Freshwater species guide

Largemouth Bass Fishing

The Florida largemouth bass is the state freshwater fish, found statewide in lakes and rivers. They are commonly found along vegetation or underwater structure, and schooling bass are also found in the middle of lakes.

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Largemouth Bass

Every charter here names largemouth bass on its own website, checked on the captain's own site

Check before you keep a fish. Seasons and limits change, sometimes in the middle of a season, and a court or an agency can change them overnight. Seasons and limits are set state by state. The ones on this page are Florida's, copied from FWC in Sep 2026 and listed with their source at the foot of the page. We are not a regulatory authority. Confirm the rule for the water you will fish with your captain or with that state's wildlife agency.

Where to fish for largemouth bass

105 charters name largemouth bass on their own website, across 73 towns in 2 states.

State records for largemouth bass

The heaviest largemouth bass each state has certified, biggest first.

StateWeightWhereYearAngler
Georgia 22 lb, 4 oz Montgomery Lake June George Perrysource
California 21 lbs., 12 oz. Castaic Lake at the main boat rampLos Angeles 3/5/ Arujo, Michael (Santa Monica)source
Texas 18.18 lb Lake Fork 1992 Barry StClairsource
Mississippi 18.15 lb Natchez State Park Lake 1992 Anthony Dennysource
Florida 17.27 lb —Polk 7/6/ Billy O'Berrysource
Alabama 16 lbs 8 oz Mtn. View LakeShelby Co 11/3 Thomas (T. M.) Burginsource
Arizona 16.48 lb Canyon Lake 1997 Randall E. Whitesource
Virginia 16 lbs. 4 oz. Connor Lake 05-2 Richard Tatesource
Arkansas 16.25 lb Mallard Lake 1976 Aaron Mardissource
South Carolina 16.13 lb Lake Marion 1949 P.H. Flanagansource
Louisiana 15.97 lb Caney Lake 1994 Greg Wigginssource
North Carolina 15 lbs, 14 oz Farm PondUnion County 3/29 William H. Woffordsource

Each from that state's own records page, linked on every row. A location links to its town only where the agency named that town — a record logged to "Gulf of Mexico" or an offshore block belongs to no city. Weights are printed as the agency prints them. Records are certified by the state and can be broken at any time.

About the fish

SizeFlorida record 17.27 pounds
Where it livesLakes and rivers statewide, along vegetation and structure
What it eatsFish, crustaceans and larger insects

FWC says males fan out a bed in spring, then guard the eggs and fry.

From FWC's species profile, checked Sep 2026.

Which rules apply to your trip

  • FWC describes Florida's freshwater fisheries as having no closed seasons. Special bag and length limits apply on some lakes, rivers and fish management areas, and on a few waters black bass must be released immediately.
  • FWC says freshwater fishing guides and their customers are subject to Florida's recreational fishing license requirements and that FWC does not require additional guide licenses; the saltwater charter license does not cover freshwater fishing guides.

Harvest rules

When can you keep one in Florida?

Seasons and limits are set state by state, and these are Florida's. Largemouth Bass is caught by charters in 2 states on this page; ask your captain which rules apply where you are fishing.

Statewide

Florida fresh waters, except waters with special bag and length limits, including lakes in FWC's fish management area system.

  • All anglersOpen year roundFWC describes Florida's freshwater fisheries as having no closed seasons.
No minimum length. Only one of the five may be 16 inches or longer.Size limit
5 black bass per dayDaily limit. The five covers Florida, largemouth, Suwannee, spotted, Choctaw and shoal bass together. Suwannee, shoal, spotted and Choctaw bass must be at least 12 inches.

Catch and release waters

The Stick Marsh and Farm 13, Fellsmere Water Management Area (Headwaters and Egan lakes), the S.N. Knight Tract (Kenansville Lake) and Wildcat Lake in the Ocala National Forest.

  • All anglersOpen year round, catch and release onlyFWC's special bag and length limits require black bass caught in these waters to be released immediately.
No black bass may be kept, at any sizeSize limit
Catch and release onlyDaily limit. FWC requires black bass caught in these waters to be released immediately. Fellsmere also requires circle hooks with natural bait over 3 inches.

Lake Seminole and the St. Marys River

Jim Woodruff Reservoir (Lake Seminole) and the St. Marys River and its tributaries.

  • All anglersOpen year roundFWC describes Florida's freshwater fisheries as having no closed seasons.
Each bass must be 12 inches or longerSize limit
10 black bass per dayDaily limit. On Lake Seminole the possession limit is 50 fish in total, whatever the species.

Lake Jackson, Walton County

Lake Jackson in Walton County.

  • All anglersOpen year roundFWC describes Florida's freshwater fisheries as having no closed seasons.
All must be 12 inches or longer, and only one may be longer than 22 inchesSize limit
5 black bass per dayDaily limit

Gear rules

Game fish may only be taken on pole and line or rod and reel, with no limit on how many rods you use. Bass may not be filleted, nor the head or tail fin removed, until you have finished fishing for the day.

Questions about largemouth bass

How many bass can I keep, and how big?

Five a day statewide, only one of which may be 16 inches or longer. There is no minimum length for Florida or largemouth bass.

Is there a closed season for bass?

No. FWC describes Florida's freshwater fisheries as having no closed seasons.

Do I need my own licence if I book a guide?

FWC says freshwater fishing guides and their customers are subject to Florida's recreational fishing license requirements, and the saltwater charter license does not cover freshwater fishing guides.

Can I fillet them on the boat?

No. FWC requires bass to stay whole, head and tail fin attached, until you have finished fishing for the day.

Seasons, sizes and bag limits on this page were copied from FWC, statewide bag and length limits and FWC, special bag and length limits and FWC, methods of taking freshwater fish and FWC, freshwater fishing and FWC, largemouth bass profile and FWC, saltwater charter licence in Sep 2026. Rules change, sometimes mid-season. Check the current rule with your captain or FWC before you keep a fish.