OH · Muskellunge
Ohio muskellunge limits
Ohio's statewide muskellunge rule is one fish a day with no minimum length, and it covers every public water without its own listed rule, Lake Erie included. Two shared waters are different: on the Ohio River (both the Kentucky and West Virginia stretches) and at Pymatuning Lake on the Pennsylvania line, the limit is two muskies a day, each at least 30 inches.
Verified 2026-11-02Limits at a glance
Regulation period: March 1, 2026 through Feb. 28, 2027.
Daily limit
1 per day
DatesOpen all year
Size ruleNo minimum lengthThe booklet's Lake Erie rules change limits only for walleye, sauger, saugeye, yellow perch, black bass and white bass, so the statewide muskie rule applies there.
Daily limit
2 per day
ReleaseMay keep
Size ruleMinimum length 30 inchesThese are unified rules agreed with Kentucky and West Virginia, so everyone fishing on the river or within a quarter mile of it follows them, whichever state licensed them.
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Daily limit
2 per day
ReleaseMay keep
Size ruleMinimum length 30 inchesAn Ohio or a Pennsylvania license works from a boat; from the Pennsylvania shore or any island you need a Pennsylvania license.
Watch for
- The statewide 1-fish limit has no size limit attached, but the Ohio River and Pymatuning rules do: a 28-inch muskie that is legal to keep on an inland lake must go back on those waters.
- Ohio's site-specific waters pages (pp. 10–12) list no other muskellunge exceptions.
- A muskie of 40 inches or longer qualifies for a Fish Ohio award (applications at fishohio.gov, deadline Dec. 31).
- These figures come from the 2026-27 booklet, which runs to Feb. 28, 2027. We will re-check this page when the 2027-28 booklet is out.
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Ohio · Muskellunge
Quick answers
What is the daily limit for muskellunge in Ohio?
Statewide public waters, including Lake Erie and its tributaries: 1 per day. Size rule: No minimum length. 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 2026-11-02.