What is a bass season?

I have seen numerous references to bass season opening here and there at
various times. What exactly is a bass season? Is the season the period
during the year you can actually fish for bass, or is it the period during
which you can keep them?

We don't have a bass season in Florida...sheesh, I hope not! It would be a
little late to find out now! We do have seasons on other fish, such as
snook, trout and redfish, but the season is the time you can keep them
within certain size ranges. You can fish for them all year, but you must
release them when the season is closed.

So, what's the deal with bass seasons in other parts of the country? Thanks
in advance for the clarification.

Keith