Size & bag limits
How long a fish must be, which lengths are protected, and how many you may keep.
Entries in this topic
What a fishing regulations app does
A regulations app turns a state rule book into the answer for one species on one water. The good ones show both the statewide rule and any local exception.
Explore entry ↗Size & bag limitsFish size limits
Size limits come in three shapes: a minimum length, a maximum length, and a protected slot. Each one decides which fish may go home.
Explore entry ↗Size & bag limitsHow to measure a fish for the rules
Most freshwater rules use total length with the mouth closed and the tail pinched. Some saltwater rules use fork length. Measuring the wrong way can cost an inch.
Explore entry ↗Size & bag limitsBag and possession limits
The daily bag is how many you may keep today. The possession limit is how many you may have in total, including fish in the freezer at camp.
Explore entry ↗Size & bag limitsKeep or release: a checklist
Species, water, season, size, count. Run through them in order and the keep-or-release decision makes itself.
Explore entry ↗Size & bag limitsChoosing a fishing regulations app
Coverage, water-level detail, a visible link to the agency, and the tools to apply the rule to the fish in your hand.
Explore entry ↗Size & bag limitsState wildlife agencies
Each state’s fish and wildlife agency publishes the regulations that actually apply.
Explore entry ↗Sources for this entry
- CatchVault state regulations: Company-published summaries for 48 states, each linked to the agency.
Practical guidance is original editorial writing. App details come from the developer’s published descriptions, checked .
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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.
Explore related references · CatchVault’s official websiteCite this entry
Best Fishing Regulations App. “Size & bag limits.” Content reviewed .
https://bestfishingregulationsapp.com/topics/limits/