Striped 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.
- Free
- Official sources first
- Checked monthly
- Independent, not a state website
| State | Where | Size | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Striped bass and hybrid striped bass |
Statewide | No more than 5 over 22" | 15 in total | – |
| Alabama | Coastal rivers of Baldwin and Mobile counties | 16" minimum | 2 | – |
| On the Chattahoochee system the limit is shared with white bass and only 2 may be over 22". Official source2 ADCNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Arizona Striped bass |
Statewide | – | 10 | – |
| Arizona | Lake Mead and Lake Mohave (from 2026) | – | Unlimited | – |
| Lake Havasu and other Colorado River waters may differ. Secondary source: Arizona Fishing Regulations (eRegulations)2 AZGFD official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Arkansas Striped bass and hybrid striped bass |
Statewide | – | 6 in total | – |
| Official source AGFC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| California Striped bass |
Statewide | 18" minimum | 2 | Open all year |
| California | Colorado River and Southern districts; New Hogan, San Antonio and Santa Margarita lakes | No minimum | 10 | – |
| Ocean and bay rules are the same: 2 a day, 18" minimum. Hybrids with white bass count as striped bass. Secondary source: California Code of Regulations, Title 14 §5.75 CDFW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Connecticut Striped bass |
Statewide | 28" to under 31" (slot) | 1 | Open all year |
| Inline circle hooks required when fishing with bait. The same slot and limit apply in inland waters. Official source CT DEEP official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| Delaware Hybrid striped bass |
Statewide | 15 in | 2 | All year |
| Secondary source: Delaware Fishing Guide (eRegulations edition) DNREC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Delaware Striped bass |
Statewide | 28 to 31 in slot | 1 | All year; catch and release only on spawning grounds 1 April to 31 May |
| Delaware | Delaware Bay, Delaware River and tributaries (summer) | 20 to 24 in slot | 1 | 1 July to 31 August |
| Striped bass rules have changed several times in recent years after Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission action; check before you go. Secondary source: Delaware Fishing Guide (eRegulations edition) DNREC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Florida Striped, white and sunshine bass |
Statewide | Only 6 may be 24" or longer | 20 in total | – |
| Florida | Suwannee River, waters north and west of it, and tributaries | Striped bass 18" minimum | Striped bass 3 (within 20 in total) | – |
| Official source FWC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Georgia Striped, white and hybrid bass |
Statewide | Only 2 may be 22" or longer | 15 in total | – |
| Several rivers and lakes differ (for example the Savannah River below Thurmond Dam). Secondary source: Georgia sport fishing regulations (eRegulations) Georgia DNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Indiana Striped bass |
Statewide | No size limit | 2 | All year |
| Secondary source: Indiana Fishing Guide (eRegulations edition) Indiana DNR official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| Indiana White bass and hybrid striped bass |
Statewide | No more than 2 over 17 in | 12 in total | All year |
| Indiana | Ohio River | No more than 4 of 15 in or over | 30 in total (with striped and yellow bass) | All year |
| Secondary source: Indiana Fishing Guide (eRegulations edition) Indiana DNR official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| Kansas Wiper (hybrid striped bass) |
Statewide | – | 5 | – |
| Official source KDWP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Kansas Striped bass |
Statewide | – | 5 | – |
| Official source KDWP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Kentucky White bass and hybrid striped bass |
Statewide | No minimum | 15 in total; no more than 5 over 15" | – |
| Possession limit 30. Official source KDFWR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Kentucky Striped bass |
Statewide | 15" minimum | 5 | – |
| Possession limit 10. Official source KDFWR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Louisiana Striped and hybrid striped bass |
Statewide | No minimum | 5; no more than 2 over 30" | – |
| Official source LDWF official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Maine Striped bass |
