Arkansas Fishing Regulations: Bag Limits, Size Limits and Seasons

These are the statewide daily bag limits and length limits Arkansas anglers work under, taken from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) guide for January 1 to December 31, 2026. Statewide means the default: most states, Arkansas included, override these on specific lakes, rivers and coastal zones, so treat this page as the baseline and the official guide as the rule for the water you are standing on.

Arkansas has no closed season on its main game fish, so the statewide limits below apply year-round. Alligator gar is the exception: no harvest from noon on May 1 to noon on July 1, and a trophy fish over 36 inches needs a tag drawn in January. Possession limit is three times the daily limit for every species. You will still need the Arkansas fishing license, which runs $10.50 for residents and $60 for non-residents; the Arkansas fishing license page covers short-term options, exemptions and where to buy.

AgencyArkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)
Regulation yearJanuary 1 to December 31, 2026
Free fishingFree Fishing Weekend is June 12-14, 2026. No licence or trout permit needed; size and daily limits still apply.
Official regulation guide License cost

Limits last verified 2026-09-16.

Arkansas freshwater bag and length limits

Statewide freshwater limits. Water-specific exceptions in the official guide take precedence.
Species Daily bag Length
Black bass (all species combined) 10 combined None statewide
Smallmouth bass (and meanmouth hybrids) 4 10 in. minimum; 12 in. in the Ozark zone
Crappie (white and black) 30 combined None statewide
Bream (bluegill, redear, longear, warmouth and other sunfish)No limit on bream under 4 inches. 50 combined None
CatfishNo daily limit on bullheads. 10 combined None
TroutNo more than 2 brown, 2 cutthroat and 2 brook trout in the five. Tailwaters set their own length limits. 5 None statewide
Striped and hybrid striped bass 6 combined None
White bass 25 None
Walleye 6 None statewide
Sauger and saugeye 6 each None
Rock bass (Ozark and shadow bass) 10 None
Paddlefish 2 None
Alligator garOne trophy fish over 36 inches per calendar year with a drawn tag. No harvest noon May 1 to noon July 1; report within 12 hours. 1 under 36 in. See note
Shovelnose sturgeonSturgeon caught between the Mississippi River levees must be released. No limit 21 in. minimum

How to read a bag limit

A daily bag limit is the number of that species one angler may keep in a day, and in most states also the number you may have in possession on the water. Where a row says "combined", the number is shared across every species named in it. A minimum length is measured from the tip of the closed mouth to the tip of the tail with the tail pinched; a slot means fish inside the range must go back. When a lake has its own rule in the official guide, that rule replaces the statewide one for that water only.

Related: the Arkansas fishing license page for the fee and where to buy, non-resident fishing license fees across states, and fishing regulations for every state.

Frequently asked questions

What is the bass limit in Arkansas?

Statewide, Arkansas allows 10 combined black bass (all species combined) per day, with a length rule of none statewide. Individual lakes often carry a different slot or minimum, so check the water-specific exceptions in the official guide.

How many crappie can you keep in Arkansas?

The statewide daily limit is 30 combined, size rule none statewide.

What is the catfish limit in Arkansas?

Catfish: 10 combined per day, none. No daily limit on bullheads.

What is the trout limit in Arkansas?

Trout: 5 per day, none statewide. No more than 2 brown, 2 cutthroat and 2 brook trout in the five. Tailwaters set their own length limits.

Is there a closed season for fishing in Arkansas?

Arkansas has no closed season on its main game fish, so the statewide limits below apply year-round. Alligator gar is the exception: no harvest from noon on May 1 to noon on July 1, and a trophy fish over 36 inches needs a tag drawn in January. Possession limit is three times the daily limit for every species.

When can you fish without a license in Arkansas?

Free Fishing Weekend is June 12-14, 2026. No licence or trout permit needed; size and daily limits still apply.

Do I need a license to fish in Arkansas?

Yes for most adults. The annual Arkansas fishing license costs $10.50 for residents and $60 for non-residents. Base Fisheries Conservation License covers standard tackle only; a separate trout permit ($10 resident / $20 non-resident) is required to keep trout or fish major tailwaters like the White and Norfork rivers. Combination Sportsman's License ($35.50) bundles hunting and fishing for residents. See the Arkansas fishing license page for short-term options and where to buy.

Where do these Arkansas limits come from?

Every figure on this page was read from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) regulation guide for January 1 to December 31, 2026 and last checked on 2026-09-16. The guide, not this page, is the legal document. Use the official source link above before you keep a fish.