Fishing Regulations
STATEWIDE REGULATIONS
These regulations apply to all public waters in Ohio where site-specific regulations are not implemented. Exceptions to these regulations include locations listed for Lake Erie and its tributaries, the Ohio River, and Site-Specific Waters
SPECIES | DAILY LIMIT | MIN. SIZE |
Blue & Flathead Catfish (under 35 inches) | No limit | None |
Blue & Flathead Catfish (35 inches orlarger) | 1 of each (statewide) | 35 inches |
Channel Catfish (under 28 inches) | No limit | None |
Channel Catfish (28 inches or larger) | 1 (statewide) | 28 inches |
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass | 5 (singly or in combination) | 12 inches |
Muskellunge | 1 | None |
Striped, Hybrid-Striped, & White Bass | 30 (singly or in combination) | No more than 4 over 15 inches |
Trout (all species except brook trout) | 5 (singly or in combination) | None |
Walleye, Sauger, & Saugeye | 6 (singly or in combination) | None |
Yellow Perch | 30 | None |
LAKE ERIE REGULATIONS
These regulations apply to the Lake Erie Sport Fishing District as described here: Lake Erie and areas immediately upstream in creeks, rivers, andtributaries. The following regulations for walleye, sauger, saugeye, yellow perch, black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted), and white bass apply tothe waters of Lake Erie, its embayments including Maumee Bay, Sandusky Bay, East Harbor, Middle Harbor, and West Harbor, and from where Lake Erie tributaries enter the lake upstream to the following end points:
- Arcola, Wheeler, Cowles, and Indian creeks: U.S. Route 20 bridges;
- Ashtabula River: E. 24th Street bridge;
- Black River: State Route 611 bridge;
- Conneaut Creek: Main Street bridge (downtown to Conneaut);
- Euclid Creek and Chagrin River: State Route 283 bridges;
- Rocky River: Detroit Road bridge;
- Sandusky River: Waterworks dam in Tiffin;
- Maumee River: First dam upstream (Grand Rapids, Ohio);
- Vermilion River: State Route 2 bridge;
- Grand River: State Route 535 bridge;
- Cuyahoga River: Harvard Road bridge.
All statewide regulations apply to Ohio waters of Lake Erie EXCEPT for those listed below.
SPECIES | DATES | DAILY LIMIT | MIN. SIZE |
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass | March 1 - April 30, 2023 | 5 (singly or in combination) | 14 inches |
May 1 - June 23, 2023 | 1 (singly or in combination) | 18 inches | |
June 24, 2023 - April 30, 2024 | 5 (singly or in combination) | 14 inches | |
Walleye, Saugeye, & Sauger | March 1, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024 | 6 (singly or in combination) | 15 inches |
Striped, Hybrid, & White Bass | Open year-round | None | None |
Yellow Perch | March 1 - April 30, 2023 | West Zone: 30 | None |
Central Zone: 10 | |||
East Zone: 30 | |||
May 1, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024 | to be announced late April |
LAKE ERIE REGULATIONS FOR TROUT AND SALMON
Lake Erie proper and the entire length of all Lake Erie creeks, rivers, and tributaries.
SPECIES | DATES | DAILY LIMIT | MIN. SIZE |
Trout &Salmon (except brooktrout) | May 16 - Aug. 31, 2023 | 5 (singly or in combination) | 12 inches |
Sept. 1, 2023 - May 15, 2024 | 2 (singly or in combination) |
EXCEPTION TO ABOVE REGULATIONS
For the waters of Cold Creek upstream of State Route 2 (Erie County).
SPECIES | DAILY LIMIT | MIN. SIZE |
Trout &Salmon (except brooktrout) | 5 (singly or in combination) | None |
OHIO RIVER REGULATIONS
The following Ohio River fishing regulations are the result of agreements between the fish and wildlife agencies of Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Some regulations differ between the Ohio–Kentucky border (Western Unit) and the Ohio–West Virginia border (Eastern Unit). Anglers must abide by each state’s specified regulations for information not specified below.
