New Mexico Spearfishing Rules Card

Legal status

Saltwater RestrictedFreshwater Permitted

New Mexico is a landlocked state with no saltwater, so all spearfishing is freshwater.

License

Required: New Mexico Fishing License (or Game-Hunting and Fishing License)

Resident: Resident Annual Fishing $35.00 (effective April 1, 2026); Junior Annual (age 12-17) $5.00; Senior Annual (age 65-69) $8.00; age 70+ Annual $0.00 (free); Disabled Annual $8.00; One-Day $12.00; Five-Day $30.00. Anglers 12+ also need a Habitat Stamp to fish U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and BLM lands, plus a Habitat Management and Access Validation (not required for those 17 and younger).

Non-resident: Nonresident Annual Fishing $90.00 (effective April 1, 2026); Nonresident Junior Annual (age 12-17) $20.00; One-Day $12.00; Five-Day $30.00. No nonresident senior/free options.

Gear rules

• Spearguns: Not named individually in New Mexico regulations.
• Pole spears: Not named individually; a hand-propelled pole spear falls under the general 'spears' allowed for spearfishing (discharged above or below.
• On scuba: Yes - SCUBA divers and snorkelers may spear fish, but only in impoundments (reservoirs, lakes and ponds) open to fishing; not in rivers.
• Legal spearfishing implements are spears, arrows with barbs and gigs; spears may be discharged above or below the water surface
• For bow fishing, arrows must be attached by a line, string or rope to enable retrieval of the fish; crossbows are allowed for bow fishing
• SCUBA divers and snorkelers may spear fish only in impoundments open to fishing
• Local ordinances or prohibitions may apply at specific waters; contact the local managing agency before spearfishing or bow fishing

Do not spear

• Any threatened or endangered species of fish must be returned and released immediately where designated
• Largemouth bass in the three designated Trophy Bass Waters
• All game fish are off-limits to spearing in rivers, streams and Special Trout Waters
• Kokanee salmon may be snagged only during the Special Kokanee Snagging Season, not taken by snagging generally; any non-kokanee species caught by snagging must be returned immediately

Area restrictions

• Spearfishing and bow fishing are prohibited in every river and stream statewide - lakes and reservoirs open to angling only
• Prohibited in all Special Trout Waters (STWs)
• Prohibited for largemouth bass in the three Trophy Bass Waters: Lake Roberts, Clayton Lake, Bill Evans Lake
• SCUBA/snorkel spearfishing limited to impoundments (reservoirs, lakes, ponds) open to fishing

Before you dive

• Never dive alone: one up, one down.
• Check current seasons and sizes the morning of the dive.
• Confirm with New Mexico Department of Wildlife (NMDOW, formerly New Mexico Department of Game and Fish): https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/