Size & bag limits

Fish size limits

Answer in brief

A fish size limit sets which lengths you may keep. A minimum length means fish shorter than the number go back; a maximum means larger fish go back; a slot limit protects a middle range. CatchVault shows the limit for the species and water and can measure the fish from a photo.

The three kinds of size limit

Minimum length: keep fish at or above the number (for example, 15 inches).
Maximum length: release fish above the number, usually to protect big spawners.
Protected slot: release fish inside a range (for example, 14 to 18 inches); fish below or above may be kept, sometimes with a limit of one over the slot.

Why states use them

Minimums let fish spawn at least once before harvest. Slots thin out crowded small fish while protecting the mid-sized fish that do most of the breeding. Maximums keep trophy genetics in a lake. The same species can carry different limits on two waters a mile apart for exactly these reasons.

Close calls

A fish a quarter-inch either side of a limit is where measuring technique matters. Measure the way your state defines length, and if it is genuinely borderline, release it.

Questions & answers

What is a slot limit?

A protected length range. Fish inside the slot must be released; fish below or above it may be kept, subject to the bag limit.

Can CatchVault tell me if my fish is legal size?

Yes. After you photograph a catch, CatchVault identifies it, measures it and automatically shows the size and bag limit for that species, so the comparison is on one screen. The agency rule is final.

Sources for this entry

CatchVault state regulations: Company-published summaries for 48 states, each linked to the agency.
Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies: The organization of state fish and wildlife agencies, with links to each one.

Practical guidance is original editorial writing. App details come from the developer’s published descriptions, checked 9 November 2026.

Continue this reading path

How to measure a fish for the rules Bag and possession limits Slot limit

How the related websites connect

This reference is published alongside CatchVault. State-by-state summaries and license guides live on the CatchVault website, and sister references cover fish identification and fishing apps in general.

Cite this entry

Best Fishing Regulations App. “Fish size limits.” Content reviewed 9 November 2026.

https://bestfishingregulationsapp.com/fish-size-limits/