- It is illegal to snag fish in the Ohio waters of the Ohio River for any species during any time of the year.
- A maximum of three lines are permitted statewide, including the counties that comprise the Ohio River fishing units.
OHIO RIVER AGREEMENT REGULATIONS
WESTERN UNIT • OHIO/KENTUCKY
The western unit consists of Lawrence County west of South Point, and Scioto, Adams, Brown, Clermont, and Hamilton counties. Ohio and Kentucky will honor the other state’s fishing licenses along their common borders on the main stem and from the banks of the Ohio River, excluding embayments and tributaries.
UNIFIED OHIO AND KENTUCKY REGULATIONS The following are the ONLY unified regulations in this agreement and must be followed when fishing on or within a quarter mile of the Ohio River on its embayments and tributaries to the first riffle or dam in the Western Unit. | ||
SPECIES | DAILY LIMIT | MIN. SIZE |
Black & White Crappie | 30 (singly or in combination) | None |
Muskellunge | 2 | 30 inches |
Striped, Hybrid-Striped, & White Bass | 30 (no more than 4 over 15 inches) | None |
Walleye, Sauger, & Saugeye | 6 (singly or in combination) | 14 inches |
OHIO REGULATIONS
These Ohio regulations apply only to boat anglers when fishing in Ohio waters, shoreline anglers when fishing on the Ohio shoreline, and all anglers in Ohio embayments and tributaries within the Western Unit.
OHIO REGULATIONS These Ohio regulations apply only to boat anglers when fishing in Ohio waters, shoreline anglers when fishing on the Ohio shoreline, and all anglers in Ohio embayments and tributaries within the Western Unit. | ||
SPECIES | DAILY LIMIT | MIN. SIZE |
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass | 6 (singly or in combination) | 12 inches |
KENTUCKY REGULATIONS
Kentucky regulations apply to boat anglers fishing beyond the 1792 low water mark, identified at wildohio.gov.
STATE ENDANGERED FISH SPECIES
The fish listed below are protected in all Ohio waters and if caught must be immediately released back into its originating waterbody. Possession of these fish is prohibited: alligator gar, bigeye shiner, blac- knose shiner, brook trout, cisco (or lake herring), gilt darter, goldeye,Iowa darter, lake sturgeon, long- head darter, longnose sucker, mountain brook lamprey, northern brook lamprey, northern madtom, Ohio lamprey, pirate perch, popeyeshiner, pugnose minnow, Scioto madtom, shoal chub, shortnose gar, shovelnose sturgeon, spotted darter, spotted gar, tonguetied minnow, and western banded killifish.
OHIO RIVER AGREEMENT REGULATIONS
EASTERN UNIT • OHIO/WEST VIRGINIA
The eastern unit consists of Lawrence County east of South Point, and Gallia, Meigs, Ath- ens, Washington, Monroe, Belmont, Jefferson, and Columbiana counties. West Virginia and Ohio will honor the other state’s fishing licenses along their common borders on the main stem of the Ohio River, including its banks and embayments, and tributaries to the landmark location listed in Publication 404, Waterfowl Hunting and Fishing on the Ohio River (found at wildohio.gov), or call 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543). Boundaries for areas not listed in this publication extend to the firstriffle. This agreement applies to West Virginia and Ohio residents only.
UNIFIED OHIO AND WEST VIRGINIA REGULATIONS
The following are the ONLY unified regulations in this agreement and must be followed when fishing on or within a quarter mile of the Ohio River on its embayments and tributaries to the first riffle or dam in the Eastern Unit.
SPECIES | DAILY LIMIT | MIN. SIZE |
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass | 6 (singly or in combination) | 12 inches |
Muskellunge | 2 | 30 inches |
Striped, Hybrid-Striped, & White Bass | 30 (no more than 4 over 15 inches) | None |
OHIO REGULATIONS
These Ohio regulations apply only to shore anglers when fishing on the Ohio shoreline and all anglers in Ohio embayments and tributaries within the Eastern Unit.
