Arkansas Spearfishing Rules Card

Legal status

Saltwater RestrictedFreshwater Permitted

Arkansas is landlocked, so there is no saltwater/marine spearfishing.

License

Required: Arkansas fishing license (Resident Fisheries Conservation License, or a nonresident fishing license)

Resident: Resident Fisheries Conservation License (FSH) $10.50; Resident 3-Day Trip Fishing License $6.50; Combination Sportsman's License (hunting + fishing) $35.50. Add a Resident Trout Permit ($10.00) to keep trout or fish designated trout waters.

Non-resident: Nonresident Annual Fishing License (NRF) $60.00; Nonresident 3-Day Trip (NT3) $30.00; Nonresident 1-Day (NT1) $15.00. Add a Nonresident Trout Permit ($20.00) for trout.

Gear rules

• Spearguns: Expressly regulated and permitted for taking both game and rough fish in the listed waters/season (Code 28.01).
• Pole spears: Not separately named in the AGFC code. The game-fish spearfishing rule (28.01) is written in terms of 'spearguns'; a pole spear.
• On scuba: The code does not prohibit SCUBA and clearly contemplates diving: the diver's-flag rule (Code 28.02) requires a 'standard diver's flag'.
• A standard diver's flag (at least 12 in x 12 in, red with a white diagonal stripe) must be displayed from the boat or flotation device at.
• It is unlawful to clean speared fish while still on the body of water where they were taken (Code 28.03)
• Possession of a speargun in public waters other than the ~20 designated spearfishing waters is prohibited (Code 28.01D)

Do not spear

• Black bass
• Smallmouth bass may NOT be taken by speargun on Lake Ouachita
• Flathead catfish may NOT be taken by speargun March 15-July 15
• All game fish are off-limits to GIGGING and to SNAGGING
• Any game fish taken anywhere or anytime outside the Code 28.01 speargun windows

Area restrictions

• Speargun possession and use for game fish is limited to ~20 named lakes plus Arkansas River lock-and-dam impoundments; spearguns may not be possessed.
• Spearfishing must stay within 300 feet of the displayed diver's flag (Code 28.02)
• Fishing (including by these methods) is restricted within 100 yards below dams and certain hydroelectric outlet channels (Code 26.07)
• Buffalo National River (NPS-administered): only hook-and-line fishing is allowed river-wide; gigging, bowfishing, and snagging are permitted.

Before you dive

• Never dive alone: one up, one down.
• Check current seasons and sizes the morning of the dive.
• Confirm with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC): https://www.agfc.com/