Spearfishing in Utah has grown into a genuinely popular pursuit, drawing freedivers and scuba divers alike to the state’s reservoirs, high-elevation lakes, and large impoundments. But unlike most forms of fishing, underwater spearfishing in Utah is tightly restricted to a defined list of approved waters — and the rules governing species, gear, timing, and location are more specific than many anglers expect.
Whether you’re new to the sport or already gearing up for your first Utah dive, understanding the state’s spearfishing laws is not optional. Getting it wrong can mean gear confiscation, steep fines, or a multi-year license suspension. This guide breaks down every major regulation you need to follow, based on the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources 2025–2026 Fishing Guidebook and Utah Admin. Code R657-13-9.
Is Spearfishing Legal in Utah?
The challenging sport of underwater spearfishing has become very popular in Utah, and when spearfishing, you are subject to all of Utah’s fishing rules, regulations, daily limits, and licensing requirements. So yes — spearfishing is legal in Utah, but only under specific conditions and only at approved bodies of water.
Under Utah Admin. Code R657-13-9, “underwater spearfishing” means fishing by a person swimming, snorkeling, or SCUBA diving and using a mechanical device held in the hand, which uses a rubber band, spring, pneumatic power, or other device to propel a pointed shaft to take fish from under the surface of the water. That definition covers spearguns, pole spears, and Hawaiian slings — but it does not cover free shafting, which is explicitly banned.
As of January 2025, at all waters open to spearfishing — during their open seasons — you can now underwater spearfish for allowable species at any time, day or night. Previously, spearfishing was only allowed between official sunrise and sunset. This is one of the most significant recent changes to Utah’s spearfishing framework and gives divers much more flexibility on approved waters.
Pro Tip: Always verify the current approved waters list in the Utah Fishing Guidebook before heading out. The list of open spearfishing locations expands periodically, and diving an unapproved water — even if it looks identical to an approved one — is a violation.
Freshwater vs. Saltwater Spearfishing Rules in Utah
Utah is a landlocked state, so there is no saltwater spearfishing here. Every body of water in Utah is freshwater — reservoirs, lakes, rivers, and high-elevation mountain lakes. All of Utah’s spearfishing regulations apply exclusively to these freshwater environments.
The waters listed in the approved subsections are the only waters open to underwater spearfishing for game or nongame fish, except that carp may be taken by underwater spearfishing from any water open to angling during the open angling season. Utah Lake tributaries — including American Fork Creek, Beer Creek, Dry Creek, Hobble Creek, Spanish Fork River, Spring Creek, and Spring Run Creek west of I-15 — are open for northern pike and white bass only.
At Utah Lake and its tributaries, spearfishing for white bass, as well as northern pike, is now allowed at Utah Lake and its tributaries west of I-15, including American Fork Creek, Beer Creek, Dry Creek, Hobble Creek, Spanish Fork River, and Spring Creek Run. This rule change took effect January 1, 2025.
If you’re comparing Utah’s framework to other states, it helps to see how neighboring and similar inland states handle the sport. You can read more about spearfishing laws in Texas or check out spearfishing laws in Ohio for a side-by-side sense of how different states approach freshwater spearfishing regulation.
License and Permit Requirements for Spearfishing in Utah
A person possessing a valid Utah fishing or combination license may engage in underwater spearfishing, only as provided in this section. No separate spearfishing permit exists in Utah — the standard fishing license covers you, provided you follow all other rules.
A person 12 years of age or older must purchase a fishing license before engaging in any regulated fishing activity. A person under 12 years of age may fish without a license and take a full daily and possession limit.
Both residents and non-residents must have a valid Utah fishing license to engage in spearfishing. Licenses can be purchased online, at licensed agents, or directly from DWR offices. A 2.2% transaction fee applies to all online and in-person credit or debit card purchases, as noted in the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook.
Pro Tip: Download the Utah DWR mobile app to store your fishing license digitally. Conservation officers accept digital licenses, and the app also gives you access to the current guidebook so you can check water-specific rules on the spot.
If you plan to spearfish at Flaming Gorge, note that the reservoir straddles the Utah-Wyoming state line. Flaming Gorge anglers should carefully review the Fishing Across State Lines and Reciprocal Fishing Permits page and the Rules for Specific Waters page for details. A Utah license covers the Utah portion, but you need to confirm which side of the reservoir you’re diving.
Interested in how other states structure their licensing for spearfishing? See our guides on spearfishing laws in Michigan and spearfishing laws in Indiana.
Legal Species and Prohibited Species for Spearfishing in Utah
Utah divides its fish into game fish, nongame fish, and prohibited fish. The rules for which species you can target with a spear differ significantly across these categories.
Only the waters listed in the approved spearfishing locations are open to underwater spearfishing for game fish year-round. Unless otherwise noted, you may underwater spearfish to take any legal species within the daily limits, length limits, and seasonal closures that apply to each waterbody.