SPECIES | DAILY LIMIT | MIN. SIZE |
Black & White Crappie | 30 (singly or in combination) | None |
Walleye, Sauger, & Saugeye | 6 (singly or in combination) | None |
WEST VIRGINIA REGULATIONS
West Virginia regulations apply to boat anglers fishing the main stem of the Ohio River, shore anglers fishing the West Virginia shoreline, and boat and shore anglers fishing West Virginia embayments and tributaries within the Eastern Unit.
SITE-SPECIFIC REGULATIONS
INLAND LAKES, RESERVOIRS, RIVERS, AND STREAMS
These regulations apply to the waters listed under the LOCATION column.
SPECIES | LOCATION | DAILY LIMIT | MIN. SIZE |
Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass | La Su An | Special limits are posted | |
Knox | 5 | 18 inches | |
Adams • Blue Rock • Caldwell • Cowan Dale Walborn • Greenfield • Ohio-Erie Canal
Seneca • Wellington Reservoir South •Zepernick | 5 | 15 inches | |
Acton • Findley • Hargus • Highlandtown •Salt Fork Lake Snowden • New Lyme • Paint CreekLake Silver Creek Lake • Upper Sandusky No. 2 | 4 fish split daily limit | 2 fish less than 15 inches, & 2 fish 15 inches or longer | |
All American Electric Power Companywaters Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area • Belmont Guilford • Jesse Owens State Park Killdeer Plains ponds No. 30 and No. 33
| 3 fish split daily limit | 2 fish less than 14 inches, & 1 fish 20 inches or longer | |
| 5 | None may be taken between 12 & 15 inches | |
Black & White Crappie |
| 30 | 9 inches |
Killdeer Plains • Oxbow St. Joseph River Wildlife Area | 10 | None | |
Sunfish (all species) | Killdeer Plains • Oxbow St. Joseph River Wildlife Area | 10 | None |
All American Electric Power Companywaters Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area Jesse Owens State Park | 20 (singly or in combination) | None | |
SPECIES | LOCATION | DAILY LIMIT | MIN. SIZE |
| |||
Trout (all species except brook trout)) | bridge (east of the junction of County Roads 26 and 69) to the U.S. Route 33 bridge in HockingCounty
| 2 | None |
| 2 | 12 inches | |
Walleye, Saugeye, & Sauger | Acton • Alum Creek • Atwood • Berlin Buckeye • C.J. Brown • Caesar Creek Ferguson • Findlay No. 1 & No. 2 • Indian
Metzger • Piedmont • Pleasant Hill Rocky Fork • Seneca • Tappan • West Branch | 6 | 15 inches |
PYMATUNING LAKE REGULATIONS
OHIO – PENNSYLVANIA
Either an Ohio or Pennsylvania fishing license may be used when fishing from a boat; however, a Pennsylvania fishing license is required to take fish, frogs, or turtles from the shore of the Penn- sylvania side or from any island. Fish may not be filleted before the angler has completed fishing. Fish may be taken only by angling, except carp and suckers which may be taken with longbow and arrow, or spears. Special regulations apply to frogs, turtles, tadpoles, minnows, and ice fish- ing — see the Pennsylvania regulations for spe- cific information.
Pymatuning Lake anglers fishing in either Ohio or Pennsylvania waters may use up to three fishing lines, whether fastened to a pole, a rod and reel, or hand-held. Anglers may use up to three hooks on each line.
SPECIES | DAILY LIMIT | MIN. SIZE |
Black & White Crappie | 20 (singly or in combination) | 9 inches |
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass | 5 (singly or in combination) | 12 inches |
Muskellunge | 2 | 30 inches |
Walleye | 6 | 15 inches |
All other fish | No Limit | None |
MAHONING, MAUMEE, PORTAGE, & SANDUSKY RIVERS
The following regulations are in effect from March 1 to April 30, 2023.
NO FISHING WITH A LINE WITH MORE THAN A SINGLE HOOK.
