Important Largemouth and/or Smallmouth Bass rule changes.
| SPECIES | DAILY LIMIT (FOR AREAS WITHOUT SPECIAL REGULATIONS) | SIZE LIMIT (FOR AREAS WITHOUT SPECIAL REGULATIONS) |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and/or Smallmouth Bass (A) | 6 (combined) | 1 (one) over 16 inches |
| Spotted Bass (A) | None | None |
| Channel and/or Blue Catfish (B) | 15 (combined) | Only 1 Blue Catfish over 30 inches |
| Flathead Catfish (B) | 5 | None |
| White and/or Black Crappie | 37 (combined) | None |
| Striped Bass (C) | 5 (except Lake Texoma) | None |
| Striped Bass Hybrids (C) | 20 | Only 5 fish over 20 inches |
| White Bass | None | None |
| Trout (C) | See trout regulations. | |
| Walleye, Sauger and/or Saugeye | 6 (combined) | 14 inch minimum |
| Paddlefish (C,D) | See paddlefish regulation. | None |
| Alligator Gar (D,E) | 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) (F)
A. 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.
B. For noodling limits, see Method of Take.
C. 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).
D. Harvest of alligator gar and paddlefish must be reported within 24 hours via E-Check at wildlifedepartment.com. For any other fish species of special concern in category I or II such as black buffalo and shovelnose sturgeon (see Title 800:25-19-6) there is a daily limit of 1 and harvest must be reported. Harvest must be reported to the Wildlife Department’s Fisheries Division at (918) 683-1031.
E. 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. The attempt to take or harvest alligator gar is prohibited statewide May 1-31.
F. 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.
G. Species of special concern, limit one (1), harvest reporting required (405) 521-3721
- Fish Species of Special Concern
(1) Alabama shad (Alosa alabamae).
(2) Alligator gar (Atractosteus spathula).
(3) Arkansas River speckled chub (Macrhybopsis tetranema).
(4) Arkansas darter (Etheostoma cragini).
(5) Black buffalo (Ictiobus niger).
(6) Blue Sucker (Cycleptus elongatus).
(7) Bluehead shiner (Pteronotropis hubbsi).
(8) Bluntface shiner (Cyptinella camura).
(9) Brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus).
(10) Chain pickeral (Esox niger).
(11) Colorless shiner (Notropis perpallidus).
(12) Crystal darter (Crystallaria asprella).
(13) Cypress minnow (Hybognathus hayi).
(14) Flathead chub (Platygobio gracilis).
(15) Goldstripe darter (Etheostoma parvipinne).
(16) Harlequin darter (Etheosoma histrio).
(17) Ironcolor shiner (Notropis chalybaeus).
(18) Kiamichi shiner (Notropis ortenburgeri).
(19) Mooneye (Hiodon tergisus).
(20) Mountain madtom (Noturus eletherus).
(21) Pallid shiner (Hybopsis amnis).
(22) Plains topminnow (Fundulus sciadicus).
(23) Ribbon shiner (Lythurusfumeus).
(24) River darter (Percina shumardi).
(25) Shorthead redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum).
(26) Shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus).
(27) Southern brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon gagei).
(28) Spotfin shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera).
(29) Stonecat (Noturus flavus).
(30) Taillight shiner (Notropis maculatus).
Some areas have different regulations. See Public Fishing Waters special regulations for daily and size limits on specific areas. No daily or size limits exist for any fish species fished from privately owned ponds and lakes.
Black Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth & Spotted Bass)
Statewide Daily Limit:
| Statewide Minimum Size Limit:
|
For information on bag limit exemptions for tournaments check Public Fishing Waters special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits.
See bag limit exemptions for tournaments.
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 Minimum Size Limit:
|
Check "Public Fishing Waters" special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits. Noodling size and daily limits are the same as statewide limits for all methods.
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:
| Statewide Minimum Size Limit:
|
Check "Public Fishing Waters" special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits.
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.
Walleye, Sauger & Saugeye
Statewide Daily Limit:
| Statewide Minimum Size Limit:
|
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:
| Statewide Minimum Size Limit:
| Statewide Annual Limit:
|
Harvest must be reported within 24 hours via E-Check at gooutdoorsoklahoma.com
Check Paddlefish Regulations for additional paddlefish regulations. Culling of paddlefish is prohibited.
- Distinctive rounded, protruding blade in front.
- State Record: 164 lbs.
Alligator Gar
Statewide Daily Limit:
| Statewide Minimum Size Limit:
|
Harvest must be reported within 24 hours via E-Check at gooutdoorsoklahoma.com
Check "Public Fishing Waters" special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits. The attempt to take or harvest alligator gar is prohibited statewide May 1-31.
- State Record: 254 lbs., 12 oz.
Striped Bass, Hybrids & White Bass
Statewide Daily Limit:
| Statewide Minimum Size Limit:
|
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
White Bass
- Arched back
- State record: 5 lbs., 1 oz.
- Faint lines, usually unbroken
Striped Bass Hybrid
- Back slightly arched
- State record: 23 lbs., 4 oz.
- Some broken lines
DISTINGUISHING WHITE BASS
White bass are also distinguished from striped bass and striped bass hybrids by tooth patches on the tongue. White bass have a single tooth patch, striped bass and striped bass hybrids have two tooth patches.
Downward Views Inisde Mouth of Lower Jaw and Tongue
Trout (Rainbow & Brown)
Statewide Daily Limit:
| Statewide Minimum Size Limit:
|
Check Trout Regulations 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
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.
Oklahoma waters boast many catchable nongame fishes in addition to the game fishes featured here. They come in all shapes and sizes, including this massive smallmouth buffalo (a native sucker often mistaken for a carp). See Outdoor Oklahoma Journal "Fifty Fish Factoids" for more info about Oklahoma's many nongame species and their valuable roles in our aquatic communities.