Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
The undisputed king of freshwater sport fishing in the United States, largemouth bass thrive in weedy lakes, ponds, and rivers from coast to coast and fuel a multi-billion-dollar tournament industry. Their explosive topwater strikes and powerful fights make them the most popular gamefish in America.
Seasonal Activity
Best Techniques
- flipping plastics
- topwater frogs
- spinnerbaits
- jigs in cover
Top Baits
- soft plastic worms
- creature baits
- live shiners
- jigs
- topwater frogs
Fishing Regulations
Season dates and limits for Largemouth Bass, by state. This list may not cover every state yet — always confirm current rules with your state's wildlife agency before you fish.
Alabama 1 zone
No minimum size limit statewide. 10 fish combined daily limit for all black bass species (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted). Special regulations on some reservoirs.
Effective 2025 · Source: outdooralabama.com
Arizona 1 zone
13 inch minimum. 6 per day combined for all black bass species. Special regulations on some community waters and lakes.
Effective 2025 · Source: azgfd.com
Arkansas 1 zone
Minimum length 14 inches. Combined black bass daily bag limit of 6.
Effective 2025 · Source: agfc.com
California 1 zone
Open year-round. 12-inch minimum size limit applies statewide unless otherwise specified.
Effective 2025 · Source: wildlife.ca.gov
Colorado 1 zone
15-inch minimum size. Found in eastern plains reservoirs and Front Range lakes.
Effective 2025 · Source: cpw.state.co.us
Connecticut 1 zone
Open season from the third Saturday in June through November 30. Catch-and-release from December 1 through opening day.
Effective 2025 · Source: portal.ct.gov
Delaware 1 zone
12.5 inch minimum. 6 per day. Combined limit for largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Effective 2025 · Source: dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov
Florida 1 zone
Statewide minimum size 14 inches. Daily bag limit 5, only one may be 22 inches or longer.
Effective 2025 · Source: myfwc.com
Georgia 1 zone
Minimum size 12 inches. Daily creel limit 10. Aggregate limit for all black bass species.
Effective 2025 · Source: georgiawildlife.com
Hawaii 1 zone
Largemouth bass found in reservoirs on multiple islands. 10 per day. No minimum size.
Effective 2025 · Source: dlnr.hawaii.gov
Idaho 1 zone
No minimum size statewide. Popular in Snake River reservoirs and southern Idaho lakes.
Effective 2025 · Source: idfg.idaho.gov
Illinois 1 zone
Open year-round. Minimum size 14 inches. Combined daily bag with smallmouth and spotted bass of 6 total. Illinois has excellent bass fishing in farm ponds, strip mine lakes, and reservoirs.
Effective 2025 · Source: dnr.illinois.gov
Indiana 1 zone
Open year-round. Minimum size 14 inches. Combined daily bag with smallmouth and spotted bass of 5 total. Indiana has good bass fishing in natural lakes and reservoirs.
Effective 2025 · Source: in.gov
Iowa 1 zone
Minimum length 14 inches. Combined black bass daily bag of 5.
Effective 2025 · Source: iowadnr.gov
Kansas 1 zone
Minimum length 15 inches. Combined black bass daily bag of 5.
Effective 2025 · Source: ksoutdoors.com
Kentucky 1 zone
Minimum size 12 inches. Daily creel limit 6 in aggregate for all black bass species.
Effective 2025 · Source: fw.ky.gov
Louisiana 1 zone
Minimum length 14 inches. Daily bag limit of 10.
Effective 2025 · Source: wlf.louisiana.gov
Maine 1 zone
Open season June 1 through September 30. Catch-and-release fishing is permitted year-round in waters open to fishing.
Effective 2025 · Source: maine.gov
Maryland 1 zone
Open year-round statewide. Five fish daily creel limit with 12-inch minimum.
Effective 2025 · Source: dnr.maryland.gov
Massachusetts 1 zone
Open season from the first Saturday in July through the last day of February. Catch-and-release from March 1 through opening day.
Effective 2025 · Source: mass.gov
Michigan 1 zone
Possession opens Saturday before Memorial Day. Combined 5 fish daily limit with smallmouth. Catch-and-release runs year-round.
Effective 2026 · Source: michigan.gov
Minnesota 1 zone
Harvest season opens Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Catch-and-release only from the walleye opener through the Friday before bass harvest opener. Combined bass bag with smallmouth of 6 total.
Effective 2025 · Source: dnr.state.mn.us
Mississippi 1 zone
No statewide minimum size. 10 per day combined for all black bass. Special regulations on many state lakes and reservoirs.
Effective 2025 · Source: mdwfp.com
Missouri 1 zone
Minimum length 15 inches on major lakes. Combined black bass daily bag of 6.
Effective 2025 · Source: mdc.mo.gov
Montana 1 zone
No minimum size. Found primarily in eastern Montana and warm sloughs. Open year-round.
Effective 2025 · Source: fwp.mt.gov
Nebraska 1 zone
12 inch minimum. 5 per day, 10 in possession. Combined limit for all black bass species.
Effective 2025 · Source: outdoornebraska.gov
Nevada 1 zone
12-inch minimum size, 5 fish daily limit statewide. Special regulations on Lake Mead and other waters.
Effective 2025 · Source: ndow.org
New Hampshire 1 zone
Open season from June 15 through March 31. Catch-and-release permitted during closed season on some waters.
Effective 2025 · Source: wildlife.nh.gov
New Jersey 1 zone
Open season from second Saturday in June through March 31. Catch-and-release from April 1 through day before the open season.