The line may not have a hook larger than ½ inch from shank to point, or lure having more than a single hook larger than ½ inch from shank to point. Double and treble hooks are prohibited. These regulations apply to the following areas:
- The Maumee River from the Grand Rapids Providence Dam to a line in the Maumee Bay from Little Cedar Point to Turtle Island;
- The Sandusky River from the Waterworks Dam in Tiffin to a line running ¼ mile east of and parallel to the full length of the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge in San- dusky Bay;
- The Portage River from State Route 19 to the dam at Elmore;
- The Mahoning River from the dam at Ber- lin Reservoir to Lake Milton.
FISHING IS ALLOWED ONLY FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
- The Maumee River from the Ohio Turnpike bridge to the Old Waterville interurban bridge at the end of Forst Road in Wood County, and from the State Route295 bridge to the Grand Rapids Providence Dam;
- The Sandusky River from the Waterworks Dam in Tiffin to the northern tip of Brady’s Island in Fremont;
- The Portage River from State Route 19 to the dam at Elmore;
- The Mahoning River from the dam at Berlin Reservoir to Lake Milton.
FISH TAGS
To increase our knowledge and better manage Ohio’s fisher- ies, an angler may encounter a tagged fish from Lake Erie, the Ohio River, or any of the state’s reservoirs. The fish may be kept but please remove the tag, rinse with water, and store the tag at room temperature. Call the num- ber printed on the tag or visit wildohio.gov to report when and where the fish was caught.
Tagged Lake Erie walleye will have up to two external tags and one internal transmitter. Please remove the tags and transmit- ter. Call (419) 625-8062 to report tagged Lake Erie walleye. A $100 reward is offered for information on the external tag and transmit- ter in the event that you catch and keep a taggedwalleye.
FISH FOR YOUR HEALTH
The Ohio Department of Health recommends limiting fish consumption to one meal per week, unless a specific advisory is listed for a water body or type of fish.
Ohio anglers typically eat two or fewer meals per month of wild-caught fishes. The great- est amount of fish eaten in Ohio come from Lake Erie, where both sport and commercial fisheries operate. Current Lake Erie advisories indicate that it is safe to eat one meal per week of walleye, and two meals per week of yellow perch. The Ohio Department of Health lists current guidance on safe consumption of wild- caught fish in Ohio for specific waters and fishes at odh.ohio.gov/ohfishadvisory.
FROG & TURTLE REGULATIONS
Reptiles and amphibians may not be taken by shooting, except green frogs and bullfrogs which may be taken with archery equipment.
| SPECIES | DATES | DAILY LIMIT | MIN. SIZE |
Bullfrog &Green Frog | June 9, 2023 - April 30,2024 | 15 (singly or in combination) | None |
Snapping Turtle & Softshell Turtle | July 1 - December 31,2023 | None | 11 inches |
TURTLE SEASON
Turtle season is open July 1, 2023 to De- cember 31, 2023. Only snapping and soft- shell turtles may be legally taken. Snapping turtles and softshell turtles must have a straight-line carapace length of 11 inches or greater to be taken, and there is no daily limit. A turtle trap must be marked with the name andaddress or customer identification number of the owner or user. All traps must be checked once every 24 hours.
It is illegal to take, collect, or possess the eggs of snapping turtles or softshell turtles from Ohio lands or waters. See wildohio.gov for additional regulations.
Snapping turtles and softshell turtles may be taken by any method except:
- By shooting;
- Turtle traps having mesh measuring less than 4 inches on a side, unless such traps are provided with an escape ring of at least 6 inches in diameter leading out of the trap and held open at all times;
- Turtle traps placed in water having wings or leads;
- A foothold or body-gripping trap;
- Deleterious or stupefying substances;
- Chemicals;
- Smoke;
- Explosives.
Please report your turtle harvest at wildohio. gov. Search for report wildlife.
FROG SEASON
Frog season is open from 6 p.m. on June 9, 2023 (the second Friday in June) to April 30, 2024. Only bullfrogs and green frogs may be taken. No more than 15 (singly or in com- bination) may be taken or possessed in any one day.
