Slot Limit

A slot limit allows retention of fish only within a defined length range, releasing both undersized juveniles below the slot and large breeders above it. It pairs a minimum size with a maximum size, so the largest, most fecund spawners go back to the water, an explicit protection for the big-old-fat-fecund females that carry most reproductive output. Inland and recreational fisheries for species such as red drum and largemouth bass use slot limits set by state agencies. It is a refinement of the minimum landing size, which caps only the lower end.