Bowfishing Laws in Massachusetts: What You Need to Know Before You Shoot
July 9, 2026
Bowfishing in Massachusetts is legal — but the state keeps it on a short leash. Unlike many other states where bowfishers can target a wide range of rough fish, the Bay State limits archery fishing to just a couple of species in freshwater, and the saltwater picture is even more restricted. Before you rig up your bow and head to your favorite pond or river, you need to understand exactly what the law allows.
The rules come primarily from 321 CMR 4.00, which governs fishing in the inland waters of Massachusetts, and from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) for saltwater. Getting any of this wrong can result in serious fines, so reading the regulations carefully is not optional — it’s part of the sport.
Is Bowfishing Legal in Massachusetts?
Yes, bowfishing is legal in Massachusetts, but only under specific, narrow conditions. State law prohibits taking fish in the inland waters of Massachusetts by any means other than angling, except that carp and suckers may be taken by spears or archery. That single exception is the entire legal foundation for freshwater bowfishing in the Commonwealth.
This means bowfishing is not a broadly permitted activity here — it is a carved-out exception to a general prohibition. If a fish species is not carp or sucker, you cannot legally target it with a bow in Massachusetts inland waters. The regulation is codified under 321 CMR 4.00 and enforced by the Massachusetts Environmental Police.
Important Note: Violations of Massachusetts fishing regulations can result in fines starting at $400 per violation. Always carry your license and know which species you are targeting before you draw.
If you bowfish in other states and are used to a longer target list, Massachusetts will feel restrictive by comparison. Check out how neighboring states handle it — for example, bowfishing laws in Virginia allow carp, grass carp, northern snakehead, and gar, while bowfishing laws in Pennsylvania extend to suckers and catfish as well.
What Fish Can You Bowfish for in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts law is explicit about which species you can take with a bow. