Kansas Spearfishing Rules Card

Legal status

Saltwater RestrictedFreshwater Permitted

Kansas is a landlocked state with no saltwater, so there is no marine spearfishing.

License

Required: Kansas Fishing License

Resident: Resident Annual $27.50; Resident One-Day $6.00; Senior Resident (65-74) $15.00; Resident Five-Year $102.50; Multi-Year Youth (16-20) $42.50; Lifetime Fishing $502.50.

Non-resident: Nonresident Annual $77.50; Nonresident Five-Day $27.50; Nonresident One-Day $12.50.

Gear rules

• Spearguns: Legal for nonsport fish only, without explosive charge, and only while skin or scuba diving in waters posted 'open to scuba and skin.
• Pole spears: Not named in Kansas regulation. Only 'spear gun' and 'gig' are enumerated as legal spearing devices; a hand-propelled pole spear is neither.
• On scuba: Yes. Speargun use is expressly tied to 'skin or scuba diving,' and is permitted only in waters posted 'open to scuba and skin diving.'.
• Speargun must be without explosive charge
• The spear must be attached to the speargun or the person by a line
• Speargun use is limited to nonsport fish and to waters posted 'open to scuba and skin diving'
• Bowfishing arrows must have barbed heads and each arrow must be attached by a line to the bow; crossbows are legal

Do not spear

• All sport/game fish may NOT be taken by speargun, gig, bow or snag
• Blue catfish, channel catfish and flathead catfish may NOT be taken by bowfishing in rivers and streams
• Paddlefish may be taken only by snagging in designated waters during designated seasons
• Any threatened or endangered species; any species not classified as a nonsport fish for speargun/gig/bow take

Area restrictions

• Spearguns may be used only in waters posted 'open to scuba and skin diving'
• Bowfishing is closed within 50 yards of an occupied boat dock or ramp, occupied swimming area, occupied picnic site, or occupied camping/public-use.
• State fishing lakes, community lakes and individual impoundments may carry their own special regulations or posted closures; check the posting at.

Before you dive

• Never dive alone: one up, one down.
• Check current seasons and sizes the morning of the dive.
• Confirm with Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP): https://ksoutdoors.gov