Statewide Daily & Size Limits
SPECIES |
DAILY LIMIT |
SIZE LIMIT |
|
| Largemouth and/or Smallmouth Bass (F) | 6 (combined) |
14 inch minimum |
|
| Spotted Bass (F) | None |
None |
|
| Channel and/or Blue Catfish (D) | 15 (combined) |
Only 1 Blue Catfish over 30 inches |
|
| Flathead Catfish (D) | 5 |
None |
|
| White and/or Black Crappie | 37 (combined) |
None |
|
| Striped Bass (A) | 5 (except Lake Texoma) |
None |
|
| Striped Bass Hybrids (A) | 20 |
Only 5 fish over 20 inches |
|
| White Bass | None |
None |
|
| Trout (A) | See Trout regulations on Trout Area Information |
||
| Walleye, Sauger and/or Saugeye | 6 (combined) |
14 inch minimum |
|
| Paddlefish (A) | None |
||
| Alligator Gar (B) | 1 |
None |
|
| (All species not listed, except shad and species of special concern I and/or II (E), have no daily or minimum size limits) (C) | |||
A. Release of paddlefish, trout, striped bass and/or striped bass hybrids caught and placed on a stringer, in a livewell, or otherwise held in possession is prohibited statewide (no culling). B. Alligator gar may be caught by use of rod and reel, trotline, and throwline. Alligator gar taken by bow and arrow, gigs, spears, or spearguns cannot be released. Alligator gar caught and placed on a stringer cannot be released (a practice called culling). Harvest must be reported within 24 hours via E-Check at wildlifedepartment.com. The attempt to take or harvest alligator gar is prohibited statewide May 1-31. C. It is unlawful to take or possess more than 25 nongame bait fish in rivers or streams, except for shad, of which 200 may be taken or possessed. |
D. For noodling limits, see Method of Take. E. Daily limit is 1 for any fish species of special concern in category I or II, which includes alligator gar, black buffalo, shovelnose sturgeon (see Title 800:25-19-6). Such harvest must be reported to the Wildlife Department. F. In rivers and streams: black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted): six combined per day, only one of which may be a smallmouth bass. Largemouth and smallmouth bass must be 14 inches or longer. No size limit on spotted bass. |
||
| Some areas have different regulations. See “Public Fishing Waters” special regulations for daily and size limits on specific areas. | |||
Black Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth & Spotted Bass)
Statewide Daily Limit:
|
Statewide Minimum Size Limit:
|
| Check "Public Fishing Waters" special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits. | |
Largemouth Bass
- Mouth hinge well behind eye
- State record: 14 lbs., 13.7 oz.
Smallmouth Bass
- Mouth hinge in front of eye
- State record: 8 lbs., 7 oz.
Spotted Bass
- Mouth hinge even with back edge of eye
- State record: 8 lbs., 2 oz.
Tooth Patch: Another way to distinguish black bass is the presence or absence of a tooth patch on the tongue. The majority of largemouth bass have no tooth patch on the tongue, while smallmouth and spotted bass do have a tooth patch on the tongue.
Most largemouth bass have no tooth patch on the tongue.
Smallmouth and spotted bass display a tooth patch on the tongue.
Catfish
Statewide Daily Limit:
|
Statewide Size Limit:
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Check "Public Fishing Waters" special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits. For noodling limits, see Method of Take. |
|
Channel Catfish
- Curved anal fin
- State record: 35 lbs., 15 oz.
Blue Catfish
- Straight anal fin
- State record: 98 lbs.
Flathead Catfish
- Tail not forked
- State record: 78 lbs., 8 oz.
Crappie
Statewide Daily Limit:
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Statewide Minimum Size Limit:
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Check "Public Fishing Waters" special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits. |
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Black Crappie
- No true pattern to black spots
- 7-8 bony spines in dorsal fin
- State record: 4 lbs., 10 oz.
White Crappie
- Distinct vertical bands of blue/gray spots
- 5-6 bony spines in dorsal fin
- State record: 4 lbs., 15 oz.
Measuring Fish
When measuring fish, total length is measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail, with fish laid flat on a ruler, mouth closed and tail fin lobes pressed together.
Striped Bass, Hybrids & White Bass
Statewide Daily Limit:
|
Statewide Size Limit:
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| Check "Public Fishing Waters" special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits. Culling of striped bass and/or striped bass hybrids is prohibited. |
|
Striped Bass
- Back not arched
- State record: 47 lbs., 8 oz.
- Strong, unbroken dark lines
Striped Bass Hybrid
- Back slightly arched
- State record: 23 lbs., 4 oz.
- Some broken lines
White Bass
- Arched back
- State record: 4 lbs., 9.6 oz.
- Faint lines, usually unbroken
Trout (Rainbow & Brown)
Statewide Daily Limit:
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Statewide Minimum Size Limit:
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| Check Trout Area Information for areas with additional daily and size limits. Culling of trout is prohibited. |
|
Rainbow Trout
- State record: 11 lbs., 4.32 oz.
- Black spots on tail
- Iridescence on sides
Brown Trout
- State record: 17 lbs., 4.6 oz.
- Few or no black spots on tail
- Orange and red spots on side
Walleye, Sauger & Saugeye
Statewide Daily Limit:
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Statewide Minimum Size Limit:
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| Check "Public Fishing Waters" special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits. | |
Walleye
- State Record: 12 lbs., 13 oz.
- No spots on spiny dorsal fin
- Few or no cheek scales
Sauger
- State Record: 5 lbs., 5 oz.
- Distinct spots on spiny dorsal fin
- Tan body with distinct brown blotches
- Cheek covered with scales
Saugeye
- State Record: 10 lbs.
- Spiny dorsal fin with distinct spots and bars in webbing
- Body gold with distinct brown blotches
- Cheek covered with scales
Paddlefish
Statewide Daily Limit:
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Statewide Minimum Size Limit:
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Statewide Annual Limit:
|
|
| Harvest must be reported within 24 hours via E-Check at wildlifedepartment.com. | |
| Check Paddlefish Regulations for additional paddlefish regulations. Culling of paddlefish is prohibited. |
|
- Distinctive rounded, protruding blade in front.
- State Record: 146 lbs., 11.2 oz.
Alligator Gar
Statewide Daily Limit:
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Statewide Minimum Size Limit:
|
| Harvest must be reported within 24 hours via E-Check at wildlifedepartment.com. | |
| Check "Public Fishing Waters" special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits. The attempt to take or harvest alligator is prohibited statewide May 1-31. |
|
- State Record: 254 lbs., 12 oz.
Illustrations courtesy of Duane Raver