Some waters carry species-specific restrictions. At Fish Lake (Sevier County), you may underwater spearfish for all fish species from 6 a.m. on the first Saturday in June until official sunset on September 9. At Flaming Gorge, underwater spearfishing for burbot and lake trout is allowed year-round, 24 hours per day, and artificial light is allowed while spearfishing for burbot and lake trout.
For nongame fish, the rules are slightly broader. At all waters open to fishing — during their open seasons — you can underwater spearfish for common carp and Utah chub, except for the Provo River and Provo River Delta. Underwater spearfishing for nongame fish other than carp and Utah chub is only allowed at the specifically listed waters.
Nongame fish, excluding prohibited species, may be taken by underwater spearfishing in the approved waters and at Blue Lake (Tooele County) for tilapia and pacu only, during the open angling season set for a given body of water.
Regarding prohibited fish: anglers are encouraged to kill and possess prohibited fish species when caught and to report these potentially harmful fish species to the DWR. Prohibited fish may not be released alive — they must be killed immediately and reported. Check the DWR’s current prohibited fish list, as it can change with new invasive species detections.
The following waters are closed to the possession of largemouth and smallmouth bass from April 1 through June 28 (the fourth Saturday in June) while underwater spearfishing. This seasonal bass closure applies at multiple reservoirs to protect spawning populations.
| Species Category | Spearfishing Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Common carp | Legal statewide | Any water open to angling; artificial light allowed |
| Utah chub | Legal statewide | Any open water; artificial light allowed |
| Game fish (trout, bass, etc.) | Legal at approved waters only | Daily limits, length limits, and seasonal closures apply |
| Burbot and lake trout | Legal at Flaming Gorge only | Year-round, 24 hrs/day; artificial light allowed |
| Tilapia and pacu | Legal at Blue Lake (Tooele County) only | Nongame; must be killed immediately, not released |
| Largemouth/smallmouth bass | Seasonal closure at select waters | Closed April 1 – fourth Saturday in June |
| Prohibited fish species | Cannot be released | Must be killed and reported to DWR |
Gear Restrictions for Spearfishing in Utah
Utah’s gear rules for underwater spearfishing are specific, and a few of them catch first-timers off guard. Understanding what equipment is and isn’t allowed before you enter the water keeps you on the right side of the law.
Free shafting is prohibited. This means you cannot fire a spear shaft that is not tethered or attached to your speargun or pole spear. Every shaft must remain connected to your equipment at all times.
It is illegal to use artificial light while underwater spearfishing, with two exceptions: if you’re underwater spearfishing for burbot or lake trout at Flaming Gorge, or if you’re underwater spearfishing for common carp or Utah chub anywhere in the state where spearfishing is allowed.
The length of shooting lines used when spearfishing is restricted to 20 feet at Flaming Gorge Reservoir. This line-length cap prevents divers from targeting fish at unsafe or unmanageable distances in that specific water.
- Spearguns (rubber band, spring, or pneumatic powered) — legal
- Pole spears — legal
- Hawaiian slings — legal
- Free shafting — prohibited statewide
- Artificial light — prohibited except for carp, Utah chub (statewide), and burbot/lake trout at Flaming Gorge
- Shooting lines exceeding 20 feet — prohibited at Flaming Gorge
- Crossbows and airguns — only permitted for taking carp (not for underwater spearfishing of other species)
It is strongly recommended that all snorkelers, spearfishers, and swimmers in deeper waters deploy a diver flag and stay within 150 feet of it. Boaters must stay at least 150 feet away from a deployed diver flag. While this is a safety recommendation rather than a criminal statute, following it protects you from boat traffic and signals your presence to other water users.
For a comparison of how gear rules differ in other states, see our breakdown of spearfishing laws in Florida and spearfishing laws in Virginia.
Off-Limits Areas and No-Spearfishing Zones in Utah
Even at approved spearfishing waters, certain zones within those waters are off-limits. The most detailed restrictions apply at Lake Powell, but similar buffer-zone logic governs other locations.
At Lake Powell, archery and underwater spearfishing are prohibited within all of the following areas: one-quarter mile of all existing developed areas, including shoreline campgrounds, docks, launch ramps, breakwaters, and trailheads; one-quarter mile of any structure, including any building, shed, pump-out, boat dock, breakwater, permanent harbor fixture, camper, motor home, trailer, tent, or vehicle; Rainbow Bridge National Monument; and one-quarter mile of Dangling Rope Marina, including any land- or harbor-based structures.
You must also stay at least one hundred yards (300 feet) from any boats, unless the person owns, rents, leases, or lawfully occupies the boat, or another boat moves into the 100-yard perimeter after the spearfishing activity has commenced.
Additional closed waters and zones include:
- Pineview Reservoir is closed year-round to the take of tiger muskie.
- Spearfishing is not permitted on the Provo River or Provo River Delta.
