Pet Bass

June 16, 2022

Question: Can I keep a largemouth bass as a pet in California?

Answer: No, it is not legal to possess a largemouth bass as a pet. Fish and Game Code, section 2118(e), prohibits possession of several types of fish in California, including largemouth bass. With certain exceptions, including some exceptions related to bass tournaments, movement of live fish taken from the wild is prohibited by the California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 1.63, which states that except as provided in sections 4.00 through 4.30 and 230, live fin fish may not be transported alive from the water where taken.