Bullfrogs and green frogs may be taken by any method except:
- By shooting, except with archery equipment;
- A foothold or body-gripping trap;
- Deleterious or stupefying substances;
- Chemicals;
- Smoke;
- Explosives.
TROTLINES, BANKLINES, SETLINES, AND FLOATLINES
TROTLINES
A trotline is a fishing line having suspended from it, at frequent intervals, vertical lines with baited hooks attached. Trotlines must be marked with the name and address or customer identification number of the user. Trotlines must be anchored. A trotline may not be made of wire or cable. A trotline may not be capable of being removed from the water by pulling on the shore end of the line.
No more than three trotlines are permitted in any one body of water in the Inland Fishing Dis- trict. No more than 50 hooks per trotline are permitted.Trotlines may not be used within 1,000 feet downstream of any dam. All trotlines must be checked once every 24 hours.
A special trotline license is required in the Lake Erie Fishing District. This license may be ob- tained at the Sandusky Fisheries Research Unit, 305 East Shoreline Drive, Sandusky, Ohio 44870 (phone: 419-625-8062).
Trotlines may be used only in:
- Streams;
- Mosquito Lake north of the causeway and south of a line of buoys designating the wildlife refuge;
- Charles Mill Lake north of State Route 430;
- Clendening Lake east of State Route 799;
- Seneca Lake south of State Route 147;
- Tappan Lake above the gas line causeway and State Route 646;
- Atwood Lake north and east of State Route 542 North at Dellroy;
- Piedmont Lake in sections 11 and 12 of Kirkwood Township;
- Wills Creek Lake, except in the area directly in front of the Muskingum Watershed Con- servancy District boat landing;
- Berlin Lake south and west of State Route 225;
- The inland part of Sandusky Bay commonly called Muddy Creek Bay;
- The area of Grand Lake St. Marys bounded on the west by Prairie Creek, on the east by Big Chickasaw Creek, and on the north by a line of buoys extending east to west between Big Chickasaw and Prairie creeks. Trotlines may not be set in channels or across the mouths of channels or streams in Grand Lake St. Marys.
BANKLINES OR SETLINES
A bankline or setline is a fishing line attached to the bank. Banklines or setlines may be used to catch turtles and fish. The name and address or customer identification number of the user must be attached to each line. The maximum is 50 lines, each having a single hook (not a treble hook). The lines must be attached to the shoreabove water, but not to a boat, dam, dock, pier, pole, rod, or wall. No more than six banklines or setlines may be used in Ohio’s public waters less than 700 surface acres in size. All lines must be checked once every 24 hours.All lines must be removed after completion of use.
FLOATLINES
These regulations only apply to waters where a fishing license is required. A floatline is a fish- ing line suspended in the water under a float. Floats may not be made of glass or other shat- terable material. Floats must bear the name and address or customer identification number of the user. Floats must be freely adrift and be attended by the user at all times. A floatline may only have one single hook (not a treble hook). It is unlawful to set, use, or maintainmore than six floatlines in all public waters of the state of Ohio less than 700 surface acres in size.
Floatline or jug fishing is permitted in:
- All streams;
- Sandusky Bay west of the Conrail Railroad bridge;
- Berlin Lake south & west of State Route 225;
- Mosquito Lake north of the causeway and south of a line of buoys designating the waterfowl refuge;
- Charles Mill Lake north of State Route 430;
- Clendening Lake east of State Route 799;
- Seneca Lake south of State Route 147;
- Tappan Lake above the gas line causeway and State Route 646;
- Atwood Lake north and east of State Route 542 north at Dellroy;
- Piedmont Lake in Sections 11 and 12 of Kirkwood Township;
- Wills Creek Lake, except in the area direct- ly in front of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District boat landing;
- All public waters, except where prohibited by the owner in authority.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Anglers may use a maximum of three fish- ing rods statewide.
