FishKillFleaYou land a bass at Saguaro Lake that feels like a personal record. You lip it, hold it up, and estimate four and a half pounds. Then the doubt hits: does this lake have a size minimum? Saguaro Lake does — a 13-inch minimum for bass specifically at Salt River Project impoundments. That beautiful fish you’re holding? If it’s 12.5 inches, releasing it is mandatory. Knowing Arizona’s fishing regulations before you leave home isn’t just good practice — it’s the difference between a legal catch and a Class 2 misdemeanor with fines up to $750.
Arizona’s 2025–2026 fishing regulations (effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026) cover everything from statewide defaults to lake-specific trophy management. This guide distills the rules you need, organized by how you’ll actually encounter them on the water.
Statewide Daily Bag Limits
Arizona applies statewide default limits to all public waters unless overridden by water-specific special regulations. Possession limits equal twice the daily bag limit unless otherwise posted.
| Species | Daily Bag Limit | Size Limit | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 6 | None (statewide) | 13” minimum at CFP, SRP lakes, Lake Havasu |
| Smallmouth Bass | 6 (combined with LMB) | None (statewide) | Lake Powell: 20/day (separate from LMB) |
| Striped Bass | 10 | None (statewide) | Lake Mead/Mohave: unlimited (as of Jan 1, 2026) |
| Trout (all species) | 4 | None (statewide) | CFP: 2/day. Some waters catch-and-release only |
| Catfish (channel & flathead) | 10 | None | CFP: 2/day. Mead/Mohave: 25/day |
| Crappie | Unlimited | None | SRP lakes & Pleasant: 15/day. Powell: 10/day |
| Sunfish (bluegill, green) | Unlimited | None | CFP: 5/day |
| Walleye | 6 | None | Limited Arizona distribution |
| Yellow Bass | Unlimited | None | — |
| Carp | Unlimited | None | ”Under-utilized” — AZGFD encourages harvest |
| Buffalo | 10 | None | — |
| Tilapia | Unlimited | None | Invasive — AZGFD encourages removal |
Two-Line Maximum
Arizona law limits each angler to a maximum of two poles or lines fished simultaneously. This applies statewide to all methods — there are no exceptions for jug lines, trotlines, or other passive multi-hook methods, which are effectively prohibited by this rule.
Community Fishing Program (CFP) Waters
Arizona’s Community Fishing Program manages over 30 urban lakes and ponds across Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Scottsdale, Flagstaff, Prescott, and other communities. These are regularly stocked and designed for easy access, but they have stricter limits than statewide defaults:
| Species | CFP Daily Bag Limit | Size Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 1 | 13-inch minimum |
| Catfish | 2 | None |
| Trout | 2 | None |
| Sunfish | 5 | None |
These tighter limits protect the AZGFD’s stocking investment — CFP waters receive regular plants of channel catfish (13–18 inches) in spring/fall and rainbow trout (10–13 inches) in winter.
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Special Management Waters
Arizona designates specific waters with regulation overlays that supersede statewide rules. Ignorance of water-specific rules is not a defense.
Catch-and-Release Trout Waters
Several mountain streams enforce mandatory catch-and-release for trout with restrictive gear requirements:
| Water | C&R Period | Gear Restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Wallow Creek | May 1 – Dec 31 | Artificial flies/lures only, single barbless hooks |
| Hayground Creek | May 1 – Dec 31 | Artificial flies/lures only, single barbless hooks |
| Stinky Creek | May 1 – Dec 31 | Artificial flies/lures only, single barbless hooks |
| J.D. Dam Lake | Year-round | Artificial flies/lures only, single barbless hooks |
| Lee Valley Creek | Year-round | Artificial flies/lures only, single barbless hooks |
| Aker Lake | Year-round | Artificial flies/lures only, single barbless hooks |
| Canyon Creek (OW bridge to reservation) | Year-round | Artificial flies/lures only, single barbless hooks |
Lake-Specific Bass Management
| Water | Bass Daily Limit | Size Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide default | 6 combined | None | — |
| Community Fishing Program | 1 | 13 inches | All 30+ CFP lakes |
| Lake Havasu, Martinez Lake, Mittry Lake | 6 | 13 inches | Lower Colorado River impoundments |
| Dogtown Lake, Kaibab Lake | 2 | 13 inches | Northern AZ trophy management |
| Lake Powell | 20 SMB + 5 LMB | None | Most generous bass limits in AZ |
| Becker Lake | Unlimited | None | Illegally introduced warmwater species |
Lake Mead / Lake Mohave: 2026 Regulation Changes
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission approved significant changes effective January 1, 2026, aligning Arizona regulations with Nevada for these shared interstate waters:
| Species | Previous Limit | New Limit (2026) | Alignment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | 20/day (≥20”), unlimited (under 20”) | Unlimited (all sizes) | Matches Nevada |
| Catfish | 10/day (statewide default) | 25/day | Matches Nevada |
The striped bass change was driven by fisheries research showing no negative population impact from harvest — growth is primarily controlled by food availability, not angling pressure. The catfish increase resolves a discrepancy created when Arizona reduced its statewide limit to 10 in 2015 while Nevada maintained 25.
