What were the size and retention limits on Bass?

I know it was really small - 18" or so, but not sure about the #'s. Also - what were the commercial limits? I understand alot more guys sold back then, but not sure if there was the same type of distinction between rec and commercial as there is now.

Thanks - just trying to gain a better understanding of the past.

In MA - No permit, no quota, sell to whoever will buy, 16" size limit, no daily limit.

In Ri the same .
16" 24/7 >.365 DAYS

sold where you wanted to who you wanted , when you wanted & all you wanted .
There was [no] commercial R & R license

I believe in Maryland the size was 12"

to the wholesalers / if you sold to them

they were graded into 3 sizes

selects keeper to 6 # MEDS 6 to 15 & large 15+

the smaller the size the higher the price .

I knew the markets paid more for the small fish - I didn't realize it was the micro schoolies.

IIRC it was 16 inches in MD for recreational back in the late 70s / early 80s. Not sure on comm.

From the 1950s through about 1978 the size limit for bass was 16" fork length which was approximately 18" total length.

1978 was increased to 18" total length.
1981 was increased to 24"
1985 increased to 30"
1986 increased to 33"
1989 increased to 36"
1995 lowered to 34"
1997(?) lowered to 28"

DZ