Regulations and limits listed in the guidebook are enforced statewide.

Special, area-specific regulations can be found here.

• Alligator Gar: See Current Fishing Guidebook.
• Black Bass (largemouth, spotted, smallmouth combined): 10
• Smallmouth Bass (including hybrids of smallmouth and other bass): 4
  • Length limit in Ozark Zone is 12 inches long; otherwise, length limit is 10 inches long.
• Rock Bass (Ozark and shadow bass): 10
• Bream (bluegill, redear, longear, warmouth and other sunfishes combined): 50
  • No daily limit on bream shorter than 4 inches.
• Catfish (channel, blue, flathead combined): 10
  • No daily limit on bullhead catfish.
• Crappie (black and white combined): 30
• Paddlefish: 2
• Sauger: 6
• Saugeye: 6
• Shovelnose Sturgeon: No limit
  • Length limit is 21 inches or longer. All sturgeon caught between the levees of the Mississippi River must be released immediately.
• Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass: 6 combined
• Trout: (No more than 2 brown trout, 2 cutthroat trout and 2 brook trout): 5
• Walleye: 6
• White Bass: 25
• Possession Limit: Triple the daily limit
• Snagging Limit: See Current Fishing Guidebook.
• Spearfishing Limit: See Current Fishing Guidebook.

Meanmouth bass (hybrids of smallmouth and other bass) share the same regulations and limits as smallmouth bass.

Daily Limit − The total limit of a certain fish species that may be taken in one day.

Possession Limit − The total limit of a certain fish species that is in your possession at any time, whether on your person or stored in another location. Fish and wild game (other than migratory game birds) that have been processed and stored at a residence do not count toward a person’s possession limit. A residence is defined as a house or house trailer that is permanently in place and is owned, leased or rented by an individual; it does not include mobile travel trailers, tents, vehicles or temporary rental units (motels, lodges, cabins, resorts, etc.).

Starting now, you have the whole year to hit your Arkansas Grand Slam.

How Do I Qualify?

Residents and nonresident anglers of any age are eligible to participate.  All you have to do is catch at least one catfish, bass, crappie, bream and trout between January 1 – December 31, 2024. There is no minimum size requirement. You can reel in most of these fish in Family and Community Fishing Program ponds at different times of the year.

What Will I Receive?

You’ll be rewarded with a Grand Slam sticker to add to your collection and bragging rights among your buddies!

How Do I Submit My Catch?
Once you’ve caught one of each fish, you can use the form below to submit the photo and details for each of them.

Online Application Form

Contact

Fishing is a fantastic outdoor activity with a universal appeal, capturing the hearts of people from all walks of life and spanning generations. Fishing is not only a wholesome and enjoyable family activity but also promotes physical and mental well-being through outdoor engagement and relaxation. These are the founding principles on which the Fishing Education Program was founded in 1987. Expanding on the Fishing Derby program and adding Mobile Aquariums, Fishing Skills Classes, and Tackle Loaner locations in the following years, this program has impacted thousands of Arkansans on their path to love and respect for our waters.

Later additions like the Family and Community Fishing Program, which provides quality fishing locations in cities around the state, and Fishing in the Natural State, which focuses on providing educators with curriculum and equipment, have added new and exciting opportunities to expand fishing into new audiences. Programs like Master Angler and the Arkansas Grand Slam bring in the challenging or sometimes competitive aspect that drives anglers to deepen and grow their fish skills.

The Fishing Education team extends its services to even the most seasoned anglers who may be looking to venture into new fishing territories. The Fishing Education team travels to various locations within the state to share their experiences and help individuals broaden their knowledge and skills. Whether learning about the best bait to use, understanding fish behavior, or mastering the art of casting, the team provides invaluable insights and hands-on instruction to enhance the angling experience.

The AGFC places rod-and-reel combinations in public locations for individuals to check out, just as they would a library book. Some locations even include fly-tying equipment for checkout. With over 50 locations across the state participating in this program, we strive to make fishing more accessible to people who just want to try it for the first time. Check the link below to find a site close to you. If you have a great location you think we should partner with through this program, get the program request form from the application link.

• Tackle Loan Site Request Form

Like other recreational activities, fishing requires a basic knowledge of techniques for consistent success and enjoyment. To help supply these tools to anglers, clinics and seminars are periodically held across the state. These educational classes can be tailored to a variety of skill levels, from beginner to seasoned professionals of all ages. To request a class please use the link provided.

• Fishing Education Class Request Form

Fishing Education Program Contact

Phone: 501-255-3687

Address: 23 Joe Hogan Lane, Lonoke, AR 72086

Two mobile aquariums are available free of charge for display at qualifying community events, such as educational programs, outdoor shows, schools, youth organizations, or other family-friendly events. At each appearance, they are stocked with a large variety of native fish species and aquatic turtles. A program member will be in attendance to answer questions concerning aquatic resources, while also providing educational literature. Click the links below for more information, and fill out the application below to request AGFC support.

• Mobile Aquarium Event Information

Fishing Education Program

Phone: 501-255-3687

23 Joe Hogan Lane, Lonoke, AR 72086

The Family and Community Fishing Program provides memorable fishing opportunities throughout Arkansas. We bring fishing events, beginner fishing clinics, and tagged fish contests to selected cities throughout Arkansas each year.

Catfish Stocking

April, May, June, September and October

Thousands of pounds of 13- to 15-inch channel catfish are stocked periodically at all Community Fishing Destinations from March through October.

Trout Stocking

November-February

More than 50,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout are stocked each winter from November through February across the state in Family and Community Fishing Program destinations. While most trout average just under a pound, a few 2-5 pounders are stocked each year.

Publications

• Family and Community Fishing Program News
• Fishing Regulations
• A Beginner’s Guide to Fishing
• Guía para Principiante de Pesca
• Interactive GIS Pond Locator Map

Program Overview

The Master Angler Award Program began in 1985 to recognize anglers who catch trophy fish that are not state records. There are eight categories in the program: black basses, temperate basses, bream, catfish, crappie, perches, trout, and a miscellaneous category.

How Do I Qualify?

Residents and nonresident anglers of any age are eligible to participate. If you catch a qualifying fish species that meets the minimum weight requirement, you are eligible to apply for a Master Angler award. All qualifying entries must be caught on rod and reel in Arkansas. To achieve certified Master Angler status, you must catch a qualifying fish in at least four categories. They do not have to be caught in the same year.

What Will I Receive?

If you catch a qualifying fish in a single category, you will receive a pin depicting fish in that category and a letter of recognition. You are eligible to receive one pin per person, per species within each category. Once you have caught a qualifying fish in four categories and become a certified Master Angler, you will receive a certificate suitable for framing and a commemorative Master Angler coin.

How Do I Apply?

Apply using the online application form linked below.