Statewide Bag & Possession Limits

THREATENED, ENDANGERED & NONGAME SPECIES

If caught, these species must be returned to the water immediately.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO TAKE OR USE THE FOLLOWING:

Arkansas darter, bluehead sucker, bonytail chub, boreal toad, brassy minnow, Colorado pikeminnow, common shiner, flannelmouth sucker, flathead chub, greenback cutthroat trout, humpback chub, Iowa darter, lake chub, mollusks, mountain sucker, northern leopard frog, northern redbelly dace, plains leopard frog, plains minnow, plains topminnow, plains orangethroat darter, razorback sucker, Rio Grande chub, Rio Grande sucker, river shiner, roundtail chub, southern redbelly dace, stonecat, suckermouth minnow, wood frog and Woodhouse's toad.

READING THE LIMITS CHART

Statewide limits for species are listed in the chart to the right. Species not on this chart have no bag or possession limits or are restricted or illegal to take. See "Special Conditions and Restrictions." Some waters have more restrictive limits than what is listed on the chart. See "Special Regulations: Fishing Waters," for the area you plan to fish to learn more about specific waters. If a water is not on the list or no bag limit is specified, these statewide limits apply.

FISHING IN STATE PARKS & NATIONAL PARKS

Fishing is available at most of Colorado’s state parks. If you plan a fishing trip to these waters, check the CPW Park Finder for any additional entrance fees and restrictions that may apply where you’re going: cpw.info/park-finder

National parks also offer fishing opportunities around the state, but may have different bag limits and regulations. One example of this is at Rocky Mountain National Park. There, you will need a CPW fishing license but restrictions will be specific to the park. Before you plan your trip, check regulations online at: nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/fishing.htm

Fishing is available at more than 270 national wildlife refuges, 29 national fish hatcheries and many other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service lands and waters. Certain refuges may have individual restrictions. Plan your trip by researching specific refuges online: fws.gov/fishing

DAILY BAG LIMIT

Maximum number of fish you can take in a day, regardless of what you do with them that day. Fish caught and placed on a stringer, in a container or live well, or not returned to the same water immediately, do count in your daily bag or possession limit. Fish released immediately are not part of the limit.

POSSESSION LIMIT

Maximum number of fish allowed at any time, including in the field, transporting, at home or in storage. Transporting live fish without proper permits is prohibited. Fish taken and later smoked, canned, frozen or preserved for consumption are part of the possession limit until consumed.