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Smallmouth Bass regulations in Delaware

Basses (Black) · Freshwater · 2026 season

Smallmouth Bass size limit, season and daily limit

Notes

• Keepable only under 12 in or over 17 in (total length).

Exact DNREC wording

Season

Open Year-Round

Size

None allowed between 12 and 17 inches (total length)Any Smallmouth Bass taken which is greater than 12 inches and less than 17 inches must be immediately released.

Limit

6 (no more than 1 greater than 17 inches)

Source: DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-09-20 (2026 season).

Often confused with

About the smallmouth bass

Species of freshwater fish

The smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of the order Centrarchiformes. It is the type species of its genus Micropterus, and is a popular game fish sought by anglers throughout the temperate zones of North America, and has been spread by stocking —as well as illegal introductions—to many cool-water tributaries and lakes in Canada and more so introduced in the United States. The maximum recorded size is approximately 27 inches (69 cm) and 12 pounds (5.4 kg).

Read more about Smallmouth bass on Wikipedia →

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.

All 196 Delaware species A–Z →

Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Smallmouth Bass in Delaware?

under 12 inches; 17 inch minimum in Delaware state waters.

How many Smallmouth Bass can you keep per day in Delaware?

No more than 1 over 17 inches.

When is Smallmouth Bass season in Delaware?

Open year-round.

Is my Smallmouth Bass a keeper today?

A smallmouth bass is a keeper today if it measures under 12 inches or at least 17 inches, with a daily limit of 6.