Set each year: check here. Size slot, bag and gear rules are reset most years under the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission plan. Check Maine DMR before fishing. | |||
| Maryland Striped bass |
Set each year: check here. Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic seasons, slot sizes and closures are reset most years. Check Maryland DNR before fishing. Striped and hybrid bass in non-tidal lakes: 18" minimum, 2 a day; none may be kept from non-tidal rivers. | |||
| Massachusetts Striped bass |
State waters | 28" to under 31" | 1 | Year-round |
| Inline circle hooks required with natural bait; no gaffing. Rules are reviewed most years. Official source MassWildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Mississippi Striped bass and hybrids |
Statewide | 15" minimum | 6 in total | – |
| Official source MDWFP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Nebraska White bass, wipers and striped bass |
Inland waters | No minimum; only 1 of 18" or longer | 15 in total (30 in possession) | – |
| Official source Game and Parks official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Nevada Striped bass |
Lake Mead and Lake Mohave | No minimum (removed in 2026) | No limit | – |
| Nevada | Colorado River below Davis Dam | – | 10 | – |
| Secondary source: Nevada Fishing Regulations 2026 (NDOW guide on eRegulations)2 NDOW official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| Nevada Other warmwater game fish (combined limit) |
Western Region (Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Humboldt, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, Washoe) | – | 15 in total | – |
| Nevada | Eastern Region (Elko, Eureka, Lander, White Pine) | – | 15 in total | – |
| Nevada | Southern Region (Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, Nye) | – | 15 in total | – |
| Nevada | Lake Mead and Lake Mohave | – | No limit on other game fish | – |
| The regional limit covers all warmwater game fish together, including black bass. Check the guide for which species count. Secondary source: Nevada Fishing Regulations 2026 (NDOW guide on eRegulations)23 NDOW official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| New Hampshire Striped bass |
Statewide | 28" to under 31" | 1 | No closed season |
| Secondary source: New Hampshire Fishing Digest 2026 (eRegulations) NH Fish and Game official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| New Jersey Striped bass (non-tidal fresh water) |
Non-tidal waters | 28" to under 31" slot | 1 | March 1 to December 31 |
| Non-offset circle hooks required with bait. Check NJ Fish & Wildlife for changes during 2026. Secondary source: NJ Fish & Wildlife freshwater fishing digest 2026 (eRegulations) NJ Fish & Wildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| New Jersey Hybrid striped bass |
Statewide | 16" minimum | 2 | All year |
| Secondary source: NJ Fish & Wildlife freshwater fishing digest 2026 (eRegulations) NJ Fish & Wildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| New Jersey Striped bass (marine waters) |
Atlantic Ocean (0 to 3 miles) | 28" to under 31" slot | 1 | All year |
| New Jersey | Most other marine waters | 28" to under 31" slot | 1 | March 1 to December 31 |
| New Jersey | Delaware River below Calhoun Street Bridge | 28" to under 31" slot | 1 | March 1 to 31 and June 1 to December 31 |
| Bonus Program permit holders may also keep one fish 24" to under 28" (May 15 to December 31). Rules are set with neighboring states and can change; check NJ Fish & Wildlife. Secondary source: NJ Fish & Wildlife saltwater regulations 2026 (eRegulations) NJ Fish & Wildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| New Mexico White bass and wipers (hybrid striped bass) |
Statewide | No minimum | 25 combined | – |
| Official source NMDOW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| New Mexico Striped bass |
Statewide | No minimum | 1 | – |
| No limit on the Animas and San Juan rivers in San Juan County. Official source2 NMDOW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| New York Striped bass |
Hudson River north of the George Washington Bridge | 23" to 28" slot | 1 | April 1 to November 30 |
| New York | Marine district (south of the George Washington Bridge) | 28" to 31" slot | 1 | April 15 to December 15 |
| Registry enrollment needed (16 and over). Rules revised May 12, 2026; check DEC for changes. Official source NYSDEC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| North Carolina Striped bass and bodie bass (inland) |
