Statewide Daily & Size Limits

Black bass is a general term referring to largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass and their hybrids. The three species are similar, but can be easily identified. Since water clarity can affect the color of a fish, color is not a reliable way to tell the basses apart.

An easy way to tell these species apart is by the relationship of the eye and the mouth hinge. On a spotted bass, the mouth hinge lines up vertically with the back edge of the eye; on a smallmouth bass, the mouth hinge vertically lines up with the front edge of the eye; and on a largemouth bass, the mouth hinge vertically lines up well behind the back edge of the eye.

Tongue Patch: Another way to distinguish black bass is the presence or absence of a tongue patch. The majority of largemouth bass have no patch on their tongue, while smallmouth and spotted bass do have a tongue patch.

Oklahoma’s three most popular catfish species can be identified by either the shape of the anal fin or the shape of the tail. A channel catfish will have a curved anal fin, but the same fin on the blue catfish will be straight across the bottom. Both of these species have a forked tail. In contrast, a flathead catfish’s tail will not be forked.

Size and daily limits are the same for the small but tasty black and white crappie. Both types of crappie can appear very similar, so one way anglers can know the difference between the two species is to identify marking patterns or spots / bands on the side of the fish. A white crappie, the most abundant crappie in the state, will have distinct vertical bands of blue/gray spots, whereas a black crappie will have only a sporadic, unrecognizable pattern to its black spots. There is also a difference in the number of bony spines in the dorsal fin: white crappie will have 5 to 6, whereas, black crappie will have 7 to 8.

White bass, striped bass and striped bass hybrids offer great fishing opportunities around the state. The white bass can be identified by the distinctive arched back just behind its head. It also has only one tongue patch. The striped bass is not arched at the back and has two distinct tongue patches. It is also identified by the dark, usually unbroken lines on each side. The striped bass hybrid, which is a cross between the white bass and the striped bass, has a slightly arched back and has two tongue patches. The lines on a hybrid are usually broken.

Oklahoma’s two trout species can be easily identified. First look at the side of the fish. A rainbow will be iridescent, but the brown trout will have orange and red spots. The rainbow will also have black spots on its tail and a white belly. In comparison, the brown will have few or no black spots on its tail and a cream belly.

Oklahoma is fortunate to have these unique species of the perch family in many of its lakes. To identify them, first look at the spiny dorsal fin. The walleye will have no spots on this fin; the sauger will have distinct spots; and the hybrid of the two species, the saugeye, will have spots and bars in the webbing of its spiny dorsal fin. The color of the fish and the presence or absence of cheek scales may also help identify the difference.

Oklahoma has a thriving population of paddlefish, also known as spoonbills because of their long, rounded noses. Many paddlefish grow to weigh more than 50 lbs. Read the Paddlefish Regulations for all the information you’ll need to fish for Oklahoma’s prehistoric creatures!

The alligator gar is uncommon in most of Oklahoma, but can be found in the Red River watershed. It has large, diamond-shaped scales and two distinct rows of teeth, and can reach a weight of over 100 pounds.