New York Spearfishing Rules Card

Legal status

Saltwater LegalFreshwater Not permitted

New York is a coastal state where the freshwater and saltwater rules are opposites. In fresh water, taking any fish by spear or spear gun is prohibited at all times, spearguns are banned outright, and you may not even possess a spear on or near Adirondack Park or Lake George waters.

License

Required: Recreational Marine Fishing Registry (marine/coastal spearfishing); NY Freshwater Fishing License (fresh water, but freshwater spearing is banned)

Resident: Recreational Marine Fishing Registry: free / no-fee enrollment (an optional $1-$2 print/mail fee applies only if you request a printed copy). Freshwater fishing license (not usable for spearing): standard NY resident fees apply per DECALS.

Non-resident: Recreational Marine Fishing Registry: free / no-fee for residents and non-residents alike. Freshwater license: standard NY non-resident fees per DECALS.

Gear rules

• Spearguns: Fresh water: spearguns are prohibited outright in all freshwaters of New York State.
• Pole spears: Fresh water: any hand-propelled spear (single or multi-pronged pike, blade, or harpoon) is prohibited for taking fish at all times.
• On scuba: New York's fisheries law does not prohibit SCUBA for marine spearfishing; spearfishing is regulated by method (spear/speargun) and.
• Fresh water: taking fish by spear or spear gun is prohibited at all times; spearguns banned in all freshwaters
• Fresh water: spears may not even be POSSESSED on any water in the Adirondack Park or Lake George, or within 200 feet of the high-water mark.
• Salt water: a speargun must be submerged when used to take fish
• Salt water: no food fish may be taken by spear or speargun within 100 yards of a public bathing area

Do not spear

• Fresh water, ALL fish: because taking any fish by spear or spear gun is prohibited statewide, every freshwater species
• Salt water: species with no open season
• Salt water: no food fish of any kind may be taken by spear or speargun within 100 yards of a public bathing area

Area restrictions

• Marine: no food fish may be speared within 100 yards of a public bathing area
• Freshwater (Adirondacks): spears may not be possessed on any water in the Adirondack Park or on Lake George, or within 200 feet of the high-water.
• Freshwater generally: spear-taking is prohibited on all inland waters statewide
• The marine and coastal district extends to Atlantic Ocean waters within 3 miles of the coastline plus all tidal waters, including the Hudson River up.

Before you dive

• Never dive alone: one up, one down.
• Check current seasons and sizes the morning of the dive.
• Confirm with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC): https://dec.ny.gov