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 andKentucky 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 | Minimum 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 15inches) | 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.
| Species | Daily Limit | Minimum 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 online.
Eastern Unit • Ohio/West Virginia
The eastern unit consists of Lawrence County east of South Point, and Gallia, Meigs, Athens, 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, or call 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543). Boundaries for areas not listed in this publication extend to the first riffle. This agreement applies to West Virginia and Ohio residents only.
Unified Ohio and West Virginia Regulations
| Species | Daily Limit | Minimum 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 | Minimum 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 WestVirginia shoreline, and boat and shore anglers fishing West Virginia embayments and tributaries within the Eastern Unit.
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 utmost end of the caudal (tail) fin when the tail fin is compressed so that the upper and lower lobes touch or overlap.
Measure the fish with mouth closed and tail fin compressed to determine total length.
