Welcome to 2022-23 Oklahoma Fishing

Fishing Regulation Changes

The following are brief descriptions of regulation changes. This summary of regulation changes is intended to be used as a reference only. You are required to be familiar with all the changes to regulations that apply to each of these items.

In addition to general housekeeping changes and reorganization of Title 800, fishing regulation changes for 2022-2023 include the following:

• The key change to fishing regulations involves a modification of the statewide size and bag limits for largemouth and smallmouth basses. Specifically, the statewide limit for largemouth and smallmouth basses (in aggregate) is six (6) fish per day, only one (1) of which may exceed sixteen (16) inches in length (See Statewide Daily & Size Limits). Public fishing waters with special area regulations may differ from the statewide limits, therefore, see Public Fishing Areas: Special Regulations for special area regulations.

  When an individual angler possesses a tournament exemption authorized by the Department, daily bag and size limits may deviate from those listed here. Instructions for the tournament exemption application process are provided at www.wildlifedepartment.com/blackbass.

• The catfish (blue and/or channel catfish, in aggregate) daily limit is six (6) in the Fourche Maline River within Robbers Cave State Park (from Carlton Lake Dam downstream to the state park boundary.
• Trout bag limits and harvest areas in the lower Mountain Fork River trout area have been changed (see Trout Area Information). The trophy harvest area downstream of the State Park Dam has been restored, and is now subject to a daily bag limit of up to one (1) rainbow trout which must be greater than twenty-five (25) inches and up to one (1) brown trout which must be greater than thirty (30) inches.
• Other changes: Any fish subject to size limits must remain intact (head, tail, and skin/ scales not removed) while the angler is actively engaged in fishing. Unattended fishing equipment (e.g. stringers, creels, baskets, containers) used to store live fish in the field (both caught fish and fish used as bait) must be labeled with the angler's customer ID number and attended at least once every 24 hours. The boundaries have been expanded for collecting bait with cast nets in the lower Illinois River (see Public Fishing Areas: Special Regulations). Vann's Lake Refuge is open to fishing and non-hunting use February 1 - October 14. Marbled Crayfish has been added to the list of restricted aquatic species.