- Every fish hatchery in Utah is permanently closed to fishing of any kind.
- Waterfowl Management Areas (WMAs) are also restricted unless otherwise stated, and the state’s national wildlife refuges remain closed unless the managing authority declares them open.
There is also a statewide kokanee salmon closure: anglers may not possess kokanee salmon at any waterbody statewide from September 10 through November 30 to protect kokanee during the spawning season. This applies to spearfishers as much as it does to rod-and-reel anglers.
Important Note: The approved waters list for spearfishing in Utah does not include most rivers or streams. Unless a specific river or tributary is explicitly listed as open (such as the Utah Lake tributaries for northern pike and white bass), assume rivers are closed to underwater spearfishing.
Bag Limits and Size Limits for Spearfishing in Utah
The daily limit and possession limit for underwater spearfishing is the same as the daily limit and possession limit applied to anglers using other techniques in the approved waters, as identified in the annual Utah Fishing Guidebook issued by the Utah Wildlife Board. In other words, spearfishing does not grant you a higher or separate take limit — you follow the same numbers as every other angler at that water.
Some statewide limits that apply to spearfishers at most Utah waters (per the 2025–2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook) include:
| Species | Statewide Daily Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trout (all species combined) | Varies by water | Check specific water rules; kokanee counts toward trout limit |
| Largemouth/smallmouth bass | Varies by water | Seasonal closure April 1 – fourth Saturday in June at select waters |
| Channel catfish | 8 fish | Statewide standard limit |
| Common carp | No limit | Legal at any open water; artificial light allowed |
| Tilapia / pacu (Blue Lake) | No limit | Must be killed immediately; cannot be released |
| Kokanee salmon | Varies by water | Statewide possession ban Sept. 10 – Nov. 30 |
When you are spearfishing for bass at the applicable waterbodies, all daily limits and length limits apply. There are no exceptions to size limits for spearfishers — if a fish must be a certain length to keep by rod and reel, that same rule applies to your spear.
Some waters carry tighter location-specific limits. For example, at Newcastle Reservoir, spearfishing is limited to wipers and rainbow trout only; at Quail Creek Reservoir, smallmouth bass only. Always look up the rules for your target water in the Rules for Specific Waters section of the guidebook before you dive.
Nongame fish that are legal to take must either be released or killed immediately after you remove them from the water. You may not leave them on the shoreline.
For a look at how bag and size limits work in neighboring states, see our coverage of spearfishing laws in Minnesota and spearfishing laws in Pennsylvania.
Penalties for Spearfishing Violations in Utah
Utah enforces its wildlife laws seriously, and spearfishing violations fall under the same criminal penalty structure as other fishing offenses. The consequences range from fines to multi-year license suspensions to felony charges, depending on the nature and severity of the violation.
Penalties for hunting, fishing, and poaching crimes in Utah vary based on the severity of the offense: a Class A Misdemeanor carries up to 1 year in jail and fines up to $2,500; a 3rd Degree Felony carries up to 5 years in prison and fines up to $5,000.
Because Utahns value wildlife so highly, convicted poachers face steep consequences. In addition to paying fines and restitution, poachers may also face jail time, the confiscation of hunting equipment, and the loss of hunting and fishing privileges in multiple states.
License suspension lengths are tied directly to the class of crime. If the crime is determined to be a Class C misdemeanor, the suspension is one year. For a Class B, it’s three years. For a Class A misdemeanor, it’s five years, and for a felony, it’s a seven-year suspension. Those suspension lengths can be doubled if your license was already suspended at the time of the crime or if the crime involves a trophy animal.
Utah is a member of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, an agreement among 49 U.S. states to honor each other’s decisions to deny licenses and permits to poachers. When people lose hunting and fishing rights in one state, they won’t be able to hunt or fish in any of the others. A Utah spearfishing violation can therefore cost you fishing privileges across nearly the entire country.
Restitution payments are also possible for illegal take of protected species. When a person is adjudged guilty of illegal taking, illegal possession, or wanton destruction of protected wildlife, the court may order the defendant to pay restitution — for example, $38 per animal for trout, char, salmon, grayling, tiger muskellunge, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and wiper.
When hunters or anglers knowingly break the law, in most instances the person will be criminally prosecuted and will pay a fine. But for their hunting or fishing license to also be suspended, the person has to “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly violate the law.” Self-reporting a violation, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, often reduces the severity of the punishment and lowers the likelihood of a license suspension.
Important Note: To report a wildlife violation, text 847411 from your mobile device or call the DWR hotline at 800-662-3337. If you witness illegal spearfishing activity, reporting it may qualify you for a reward through the Help Stop Poaching Fund.
Understanding Utah’s animal and wildlife laws goes beyond just fishing. If you’re interested in other state-level regulations, explore our guides on roadkill laws in Utah, beekeeping laws in Utah, and leash laws in Utah to stay informed across the board.