctaw bass 12" minimum | 5 in total, only 1 of them 16" or longer | – |
| Shoal bass must be released in the Chipola River; Suwannee bass in the Wakulla River. Official source FWC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Georgia Black bass |
Statewide | – | 10 in total; only 5 may be shoal, smallmouth, Bartram's, Chattahoochee, Coosa, Altamaha, Suwannee or Tallapoosa bass | – |
| Some lakes have length limits. Secondary source: Georgia sport fishing regulations (eRegulations) Georgia DNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Hawaii Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | 9 in | 10 in total | All year |
| Hawaii | Wahiawa Public Fishing Area | Catch and release only | 0 | All year |
| Special rules at Wailua Reservoir Public Fishing Area. Sale not allowed. Official source DLNR DAR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Idaho Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Southwest, Magic Valley | None under 12 in | 6 combined | All year |
| Idaho | Southeast | None under 14 in | 6 combined | All year |
| Idaho | Panhandle; Clearwater (lakes) | – | 6 combined | All year |
| Idaho | Upper Snake, Salmon | – | No limit | All year |
| Official source234567 IDFG official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Illinois Black bass |
Statewide | No statewide minimum | 6 in total | – |
| Illinois | Streams and rivers (most) | No statewide minimum | 6, no more than 3 smallmouth | – |
| Smallmouth must be released April 1 to June 15 in some rivers. Many lakes have length limits. Official source IDNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Indiana Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) |
Lakes | 14 in | 5 in total | All year |
| Indiana | Rivers and streams | None from 12 to 15 in; no more than 2 over 15 in | 5 in total | All year |
| Indiana | Ohio River | 12 in (largemouth); none for spotted bass | 6 in total | All year |
| Ohio River limits from the Ohio River rules page. Secondary source: Indiana Fishing Guide (eRegulations edition) Indiana DNR official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| Iowa older data Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass |
Inland waters | – | 3 in total (possession 6) | All year |
| Iowa | Boundary rivers | – | 5 in total (possession 10) | All year |
| Note on this data: Size limits aren't shown: we couldn't confirm them from an official source. Bag limits and seasons are shown where we could. Many waters have exceptions (Iowa Admin. Code 571-81.2) not shown here, including length limits. Secondary source: Iowa Administrative Code 571-81.1 (Cornell Legal Information Institute) Iowa DNR official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| Kansas Black bass |
Statewide | 15" minimum | 5 in total | – |
| Official source KDWP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Kentucky Largemouth, smallmouth, Kentucky (spotted) and Coosa bass |
Statewide | 12" minimum for largemouth and smallmouth; none for Kentucky and Coosa bass | 6 in total | – |
| Possession limit 12. Many lakes have their own limits. Official source KDFWR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Louisiana Black bass (largemouth and spotted) |
Statewide | No minimum | 10 | – |
| Many waters differ, e.g. lower Atchafalaya Basin (from Aug 1, 2026: 12" minimum, 5 a day), Toledo Bend, Caddo Lake. Below US 90, possession may be three times the daily limit. Official source LDWF official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Maine Black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) |
North Zone | No minimum | No limit | – |
| Maine | South Zone | No minimum | 2; only 1 over 14" | – |
| Official source MDIFW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Maryland Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Non-tidal waters | 12" minimum | 5 in total | Keep June 16 to end of February; catch and release only March 1 to June 15 |
| Maryland | Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries | 15" March 1 to June 15; 12" June 16 to February | 5 in total | – |
| Possession 10. Special regulations apply on many waters. Secondary source: Maryland fishing guide 2026 (eRegulations) Maryland DNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Massachusetts Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | 12" minimum | 5 in total | Year-round |
| Catch and release on some listed river sections. Official source MassWildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Michigan Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | 14" minimum | 5 in total | Catch and immediate release all year; keeping from the Saturday before Memorial Day to December 31 |
| Michigan | Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River, Detroit River | 14" minimum | 5 in total | Keeping from the third Saturday in June |
| Secondary source: Michigan fishing regulations (eRegulations) Michigan DNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Minnesota Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | – | 6 in total | – |
