Kentucky Spearfishing Rules Card

Legal status

Saltwater RestrictedFreshwater Permitted

Kentucky is a landlocked state with no marine waters, so all spearfishing is freshwater. Underwater spearfishing is legal year-round but ONLY in lakes of 1,000 surface acres or larger, only for 'rough' (nongame) fish, and the diver must be completely submerged.

License

Required: Kentucky Resident/Nonresident Fishing License (annual, or short-term nonresident)

Resident: Approx. $24.31 for the resident annual fishing license (2026-2027 license year; verify exact amount with KDFWR)

Non-resident: Approx. $58.14 annual; short-term nonresident options ~$15.86 (1-day) and ~$37.00 (7-day) (2026-2027; verify with KDFWR)

Gear rules

• Spearguns: Mechanically propelled spears (e.g., spearguns) are expressly allowed for underwater spearing of rough fish in qualifying 1,000+.
• Pole spears: Permitted as a hand-held spear for rough fish in qualifying lakes under the same rule.
• On scuba: The regulation requires the person to be completely submerged to spear.
• Underwater spearing allowed only in lakes 1,000 surface acres or larger
• Diver must be completely submerged where spearing takes place
• Only rough (nongame) fish may be speared; sport fish are off-limits
• Daily limit: 15 rough fish, no more than 5 catfish

Do not spear

• All designated sport fish, which may be taken only by angling and NOT speared/gigged/snagged
• Lake sturgeon
• Pallid sturgeon
• Alligator gar
• Shovelnose sturgeon from the Mississippi River

Area restrictions

• Underwater spearing is confined to lakes of 1,000 surface acres or larger; the vast majority of Kentucky waters (rivers, streams, and smaller lakes).
• SCUBA/skin diving is prohibited in lakes owned by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, with limited exceptions (e.g., a designated.
• Special/site-specific regulations exist for some waters (e.g., Tennessee River / Kentucky Lake areas have distinct gigging provisions); check.

Before you dive

• Never dive alone: one up, one down.
• Check current seasons and sizes the morning of the dive.
• Confirm with Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR): https://fw.ky.gov