- It is unlawful to buy or sell any fish taken from any waters in the state where an Ohio fishing license is required, regardless of the method of take. Exceptions apply for a commercial fishing license or bait dealer permit.
- It is unlawful to transport and introduce any aquatic species (fish, invertebrate, plant) from one body of water to another.
- It is unlawful for the public to tag and re- lease fish into any public water area.
- It is unlawful for any person to possess a fish in any form or condition other than whole while on or unloading the fish from a boat, while wading, or while fishing on or in any waters in this state where a fish- ing license is required.
- Fillets are required to be kept whole un- til an angler reaches their permanent residence, or until the fish are prepared for immediate consumption. Frozen fish are required to be transported in such a way that the fillets can be easily identi- fied and counted. This does not apply to anglers with a receipt from afish cleaning house, charter captain, or licensed fishing guide which states the date, number, and type of fish possessed. Fish must be trans- ported whole or as a complete fillet while returning from the Lake Erie islands on a commercial ferry boat.
- Forage fish, rough fish, and game fish that do not have a possession or length limit on those waters may be cut up and used for bait, provided that the skin or head of the bait is intact so that the species is visually identifiable.
- All fish may be taken by hand except bull- heads, catfish, trout and salmon species statewide, and walleye and sauger in the Maumee and Sanduskyrivers.
CLAMS, MUSSELS, & MUSSEL SHELLS
Clams, mussels, or mussel shells may not be taken, possessed, or collected for any purpose.
FREE LICENSE
- Ohio residents born on or before December 31, 1937 may obtain a free license at any li- cense outlet, or online at wildohio.gov.
- The following Ohio residents are also eli- gible for a free license, but must submit a formal application, which is available by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543):
- Persons who are mobility impaired and require the assistance of another person to cast and retrieve
- Holders of veteran license plates displaying the international wheelchair symbol
- Certain veterans who are permanently disabled
- Residents of state and county institutions
- Former prisoners of war.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER REQUIREMENT
Any customer who applies for a license is re- quired to provide their Social Security Num- ber (SSN). Federal Statute 42 requires the SSN of any individual to whom the state issues a recreational hunting or fishing license. Ap- plicants who do not have an active SSN must affirm their status at the time of application. Applicants must also declare their residency and provide their full name, date of birth, gender, address, height, weight, hair color, and eye color. Once provided and recorded in the licensing system, applicants will only be required to update their information on file if it changes.
MINNOW OR BAIT FISH TRAPS
It is illegal to set, use, or maintain a min- now or bait fish trap larger that 24 inches in length or 12 inches in width, or with an opening larger than 1 inch. A tag must be attached with the owner’s name and address or their customer identification number.
BAIT
It is unlawful for any person except licensed bait dealers to possess more than 100 cray- fish, or in combination 500 crayfish, min- nows, and other baitfish. A bait dealer’s per- mit is required of persons buying or selling minnows, crayfish, and hellgrammites. This permit may be obtained at wildohio.gov.
It is unlawful for any person to release any fish or aquatic invertebrate, including but not limited to crayfish, snails and insects, into waters of the state from which it did not originate.
ICE ANGLERS
Ice anglers may use holes no larger than 12 inches in diameter. On Lake Erie, ice anglers may use holes no larger than 12 inches in width. Ice anglers may not use more than six tip-ups and three rods per person. All shel- ters and tip-ups must display the name and address or customer identification number of the owner or user.
A tip-up means a device consisting of a hook and line attached to a spring or other device which is capable of raising a small flag or other signaling device when a fish is biting or is hooked.
ARCHERY ANGLERS
Archery anglers may use bows of any draw weight. A fishing license is required. Archery equipment may be used to take bullfrogs, green frogs, and forage fish.
FISHING LINES
Anglers may use a maximum of three fishing lines statewide, whether fastened to a pole, a rod and reel, or hand-held. Anglers may use up to three hookson each line, except as pro- vided in the Ohio Administrative Code.