| Official source MN DNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Mississippi Black bass (largemouth, spotted, smallmouth) |
Statewide | – | 10 in total | – |
| Official source MDWFP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Missouri Black bass |
Lakes and impoundments | – | 6 | Open all year |
| Missouri | Most streams south of the Missouri River | 12" minimum | 6 | Catch and release only March 1 to the Friday before the fourth Saturday in May (2026: to May 22) |
| Most major lakes (Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Truman, Lake of the Ozarks and others) have a 15" minimum. Many streams allow only 1 smallmouth, 15" minimum. Official source MDC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Montana older data Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Western District | Largemouth: only 1 over 12" | Largemouth 5; smallmouth 15 | – |
| Montana | Central and Eastern districts | – | 5 in total | – |
| Note on this data: These limits come from a 2023 copy of Montana's regulations, the newest we could check, and FWP has proposed changes. Some limits may now be different. Secondary source: Montana fishing regulations (eRegulations) FWP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Nebraska Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) |
Inland waters | 15" minimum; only 1 of 21" or longer | 5 in total (10 in possession) | – |
| Official source Game and Parks official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Nevada Black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) |
Western Region (Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Humboldt, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, Washoe) | – | 5 (within 15 warmwater game fish) | – |
| Nevada | Eastern Region (Elko, Eureka, Lander, White Pine) | – | 10 (within 15 warmwater game fish) | – |
| Nevada | Southern Region (Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, Nye) | – | 10 (within 15 warmwater game fish) | – |
| Nevada | Lake Mead and Lake Mohave | – | 6 | – |
| Nevada | Colorado River below Davis Dam | 13" minimum | 6 | – |
| Nevada | Topaz Lake | – | 5 (within 25 warmwater game fish) | – |
| Secondary source: Nevada Fishing Regulations 2026 (NDOW guide on eRegulations)23 NDOW official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| New Hampshire Black bass (smallmouth and largemouth) |
Statewide | – | 2 | Jan 1 to May 14 |
| New Hampshire | Statewide | – | 0 (catch and release, artificial lures and flies only) | May 15 to June 15 |
| New Hampshire | Statewide | – | 5 | June 16 to Dec 31 (rivers to Oct 15) |
| Secondary source: New Hampshire Fishing Digest 2026 (eRegulations)2 NH Fish and Game official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| New Jersey Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | 12" minimum | 5 combined | January 1 to April 14 and June 16 to December 31 |
| New Jersey | Statewide | n/a | Catch and release only | April 15 to June 15 |
| Secondary source: NJ Fish & Wildlife freshwater fishing digest 2026 (eRegulations) NJ Fish & Wildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| New Mexico Largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | Largemouth and spotted 14" minimum; smallmouth 12" minimum | 5 | – |
| Smallmouth 14" minimum at Conchas and Ute reservoirs. Official source2 NMDOW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| New York Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | 12" minimum | 5 | June 15 to November 30 |
| New York | Statewide | n/a | Catch and release only, artificial lures only | December 1 to June 14 |
| Official source NYSDEC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| North Carolina Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | 14" minimum, but 2 of the 5 may be under 14" | 5 | – |
| Alabama and spotted bass: no size or creel limit. Many waters have exceptions. Secondary source: NC inland fishing regulations (eRegulations) NCWRC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| North Dakota Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | No minimum | 5 combined (10 in possession) | – |
| Official source NDGF official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Ohio Black bass |
Inland waters | 12" minimum | 5 in total | – |
| Ohio | Lake Erie and its tributaries | 14" minimum (18" from May 1 to late June) | 5 in total (1 from May 1 to late June) | – |
| On Lake Erie the spring rule (1 fish, 18") runs May 1 to the last Friday in June. Official source ODNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Oklahoma Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | Only 1 over 16" | 6 in total | – |
| Oklahoma | Rivers and streams | 14" minimum; only 1 smallmouth | 6 in total | – |
| Official source ODWC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Oregon Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Willamette Zone lakes | No more than 3 over 15" | 5 | – |
| Oregon | Willamette Zone streams | No minimum | No limit | – |
