Iowa Spearfishing Rules Card

Legal status

Saltwater RestrictedFreshwater Permitted

Iowa is a landlocked state, so there is no saltwater/marine spearfishing.

License

Required: Iowa fishing license (resident or nonresident)

Resident: Resident annual fishing license $22.00. Short-term resident options: 1-day $10.50, 7-day $15.50. A resident trout fee ($14.50) is required in addition to the base license to fish for or possess trout.

Non-resident: Nonresident annual fishing license $48.00. Short-term nonresident options: 1-day $12.00, 3-day $20.50, 7-day $37.50. A nonresident trout fee ($17.50) is required in addition to the base license to fish for or possess trout.

Gear rules

• Spearguns: Iowa's rule simply authorizes taking the listed rough fish by 'spear' - it does not name or separately regulate spearguns versus other.
• Pole spears: Covered by the generic 'spear' method in rule 81.2(11) - permitted for the listed rough-fish species only, with no separate pole-spear.
• On scuba: Chapter 81 does not address SCUBA, free diving, or any diver-flag requirement, and neither authorizes nor prohibits underwater spearfishing.
• Spear and bow-and-arrow take is limited to the rough/nongame species listed in rule 81.2(11); any game fish struck must be released.
• Snagging (a separate hook method) is capped at no hook larger than a 5/0 treble or more than 1 1/4 inches, and snagged fish other than.
• You must be able to identify your catch: at least 1 square inch of skin (with scales) must remain on any fish or fillet transported.

Do not spear

• Any species not on the rule 81.2(11) list may NOT be taken by spearing or bow and arrow
• Paddlefish may NOT be speared or taken by bow and arrow
• Sturgeon
• Trout may not be speared, and a trout fee is required even to possess trout taken by legal methods

Area restrictions

• No snagging, bow-and-arrow fishing, or spearing is permitted at Clear Lake and Ventura Marsh from the Ventura Grade, Jetties, and Bridge (rule.
• No snagging, bow, or spearing within 300 feet of the Lost Island Lake inlet concrete culvert/metal fish barrier, or within 300 feet of the Lost.
• No snagging, bow, or spearing within 300 feet of the Barringer Slough outlet and metal fish barrier (rule 81.2(11)(b))
• No snagging, bow, or spearing in the Lower Gar Lake outlet area, from 230th Avenue downstream to the signed Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary District.

Before you dive

• Never dive alone: one up, one down.
• Check current seasons and sizes the morning of the dive.
• Confirm with Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR): https://www.iowadnr.gov/