Utah Spearfishing Rules Card

Legal status

Saltwater RestrictedFreshwater Permitted

Utah is a landlocked state with no saltwater, so all spearfishing is freshwater only and is legal only at a specific list of roughly 40 designated waters named in the DWR Fishing Guidebook.

License

Required: Utah Fishing License or Combination License

Resident: Resident 365-day fishing license: ages 18-64 $40; ages 65+ $31; ages 14-17 $16; ages 12-13 $5; disabled veterans (20%+ service-connected) $12. Resident short-term: 3-day $19, 7-day $30.

Non-resident: Nonresident 365-day fishing license: ages 18+ $120; ages 14-17 $44; ages 12-13 $18. Nonresident short-term (all ages): 3-day $44, 7-day $91.

Gear rules

• Spearguns: Permitted for underwater spearfishing. Utah defines 'underwater spearfishing' as fishing while swimming, snorkeling or SCUBA diving using.
• Pole spears: A rubber-band/spring-powered pole spear used under the surface falls within the 'mechanical device...to propel a pointed shaft' definition.
• On scuba: Yes - SCUBA is expressly allowed. Utah's definition of underwater spearfishing specifically includes a person 'swimming, snorkeling.
• Free shafting is prohibited - the propelled shaft must remain tethered/attached to the device
• Artificial light is unlawful while underwater spearfishing, EXCEPT for common carp or Utah chub anywhere in the state where spearfishing is.
• At Flaming Gorge the length of shooting lines used while spearfishing is restricted to 20 feet
• Underwater spearfishing is allowed only under the surface with a hand-held mechanical device that propels a pointed shaft; a hand-held.

Do not spear

• Prohibited species
• Game fish generally may NOT be speared except at the specific waters listed in the Fishing Guidebook as open to game-fish spearfishing; at all other waters only nongame fish
• Largemouth and smallmouth bass may not be POSSESSED while spearfishing from April 1 through June 27, 2026
• At Fish Lake

Area restrictions

• Spearfishing is legal ONLY at the roughly 40 specific waters listed in the Utah Fishing Guidebook - it is prohibited at any water not on that list
• Blue Lake (Tooele County) is open to spearfishing for tilapia and pacu only
• Utah Lake (Utah County) is open to spearfishing for northern pike and white bass ONLY; both are 'No limit' species statewide.
• Jordan River (Salt Lake and Utah counties) is open to spearfishing for northern pike only

Before you dive

• Never dive alone: one up, one down.
• Check current seasons and sizes the morning of the dive.
• Confirm with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR): https://wildlife.utah.gov