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Fishing / Ohio River Specific
Ohio River Fishing Regulations and License Agreements
The following Ohio River fishing regulations are the result of negotiations between the fish and wildlife agencies of Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Some regulations differ between the Kentucky/Ohio border (Western Unit) amd the West Virginia/Ohio border (Eastern Unit). Anglers must abide by regulations in each state's fishing digest for regulations not specified below.
Western Unit (Kentucky/Ohio border only) – Lawrence County west of South Point, and Scioto, Adams, Brown, Clermont, and Hamilton counties. Ohio and Kentucky will honor the other state’s fishing licenses along their common borders on the mainstem and from the banks of the Ohio River, excluding embayments and tributaries.
The following regulations are the only unified regulations in the agreement and must be followed when fishing within the Western Unit.
| Species |
Daily Limit |
Minimum Size |
| Walleye, Sauger, & Saugeye |
10 (singly or in combination) |
None |
| Striped, Hybrid, & White Bass |
30 (no more than 4 over 15 inches) |
None |
| Muskellunge |
2 |
30 inches |
| Black & White Crappie |
30 (singly or in combination) |
None |
The following Ohio regulations apply only to boat anglers when fishing in Ohio waters, shoreline anglers when fishing on the Ohio shoreline, and all anglers in Ohio embayments and tributaries within the Western Unit.
| Species |
Daily Limit |
Minimum Size |
| Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass |
6 (singly or in combination) |
12 inches (now includes spotted bass) |
| *The following Kentucky regulations apply to boat anglers fishing the mainstream of the Ohio River, shore anglers fishing the Kentucky shoreline, and boat and shore anglers fishing Kentucky embayments and tributaries within the Western Unit. |
| Species |
Daily Limit |
Minimum Size |
| Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass |
6 (singly or in combination) |
12 inches (except for spotted bass) |
Eastern Unit (West Virginia/Ohio border only) – Lawrence County east of South Point, and Gallia, Meigs, Athens, Washington, Monroe, Belmont, Jefferson, and Columbiana counties. Ohio and West Virginia will honor the other state’s fishing licenses along their common borders on the mainstem of the Ohio River, including its banks and embayments and tributaries to the landmark location listed in Publication 404, Waterfowl Hunting and Fishing on the Ohio River (available online) or call 1-800-WILDLIFE. Boundaries for areas not listed in this publication extend to the first riffle. This agreement applies to West Virginia and Ohio residents only.
The following regulations are the only unified regulations in the agreement and must be followed when fishing within the Eastern Unit.
| Species |
Daily Limit |
Minimum Size |
| Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass |
6 (singly or in combination) |
12 inches |
| Striped, Hybrid, & White Bass |
30 (no more than 4 over 15 inches) |
None |
| Muskellunge |
2 |
30 inches |
The following Ohio regulations apply only to shore anglers when fishing on the Ohio shoreline and all anglers in Ohio embayments and tributaries within the Eastern Unit.
| Species |
Daily Limit |
Minimum Size |
| Walleye, Sauger, and Saugeye |
10 (singly or in combination) |
None |
| Northern Pike |
None |
None |
| Black & White Crappie |
30 (singly or in combination) |
None |
| *The following West Virginia regulations apply to boat anglers fishing the mainstream of the Ohio River, shore anglers fishing the West Virginia shoreline, and boat and shore anglers fishing West Virginia embayments and tributaries within the Eastern Unit. |
| Species |
Daily Limit |
Minimum Size |
| Walleye |
2 |
18 inches |
| Sauger & Saugeye |
10 (singly or in combination) |
None |
| Northern Pike |
2 |
28 inches |
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