Vermont Spearfishing Rules Card

Legal status

Saltwater RestrictedFreshwater Permitted

Vermont is a landlocked state with no saltwater, so there is no marine spearfishing; all spearing is in fresh water, chiefly Lake Champlain.

License

Required: Vermont Hunting License or Combination Hunting/Fishing License (for spear/spear gun/shooting); a Fishing or Combination license is required for bow/crossbow.

Resident: Resident hunting (1-year, ages 18-65) $28.00; resident combination hunting/fishing $47.00; resident youth (17 or under) hunting $8.00 / combination $12.00; resident permanent license (age 66+) one-time $60.00. (Resident fishing-only, if using bow/crossbow off Lake Champlain, is $28.00.)

Non-resident: Nonresident hunting (1-year) $102.00; nonresident combination hunting/fishing $143.00; nonresident youth (17 or under) hunting $25.00 / combination $30.00. (Nonresident fishing-only, for bow/crossbow off Lake Champlain, is $54.00 annual, or $21 one-day / $23 three-day / $31 seven-day.)

Gear rules

• Spearguns: Legal for below-surface use on allowed species.
• Pole spears: Vermont law uses the term 'Hand-Held Spear' = a manually powered spear used from above the water's surface.
• On scuba: No. SCUBA diving is prohibited for spear-gun use - spear guns shall be used while snorkeling / free diving only.
• Spear-gun line may not exceed 20 feet attached to the spear
• Spear guns must be loaded AND discharged only beneath the surface of the water
• Spear guns may be used while snorkeling / free diving only - SCUBA is prohibited
• A hunting or combination license (not a fishing-only license) is required to take fish by hand-held spear, spear gun, or shooting

Do not spear

• Trout
• Landlocked Atlantic salmon may NOT be speared
• Largemouth and smallmouth bass may NOT be speared
• Walleye may NOT be speared
• Panfish
• Northern pike and chain pickerel may NOT be speared statewide; on Lake Champlain they may be taken ONLY during March 25-May 25, in non-spawning areas, by shooting and hand-held spearing
• Any species in designated spawning areas during the closed period, and in rivers/streams where spearing is not a listed legal method

Area restrictions

• Rivers and streams: spear/spear-gun/bow methods are not listed as a legal method of take for any species in flowing waters - these methods are for.
• Lake Champlain shooting and hand-held spearing (March 25-May 25) is allowed only in waters OTHER than the spawning areas designated under 10 V.S.A.
• Hatchery Cove, Grand Isle (Lake Champlain): a 2,000 sq ft area directly in front of Hatchery Brook is closed to all fishing October 1 - November 30
• Individual state parks, wildlife management areas and municipal waters may impose additional local restrictions; verify site-specific rules

Before you dive

• Never dive alone: one up, one down.
• Check current seasons and sizes the morning of the dive.
• Confirm with Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (VTF&W): https://vtfishandwildlife.com/fish/fishing-regulations