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The Arizona Apache Trout: A Recovery Success Story
On September 5, 2024, the Apache Trout (Oncorhynchus apache) was officially delisted from the federal Endangered Species Act — becoming the first sport fish and first trout species ever removed from the endangered species list due to successful recovery. This was the culmination of over 50 years of collaborative conservation between the White Mountain Apache Tribe, AZGFD, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Trout Unlimited.
Current Apache Trout Regulations (2025–2026)
With delisting, Apache Trout can now be legally harvested in designated waters:
State Waters Where AZGFD Stocks Apache Trout (Harvest Allowed):
- East Fork of the Black River
- Lower West Fork of the Black River
- Little Colorado River in Greer
- West Fork of the Little Colorado River at Sheep Crossing
- Upper Silver Creek
- Lee Valley Lake
- Becker Lake (stocked November 2025)
White Mountain Apache Reservation (Tribal Permit Required):
- General daily bag limit: 5 trout for adults (15+), 3 for juveniles (10–14), 2 for sub-juveniles (under 9)
- Catch-and-release only on specific recovery streams: Loafer, Boggy, Little Bonito, Squaw, and Flash Creeks (artificial flies and lures with single hooks only)
Seasonal Guidance
AZGFD advises anglers targeting Apache Trout in recovery streams to avoid June, July, and August when elevated water temperatures stress fish populations. Even in harvest-allowed waters, summer catch-and-release mortality is significantly higher.
September 5th — Apache Trout Day: Arizona celebrates this annual conservation milestone with events organized by AZGFD and Trout Unlimited chapters. This is a unique opportunity to learn about one of the most successful native fish recoveries in American history.
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Legal and Prohibited Methods
Prohibited Methods
- Explosives, poisons, or electrical devices — felony offense
- More than 2 poles or lines simultaneously — statewide maximum is 2 lines
- Trotlines, jug lines, or limb lines — prohibited by the 2-line maximum rule
- Snagging game fish — bass, trout, catfish, walleye, etc. must be hooked in the mouth
- Noodling (hand fishing) — prohibited in Arizona
- Fishing within 200 feet of a fish ladder — protects migratory fish passage
Legal Methods
| Method | Legal Species/Waters | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rod and reel | All species, all waters | Maximum 2 lines |
| Fly rod | All species, all waters | Required at some special management waters |
| Bow and arrow | Non-game fish statewide (carp, buffalo, tilapia, mullet, goldfish, shad) | Catfish by bow: Apache, Canyon, Saguaro lakes only (5/day) |
| Snagging | Non-game fish statewide (carp, buffalo, mullet, tilapia, goldfish, shad) | Prohibited for all game fish |
| Spearfishing | Non-game fish in designated waters | Check specific water regulations |
Critical Rule — Tribal Waters: Arizona state regulations apply to all public waters within the state — including U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and state trust lands. However, tribal nation waters (Fort Apache Reservation, San Carlos Apache, Navajo Nation, etc.) are governed by tribal law. You need a separate tribal fishing permit, and tribal regulations frequently differ from state regulations in bag limits, gear restrictions, and seasonal closures.