Fishing in Arizona (United States) ➡️️️️ Explore fishing spots and reports

Q: 📜 What are the fishing regulations in Arizona, United States?

Fishing regulations in Arizona, United States vary by region, species, and season. Rules may include size limits, bag limits, licensing requirements, and protected areas. Because regulations are managed locally and can change throughout the year, it's important to check the latest official guidance before fishing. To stay up to date and avoid guesswork, use the Fishbrain app to explore local rules, discover popular waters, and see what other anglers are catching across United States.

Fishing in Arizona requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Residents and non-residents can purchase annual or short-term licenses online or at authorized retailers across the state.

In Arizona, no fishing license is required for anglers under 10 or residents 70 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license
Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations
Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

Latest Arizona fishing reports

Largemouth bass

Chaparral Lake

length · weight

Blue catfish

Parker Canyon Lake

length · weight

Channel catfish

Riverview Lake

length · weight

Channel catfish

Fain Lake

length · weight

Channel catfish

Desert West Park Lake

6 in · 2 oz

Channel catfish

Surprise Lake

length · weight

Channel catfish

Sahuarita Lake

length · weight

Channel catfish

Graham County Fairground Pond

length · weight

Nile tilapia

Tres Rios Wetlands

length · weight

Channel catfish

Riverview Lake

length · weight

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Fishing regulations in Arizona

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Arizona can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Smallmouth bass as of May 29th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Select species

Smallmouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

Special gear

Aggregate

No size limit.

These regulations apply statewide unless Site-Specific Special Regulations apply to that body of water. Click here to see Site-Specific Special Regulations Statewide includes all state and federal refuges, parks and monuments; open areas do not include any area closed to hunting, fishing, or trapping.

CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY:

Cluff Ranch Ponds
Crystal Gardens Water Treatment Facility (city of Avondale)
The Pond at Town Hall (town of Gilbert)
Water Ranch Park Lake

CATCH AND RELEASE artificial flies and lures only:

Lower Goldwater

UNLIMITED — NO LIMIT FOR EITHER LARGEMOUTH OR SMALLMOUTH BASS:

Bear Canyon Lake
Beaver Creek (Wet and Dry)
Black Canyon Lake
CC Cragin Reservoir (Blue Ridge)
Chevelon Canyon Lake
Colorado River-Glen Canyon Dam to Separation Canyon
East Verde River
Horseshoe Lake
Knoll Lake
Long Tom Lake
Oak Creek
Upper Salt River (Roosevelt Diversion Dam upstream to the Reservation Boundary)
Verde River and tributaries
Virgin River
West Clear Creek
Willow Springs Lake
Woods Canyon Lake

1 BASS LIMIT, MINIMUM SIZE = 13-INCHES:

Alamar Park Pond
Bonsall Pond
Council Avenue Pond
Dave White Regional Park Pond
Discovery Park Ponds
Eastmark Park Pond
Eldorado Park Pond
Evelyn Hallman Pond
Festival Fields Pond
Freestone Pond
Friendship Pond
Gilbert Regional Park Pond
Goldwater Lake
Graham County Fairgrounds Pond
Greenfield Pond
Heroes Regional Park Pond
McQueen Pond
Pacana Park Pond
Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex Pond
Papago Park Ponds
Patterson Ponds (St. Johns)
Rio Vista Park Pond
Roadrunner Park Pond
Show Low Creek Meadow
Steele Indian School Park Pond
West Wetlands Pond

1 BASS LIMIT: (no size limit):

Community fishing ponds: bag limit = 1 bass (largemouth or smallmouth)

2 BASS LIMIT:

Dead Horse Ranch State Park Lagoons
Community fishing lakes: bag limit = 2 bass (largemouth or smallmouth)

2 BASS LIMIT, MINIMUM SIZE = 13-INCHES:

Alvord Lake
Cataract Lake
City Reservoir
Chaparral Park Lake
Copper Sky Lake
Cortez Park Lake
Desert Breeze Park Lake
Desert West Park Lake
Dogtown Lake
Encanto Park Lake
Fain Lake
Fortuna Lake
Francis Short Pond
Green Valley Park Lakes
Kaibab Lake
Kennedy Park Lake
Kiwanis Park Lake
Lakeside Lake
Mansel Carter Oasis Lake
Paloma Park Lake
Pioneer Lake
Red Mountain Park Lake
Redondo Lake
Riverview Park Lake
Santa Fe Reservoir
Silverbell Lake
Sahuarita Park Lake
Stone Dam
Sundance Park Lake
Surprise Park Lake
Tempe Town Lake
Veterans Oasis Park Lake
Whitehorse Lake
Yavapai Lakes

6 BASS LIMIT, MINIMUM SIZE = 13-INCHES:

Topock Marsh
Colorado River-Davis Dam to the International Boundary

20 SMALLMOUTH BASS, 5 LARGEMOUTH BASS LIMIT:

Lake Powell

Micropterus dolomieui

Regulations for

33°26′54.4″N 112°04′25.8″W

Regulations in the map

FAQ about Arizona fishing

Fishing regulations in Arizona, United States vary by location, species, and season. Rules may include size limits, bag limits, licensing requirements, and protected areas. Because regulations are managed locally and can change throughout the year, it's important to check the latest official guidance before fishing.

To stay up to date and avoid guesswork, use the to explore local rules, discover popular waters, and see what other anglers are catching across United States.

Some of the most popular species anglers target in Arizona, United States include Smallmouth bass, Common carp, and Channel catfish. The best species often depend on season, water type, and location within the country.

For more detailed, real-time insights, the shows which species are being caught near you and what baits are working best across United States.

Some of the most popular fishing spots in Arizona, United States include Salt River, Tres Rios Wetlands, and Lakeside Park Lake. Anglers across the country fish a wide range of waters, with opportunities varying by region and season.

With the , you can explore local hotspots anywhere in United States, see recent catches, and find out what's working near you.

Fishing in Arizona

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FAQ about Arizona fishing