Effective 2025 · Source: nj.gov
New Mexico 1 zone
14 inch minimum. 5 per day combined for all black bass species.
Effective 2025 · Source: wildlife.state.nm.us
New York 1 zone
Regular bass season. Catch-and-release season runs from December 1 through the Friday before the third Saturday in June.
Effective 2025 · Source: dec.ny.gov
North Carolina 1 zone
Minimum size 14 inches. Daily creel limit 5 in aggregate for all black bass species.
Effective 2025 · Source: ncwildlife.org
North Dakota 1 zone
5 per day, 10 in possession. Combined limit for largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Effective 2025 · Source: gf.nd.gov
Ohio 1 zone
Open year-round. Minimum size 12 inches. Combined daily bag with smallmouth and spotted bass of 5 total. Ohio has excellent bass fishing in farm ponds and reservoirs.
Effective 2025 · Source: ohiodnr.gov
Oklahoma 1 zone
14-inch minimum size, 6 fish combined daily limit for all black bass species. Special regulations on many lakes.
Effective 2025 · Source: wildlifedepartment.com
Oregon 1 zone
No minimum size limit statewide. Open year-round. Popular in Willamette Valley and southern Oregon lakes.
Effective 2025 · Source: myodfw.com
Pennsylvania 1 zone
Open year-round but catch-and-release only from mid-April through mid-June on most waters to protect spawning bass. Harvest season minimum 12 inches. Combined bass bag of 6 with smallmouth.
Effective 2025 · Source: fishandboat.com
Rhode Island 1 zone
12-inch minimum, 5 fish daily limit. Catch and release only December 1 through last day of February. Open season March 1 through November 30.
Effective 2025 · Source: dem.ri.gov
South Carolina 1 zone
Minimum size 14 inches. Daily creel limit 5 in aggregate for all black bass species. Only one bass over 16 inches may be kept.
Effective 2025 · Source: dnr.sc.gov
South Dakota 1 zone
15-inch minimum, 5 fish daily limit combined for largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass.
Effective 2025 · Source: gfp.sd.gov
Tennessee 1 zone
No statewide minimum size. Daily creel limit 5 in aggregate for all black bass species. Size limits vary by water body.
Effective 2025 · Source: tn.gov
Texas 1 zone
Statewide minimum 14 inches. Daily bag limit of 5 largemouth bass.
Effective 2025 · Source: tpwd.texas.gov
Utah 1 zone
12-inch minimum size. Found in Lake Powell, Utah Lake, and southern Utah reservoirs.
Effective 2025 · Source: wildlife.utah.gov
Vermont 1 zone
Open season from the second Saturday in June through November 30. Catch-and-release from December 1 through opening day.
Effective 2025 · Source: vtfishandwildlife.com
Virginia 1 zone
Minimum size 12 inches. Daily creel limit 5 in aggregate for all black bass species.
Effective 2025 · Source: dwr.virginia.gov
Washington 1 zone
No minimum size statewide. Open year-round. Popular in eastern Washington and lowland lakes.
Effective 2025 · Source: wdfw.wa.gov
West Virginia 1 zone
Minimum size 12 inches. Daily creel limit 6 in aggregate for all black bass species.
Effective 2025 · Source: wvdnr.gov
Wisconsin 1 zone
General inland season opens first Saturday in May. Catch-and-release season is open all year on most waters. Harvest season has a 14-inch minimum. Combined bag with smallmouth bass on most waters.
Effective 2025 · Source: dnr.wisconsin.gov
Wyoming 1 zone
No minimum size statewide. Found in eastern Wyoming reservoirs and warm water impoundments.
Effective 2025 · Source: wgfd.wyo.gov
Special regulations on specific waters
These override the statewide rule above on the listed water.
Lake St. Clair bass possession opens third Saturday in June. 5 fish combined.
Effective 2026 · Source: michigan.gov
State Records
Official rod & reel records by state. Log your catch to see how you compare.
| State | Weight | Length | Angler | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GA | 22.25 lb | — | George Perry | 1932 | Montgomery Lake |
| CA | 21.75 lb | — | Michael Aruja | 1991 | Castaic Lake |
| TX | 18.18 lb | — | Barry StClair | 1992 | Lake Fork |
| FL | 17.27 lb | — | Billy O'Berry | 1986 | Small lake, Polk County |
| VA | 16.25 lb | — | — | — | — |
| NC | 15.88 lb | — | William H. Wofford | 1991 | Pond, Union Co. |
| TN | 15.19 lb | — | Gabe Keen | 2015 | Chickamauga Reservoir |
| IN | 14.75 lb | — | Jenifer Schultz | 1991 | Lake, Harrison Co. |
| MO | 13.88 lb | — | Marvin Russell Bushong | 1961 | Bull Shoals Lake |
| OH | 13.13 lb | — | Roy Landsberger | 1976 | Private pond |
| IL | 13.06 lb | — | Edward J. Walbel | 1976 | Stone Quarry Lake |
| WA | 12.53 lb | — | Bill Evans | 2016 | Lake Bosworth |
| NY | 12.38 lb | — | James Britenbaugh | 2024 | Cayuga Lake |
| MI | 11.94 lb | 27 in | — | 1934 | Big Pine Island Lake |
| WI | 11.19 lb | — | — | 1940 | Lake Ripley |
| PA | 11.19 lb | — | Donald Shade | 1983 | Birch Run Reservoir |
| MN | 8.94 lb | — | Mark Raveling | 2005 | Lake Auburn |
Caught a Largemouth Bass?
Log your catch and see how it stacks up against state records.
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