CAST NETS
Forage fish and minnows may be taken with cast nets. All other fish are required to be re- leased immediately unharmed. It is unlawful to use a cast netwith a square mesh less than ¼ inch or larger than 1 inch on a side, or with a diameter greater than 10 feet. It is illegal to use a cast net within a distance of 1,000 feet downstream from any dam posted with Ohio Division of Wildlife signs indicating cast net use is prohibited.
FORAGE FISH
Forage fish means freshwater drum (sheeps- head), common carp, grass carp (in waters not stocked by the Ohio Division of Wild- life for vegetation control, as indicated by signs), bighead carp, silver carp, black carp, quillback, suckers, bowfin, gar, buffalo, giz- zard shad, and goldfish. These species may be taken by any method except by means of explosives, poisons, firearms, electric- ity, chemicals, nets (other than cast nets), seines, traps, or by snagging within 1,000 feet downstream of a posted dam or dam on the Muskingum River (see SNAGGING for additional information). Gizzard shad and rainbow smelt may be taken with a minnow seine, minnow dip net, or hand landing net.
MINNOW SEINES AND DIP NETS
Square mesh must not be larger than ½ inch on a side.
Seine and net size limits and places where they may be used are as follows:
FISHING DISTRICT | MAXIMUM SIZE | WHERE AND WHEN THEY MAY BE USED |
Minnow Seine: Inland | 4 feet x 8 feet | Streams only, 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
Minnow Seine: Lake Erie * | None | No Limit |
Minnow Dip Net: Inland | 4 feet, each side | All public fishing waters |
Minnow Dip Net: Lake Erie * | 6 feet, each side | All public fishing waters |
* Including East and West harbors in Ottawa County, and waters where fishing with nets is licensed by law.
FISH OHIO
HOW TO APPLY
- Applications for the Fish Ohio pin are ac- cepted at fishohio.gov. See below for how to measure your fish.
- Anglers will receive a Fish Ohio pin for their first entry each year, and a Master Angler pin for qualifying entries in four different species categories in the same year.
- Fish must be taken by legal angling and not from pay lakes. Deadline for online application entry is Dec. 31.
- Possible state-record fish must be kept frozen for verification by the Outdoor Writers of Ohio. For more information, go to outdoorwritersofohio.org.
HOW TO MEASURE A FISH
The length of a fish is measured as a straight line from the utmost end of the snout with the mouth closed to the ut- most end of the caudal (tail) fin when the tail fin is compressed so that the upper and lower lobes touch or overlap.
QUALIFYING FISH OHIO SIZES
Qualifying species and sizes listed below
ALL WATERS | MIN. SIZE |
Blue Catfish | 35 inches |
Bowfin | 23 inches |
Brown Trout | 20 inches |
Bullhead | 14 inches |
Carp | 28 inches |
Channel Catfish | 26 inches |
Crappie | 13 inches |
Flathead Catfish | 35 inches |
Hybrid-Striped Bass | 21 inches |
Largemouth Bass | 20 inches |
Longnose Gar | 34 inches |
Muskellunge | 40 inches |
Northern Pike | 32 inches |
Rock Bass | 9 inches |
Sauger | 16 inches |
Saugeye | 21 inches |
Spotted Bass | 15 inches |
Sucker | 20 inches |
Sunfish | 9 inches |
Above qualifying sizes apply to all Ohio waters.
LAKE ERIE | MIN. SIZE |
Freshwater Drum | 24 inches |
Lake Trout | 31 inches |
Smallmouth Bass | 19 inches |
Stealhead Trout | 28 inches |
Walleye | 28 inches |
White Bass | 15 inches |
Yellow Perch | 13 inches |
Above qualifying sizes apply to Lake Erie and its tributaries.
RIVERS, LAKES, PONDS | MIN. SIZE |
Freshwater Drum | 20 inches |
Smallmouth Bass | 18 inches |
Walleye | 25 inches |
White Bass | 14 inches |
Yellow Perch | 12 inches |
Above qualifying sizes apply to the Ohio River; inland rivers or streams; inland lakes or reservoirs; and private ponds.
