Daily limit
5 fish, largemouth, smallmouth and spotted combined
Dates
Year-round (as printed)
ReleaseMay keep
Size ruleMinimum length 12 inches
OH · Largemouth bass
Away from Lake Erie, Ohio lets you keep five black bass a day (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted combined) at 12 inches or longer. Lake Erie has its own calendar: a 14-inch minimum most of the year, and a spring window where the daily limit drops to one fish of 18 inches or more.
Verified 2026-10-23Limits at a glance
Regulation period: March 1, 2026 through Feb. 28, 2027.
Daily limit
5 fish, black bass combined
Season
Mar. 1 – Apr. 30, 2026
ReleaseMay keep
Size ruleMinimum length 14 inches
Daily limit
1 fish, black bass combined
Season
May 1 – June 26, 2026
ReleaseMay keep
Size ruleMinimum length 18 inches
Daily limit
5 fish, black bass combined
Season
June 27, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027
ReleaseMay keep
Size ruleMinimum length 14 inches
Watch for
- The Ohio River and many individual lakes (site-specific waters) have separate rules; the booklet lists them on pages 8–12.
- The Lake Erie dates shown are the 2026 calendar printed in the booklet; the spring one-fish window will recur only if the agency schedules it again.
Quick answers
What is the daily limit for largemouth bass in Ohio?
Statewide public waters (where no site-specific rule applies): 5 fish, largemouth, smallmouth and spotted combined. Size rule: Minimum length 12 inches. Other waters and date windows have different rules; see the table. Verify with Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.
Which regulations do these Ohio figures come from?
March 1, 2026 through Feb. 28, 2027, as published by Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife. Last verified 2026-10-23.
More: Ohio hub · Free fishing days · License fee ranking · Guides