Inland impoundments and tributaries | 20" minimum | 4 in total | – |
| Some waters, such as Lake Gaston and Lake Chatuge, differ. Secondary source: NC inland fishing regulations (eRegulations) NCWRC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| North Carolina Striped bass (coastal) |
Set each year: check here. Closed in most coastal areas; Atlantic Ocean rules set by proclamation. Check DMF before fishing. | |||
| Oklahoma Striped bass |
Statewide (not Lake Texoma) | No minimum | 5 | – |
| Culling not allowed. Lake Texoma has its own rules. Official source ODWC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Oklahoma Hybrid striped bass |
Statewide | Only 5 over 20" | 20 | – |
| Official source ODWC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Oregon Striped and hybrid bass |
Marine Zone | No minimum | No limit | – |
| Angling only. Secondary source: Oregon sport fishing regulations (eRegulations) ODFW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Pennsylvania older data Striped bass and hybrid striped bass |
Statewide inland waters | 20" minimum | 2 combined | All year |
| Note on this data: Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries aren't covered here: their limits differ from the inland rules shown. Delaware River and estuary rules differ. 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) PFBC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Rhode Island Striped bass |
Statewide | 28" to under 31" | 1 | January 1 to December 31 |
| Circle hooks required when fishing with bait. DEM says possession limits and open fisheries are subject to change. Official source RIDEM official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| South Carolina Striped bass and hybrids (fresh water) |
Most waters | No minimum | 10 | – |
| South Carolina | Santee River system (including lower Saluda) | 23" to 25" (1 over 26" allowed) | 3 | October 1 to June 15; closed June 16 to September 30 |
| South Carolina | Lake Murray and middle Saluda | 21" minimum October 1 to May 31; no minimum June 1 to September 30 | 5 | – |
| South Carolina | Lakes Hartwell and Thurmond | Only 3 over 26" | 10 | – |
| South Carolina | Lower Savannah River | 27" minimum | 2 (striped, hybrid or white bass) | – |
| Secondary source: South Carolina hunting and fishing regulations 2026-27 (eRegulations) SCDNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| South Carolina Striped bass (salt water) |
Statewide | 26" minimum (27" in lower Savannah River) | 3 | October 1 to June 15; no possession June 16 to September 30 |
| Secondary source: South Carolina hunting and fishing regulations 2026-27 (eRegulations) SCDNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Tennessee Striped and hybrid striped bass |
Statewide | 15" minimum | 2 in total | – |
| Official source TWRA official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Texas Striped and hybrid striped bass |
Statewide | 18" minimum | 5 in total | – |
| Lake Texoma has a different possession limit. Official source TPWD official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Utah Wiper (hybrid striped bass) |
Statewide | No statewide minimum | 3 | – |
| Secondary source: Utah Fishing Guidebook (eRegulations) Utah DWR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Utah Striped bass and white bass |
Statewide | No minimum | No limit | – |
| Lake Powell is a key striped bass water; check its rules. Secondary source: Utah Fishing Guidebook (eRegulations) Utah DWR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Virginia Striped bass and hybrid striped bass (inland) |
Statewide | 20" minimum | 4 combined | – |
| Virginia | Kerr Reservoir | 20" to 26" (October 1 to May 31); no length limit June 1 to September 30 | 2 (October 1 to May 31); 4 (June 1 to September 30) | – |
| Virginia | Smith Mountain Lake | None between 30" and 40" from November 1 to May 31; no length limit June 1 to October 31 | 4 combined | – |
| Gaston and Claytor also have seasonal rules. Official source DWR / VMRC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Virginia Striped bass (tidal and coastal) |
Set each year: check here. Seasons, slots and limits are set by VMRC each year and differ between Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and the coast. Check VMRC before fishing. | |||
| West Virginia Striped, hybrid striped and white bass |
Statewide | No more than 4 over 15" | 30 combined (possession 30) | – |
| Some waters are stricter. Official source WVDNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||