Bass As Live Bait Illegal Or Not? 2025
Catch and Grease reply :
Is it illegal to use largemouth bass as live bait where y'all live? Anybody know the law in Georiga and if you can catch them by rod and reel then use them as bait.
Saw this brought up in another thread and was interested.
aavery2 reply :
Not legal in Kansas
Alonerankin2 reply :
Not in the state of Indiana either. Nor is Bluegill
einscodek reply :
I dont believe game fish in general are allowed to be used as bait..
Catch and Grease reply :
Here I'm pretty sure bluegill can be used as live bait... If not then I have been breaking the law for awhile.
aavery2 reply :
Bluegill and Crappie can be used as live bait if caught on a hook in KS.
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
Illinois says bluegill/sunfish can be used in the water they are taken out of, not transported to other fisheries.
Missourifishin reply :
On 6/3/2014 at 8:56 AM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:Illinois says bluegill/sunfish can be used in the water they are taken out of, not transported to other fisheries.
I think that's the law in MO too.
No crappie or bass though.
flyfisher reply :
i looked at the VA regs and couldn't find anything saying you couldn't per se but the fish cannot be mutilated or anything so i would guess that they could use that as an exception and also creel limits are still in effect.
I figured it would be easy to find but didn't see anything.
Tony L. reply :
That's an interesting question, and I guess I never considered it.
I understand that this was a hypothetical question, but..... If, in theory, you didn't have laws governing how many bass you could possess at a time, and there were no minimum size requirement (both of which instantly rule them out as bait) just what on earth would one be hoping to catch by rigging up and tossing out a largemouth?
Muskie? Pike? Flatheads? I could see them all gobbling up one or two small ones, but hardly would consider bass a primary source of forage for any of the above. Just pitching out another hypothetical since you got me thinking. 
Great discussion
hawgenvy reply :
In Florida LMB have bag limit of 5 and all must be over 14". But there is a new proposal by the fish scientists that may pass: Still bag limit of 5, and only one can be over 16" (but the rest can be any size less than 16"). This preserves the lunkers. And the billions of little bassies found in any rain puddle all over the state can be kept, up to 4 or 5. So maybe if the law goes through we can use as bait the little bass. Seems a bit creepy but maybe I'll give it a try once Im sure its legal. Maybe get a lunker cannibal bass or a brackish water snook. Or a big ugly snakehead.
slonezp reply :
On 6/3/2014 at 11:41 AM, Tony L. said:If, in theory, you didn't have laws governing how many bass you could possess at a time, and there were no minimum size requirement (both of which instantly rule them out as bait) just what on earth would one be hoping to catch by rigging up and tossing out a largemouth?
Agree.
What would one hope to catch??? Why do lure manufacturers make baits in "baby bass" color. Fish are opportunistic and cannibalistic feeders. Bass will eat their own.
K_Mac reply :
My question is why? Why use game fish for bait? Of the "billions of little basses" spawned every year only a small percentage grow up to be decent fish. Natural predation takes a serious toll. I am a big fan of selective harvest and slot limits, but there is no good reason for using live bass as bait IMO.
lmbfisherman reply :
It is illegal to use any fish classified as game fish as far as I understand here in Ontario, Canada. There is a debate if we can use yellow perch as bait or not. Any fish caught and used as bait legally can't be used in another body of water.
Fish Murderer 71 reply :
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/general-rules-regulations/definitions
Texas Parks & Wildlife Definitions:
"Bait: Something used to lure any wildlife resource. It is unlawful to use game fish or any part thereof as bait."
Bass fall into the Game category and so do Crappie, but Bluegill were not on the list.
mod479 reply :
Not legal in NY. There's a group of kids here that fish at the same dam I do for muskie and flatheads using baby bass. They work, I've seen the results. I'm just waiting for them to do it this season, I know the DEC guys around my area and they're gonna nail them.
einscodek reply :
Kind of defeats the purpose of catch and release if you are gonna rig up and send it out as bait.
..and the lil guys caught aren't even legal size.
Choporoz reply :
Hope I don't come off as an ass, but I really cringe at the thought that fisherman would come here for questions on their state/local fishing regs. I see it as a responsibility and an obligation to familiarize yourself with the regs where you fish.
If I'm mistaken and you've read the regs and want opinions on interpretation, I apologize for the tone. What do your regs say?
tholmes reply :
On 6/3/2014 at 8:55 AM, aavery2 said:Bluegill and Crappie can be used as live bait if caught on a hook in KS.
Bluegill and other sunfish can be used as bait in Kansas, regardless of the method of capture.
http://kdwpt.state.ks.us/Fishing/Fishing-Regulations/Definitions/Bait-fish
Bass and Crappie can be used only if legally taken by hook and line and must be of legal size (15" for LMB in most waters). Why anyone would use a 15" bass for bait is beyond me.
Tom
Catch and Grease reply :
For all the people acting irritated at this question, I was only curious. Never in my life have I used bass as bait and I never will no matter what the law is. I see people using bass as bait sometimes and it just seems wrong when there are plenty of other bait fish and more plentiful fish to use.
aavery2 reply :
On 6/3/2014 at 10:29 PM, tholmes said:Bluegill and other sunfish can be used as bait in Kansas, regardless of the method of capture.
http://kdwpt.state.ks.us/Fishing/Fishing-Regulations/Definitions/Bait-fish
Bass and Crappie can be used only if legally taken by hook and line and must be of legal size (15" for LMB in most waters). Why anyone would use a 15" bass for bait is beyond me.
Tom
Thanks for the clarification, it had been a while since I read it, I would never consider using a bass for live bait but I am sure there are flathead/bluecat guys that it would not even remotely bother.
Tylertut reply :
As far as I read it is legal to use any game fish as live bait in Georgia as long it is taken legally, but it still counts toward daily limits.