| Crappie, catfish and sunfish: no limit unless an exception applies. Secondary source: Oregon sport fishing regulations (eRegulations) ODFW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Pennsylvania older data Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass |
Statewide | 15" minimum | 4 combined | January 1 to mid-April and October 1 to December 31 |
| Pennsylvania | Statewide | n/a | Catch and release only (no harvest) | Mid-April to mid-June |
| Pennsylvania | Statewide | 12" minimum | 6 combined | Mid-June (June 12 in 2027) to September 30 |
| Note on this data: Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries aren't covered here: their limits differ from the inland rules shown. Big Bass Program lakes and rivers have their own rules. Figures from the 2025 summary; the Commission's 2026 book confirms the dates noted. Check the current summary book before fishing. Secondary source: Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (eRegulations, 2025 edition)2 PFBC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Rhode Island Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | 12" minimum | 5 (singly or combined) | No closed season |
| Official source2 RIDEM official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| South Carolina Largemouth, smallmouth, redeye and spotted bass |
Statewide | No minimum for largemouth, redeye or spotted; 12" for smallmouth | 5 black bass combined (spotted bass 15) | – |
| South Carolina | Murray, Wateree, Wylie, Marion, Moultrie, Monticello, Jocassee and other named lakes | Largemouth 14" minimum | 5 | – |
| South Carolina | Hartwell, Keowee, Russell, Thurmond and Savannah River waters | Largemouth 12" minimum | 10 black bass combined | – |
| A total of 40 game fish may be kept a day. See the guide for the full list of named waters. Secondary source: South Carolina hunting and fishing regulations 2026-27 (eRegulations) SCDNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| South Dakota Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | No minimum | 5 (possession 10) | – |
| Official source2 SD GFP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Tennessee Black bass |
Statewide | No statewide minimum | 5 in total | – |
| Many reservoirs and rivers have their own length limits. Official source TWRA official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Texas Black bass |
Statewide | Largemouth and smallmouth 14" minimum; spotted, Guadalupe and Alabama bass no minimum | 5 in total, any combination | – |
| Many reservoirs have their own bass limits. Check the waterbody exceptions. Official source TPWD official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Utah Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | No statewide minimum | 6 combined | – |
| Secondary source: Utah Fishing Guidebook (eRegulations) Utah DWR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Vermont Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | 10" minimum | 5 combined | Second Saturday in June to March 15 |
| Secondary source: Vermont Fishing Regulations 2026-27 (eRegulations) Vermont Fish & Wildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Vermont Lake Champlain (Vermont waters) |
Walleye | 18" minimum | 3 | First Saturday in May to March 15 |
| Vermont | Black bass | 12" minimum | 5 combined | Second Saturday in June to November 30 |
| Vermont | Lake trout | 15" minimum | 3 | All year |
| Vermont | Landlocked salmon | 15" minimum | 2 | All year |
| Vermont | Northern pike | 20" minimum | 5 | All year |
| Vermont | Yellow perch | No minimum | No limit | All year |
| Secondary source: Vermont Fishing Regulations 2026-27 (eRegulations) Vermont Fish & Wildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Virginia Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | No statewide minimum | 5 combined | – |
| Many waters differ (e.g. Kerr, Gaston, Smith Mountain: only 2 of the 5 may be under 14"); some rivers have slot limits. Official source DWR / VMRC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Washington Largemouth bass |
Lakes, ponds and reservoirs | Only fish under 12" may be kept, plus 1 over 17" | 5 | – |
| Washington | Rivers, streams and beaver ponds | No size rule | No limit | – |
| Secondary source: Washington Sport Fishing Rules 2026 (eRegulations edition) WDFW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| West Virginia Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) |
Statewide | No minimum | 6 combined (possession 12) | – |
| Special-regulation waters differ. Official source WVDNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Wisconsin older data Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | Varies by water; check the DNR lake lookup | 5 total | – |
| Note on this data: Only statewide daily bag limits are shown. Size limits, and many bag limits, are set lake by lake, so they aren't listed here. Official source WDNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Wyoming Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Statewide | No statewide size limit | 6 combined | – |
| Secondary source: 2026 Wyoming Fishing Regulations (eRegulations edition) WGFD official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||