1. United States/
  2. Arizona
Map

Fishing in Arizona

Find fishing spots near you with Fishbrain's interactive crowd-sourced map

App Section

Want trophy-size catches? These Arizona spots deliver

About Arizona fishing

Arizona fishing combines desert reservoirs and mountain streams. Largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie populate lakes, while high-elevation streams provide trout. With scenic landscapes and year-round opportunities, Arizona offers freshwater anglers a mix of adventure and relaxation.

Arizona fishing license

Arizona fishing licenses are required for anglers 10+. Residents and non-residents can purchase annual or short-term licenses online or at authorized retailers across the state.

Get license

Top fish species caught in Arizona

Download the Bitetime appDownload the Bitetime app
Download the Bitetime app
Download the Bitetime app
Download the Bitetime appDownload the Bitetime app
Download the Bitetime app
Download the Bitetime appDownload the Bitetime app
Download the Bitetime app

Biggest catches in Arizona

Explore your local leaderboard—see the top catches in the app.

State records of caught fish in Arizona

SpeciesWeightCommon carp37 lbsChannel catfish33.4 lbsLargemouth bass16.5 lbsRainbow trout15.6 lbsSmallmouth bass7.1 lbsBluegill4 lbs

Latest Arizona fishing reports

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Common carp

Santa Cruz River

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Channel catfish

Santa Cruz River

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

West Fork Black River

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Largemouth bass

Lake Havasu

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Channel catfish

Santa Cruz River

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Greengill hybrid

Apache Lake

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Brown bullhead

Apache Lake

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Largemouth bass

Desert Breeze Lake

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Channel catfish

Santa Cruz River

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Channel catfish

Santa Cruz River

length · weight

Fishbrain
More catches in the app...

Continue browsing catches and catch locations in the Fishbrain app

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

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 Largemouth bass as of March 30th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Largemouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

6

Special gear

Aggregate

6

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 nigricans

Regulations for

33°26′54.4″N 112°04′25.8″W
Regulations in the map
App Section
Download Fishbrain and fish smarter
Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish.

Free trial available

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

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 Largemouth bass, Channel catfish, and Bluegill. 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.