Hyrule Bass reply :
On 6/3/2014 at 9:25 PM, einscodek said:Kind of defeats the purpose of catch and release if you are gonna rig up and send it out as bait.
..and the lil guys caught aren't even legal size.
this has nothing to do with catch and release. not everyone are catch and release people, and not everyone has to be unless its regulated on a specific body of water as catch and release only or the states that have seasons and such. now if theyre not legal size then the person is breaking the law.
in VA, where i do most of my fishing, i believe it is legal to use bass as bait so long as its caught by rod and reel. i couldnt find anything specific on the website saying it couldnt be when i looked in the past.
also, for those asking. big catfish, namely flatheads, love to eat bass. a catfishing forum i visit from time to time has people that say bass is their favorite bait for large catfish...
K_Mac reply :
The issue is not about catch and release, or keeping legal fish. Fishing with game fish as bait makes it nearly impossible to monitor and enforce creel and possession limits, and is one reason it is illegal in most jurisdictions. I don't care if it is the best live bait known to man, its use is wrong in my opinion.
everythingthatswims reply :
On 6/3/2014 at 9:20 AM, flyfisher said:i looked at the VA regs and couldn't find anything saying you couldn't per se but the fish cannot be mutilated or anything so i would guess that they could use that as an exception and also creel limits are still in effect.
I figured it would be easy to find but didn't see anything.
As long as you use hook and line to catch them, obey size and possession limits (if any), it is legal to use game fish as bait in VA.
flyfisher reply :
On 6/4/2014 at 6:09 AM, everythingthatswims said:As long as you use hook and line to catch them, obey size and possession limits (if any), it is legal to use game fish as bait in VA.
That is kind of what I thought but i know they were busting people who were using smallies for bait for big flatheads on the James. The thing with using a gamefish with a creel limit for bait is how can you determine how many were used and if the person was over their creel limit for the day.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 6/3/2014 at 10:29 PM, tholmes said:Bluegill and other sunfish can be used as bait in Kansas, regardless of the method of capture.
http://kdwpt.state.ks.us/Fishing/Fishing-Regulations/Definitions/Bait-fish
Bass and Crappie can be used only if legally taken by hook and line and must be of legal size (15" for LMB in most waters). Why anyone would use a 15" bass for bait is beyond me.
Tom
Some of the local lakes have slot limits where bass under 12" can be kept, and therefore, used as bait. These lakes are usually over populated with bass so I have no problem using the small ones for bait. I've used them for flatheads before and they make decent bait but I still prefer sunfish, bullheads, drum, or small carp for bait.
I know guys who will use them on 15" lakes also, a 10lb flathead has no problems eating a 15" bass.
SirSnookalot reply :
Obeying the regulations of your state should be the paramount concern. My own take is only to use artificial lures when I'm sport fishing for freshwater and inshore species. I see others using bait for peacocks, snook and host of other fish, I just don't care to do that. When it comes to bass I don't have a problem with other people using a small one for bait, relaxing the regulations wouldn't bother me. Many of these smaller bass are probably going to be eaten by another predator anyway.
Hyrule Bass reply :
these kind of threads usually kill me though. theres always a group of people who think removing one bass from a body of water is going to destroy the fishery
Alonerankin2 reply :
I simply believe there is nothing wrong with using live/ cut bait... For fishing.... Following all state and or Federal laws .. Also insuring one is also following all laws that pertain to the exact body of water you are on.... Also there are boundary laws.. Ohio river.... Kentucky and Indiana share boundary s in the river... Better understand them too... Otherwise there will be conflict. Won't matter if you're throwing artificial or bait...
hawgenvy reply :
Why fish with bass? They are abundant and may be a great bait fish. Okay, it sounds funny, like roasting your poodle or something. But if you are going to use live fish, you dont want something endangered. You want something common and abundant. Like little bass. To catch tarpon. For huge bass. Big snakehead. Snook. Big catfish. Otters (just kidding). Who knows? I'd like to try some day.
Alonerankin2 reply :
Behold, to you're state laws!
everythingthatswims reply :
On 6/3/2014 at 11:41 AM, Tony L. said:That's an interesting question, and I guess I never considered it.
I understand that this was a hypothetical question, but..... If, in theory, you didn't have laws governing how many bass you could possess at a time, and there were no minimum size requirement (both of which instantly rule them out as bait) just what on earth would one be hoping to catch by rigging up and tossing out a largemouth?
Muskie? Pike? Flatheads? I could see them all gobbling up one or two small ones, but hardly would consider bass a primary source of forage for any of the above. Just pitching out another hypothetical since you got me thinking.
Great discussion
The fish in my avatar refused a 5" bluegill but woofed down an 8" largemouth...I have stopped using live bait for largemouth now though.
gulfcaptain reply :
Big bass eat little bass. I've seen a 7+lb fish try and eat a 12" bass off a hook. Seen a 3lb bass eat 1lb trout (think all bass in S. Cal realized trout are great food). But go on your states fish and game website and read the rules. Any fish listed as a gamefish in CA are illegal to fish with including all panfish so bluegill would be covered and have quite the fine to go with it although I have seen many people fish with them. CAL-TIP does wonders when you call and turn them in, as most that do this don't have a license nor follow any laws that our sport has to cover our sport. Think the only live baits allowed fish wise are shad caught in a dip net from the waters you're fishing only except where stated in the rules. Do yourself a favor and read you state fish and game laws as "I didn't know" rarely will get you out of a ticket.
Hattrick7 reply :
Say no to live bait. It's too easy.
hawgenvy reply :
Bluegill are illegal for live bait in Florida. As are LMB, of course. We can use Mayan cichlid, though. People apparently use them for tarpon.
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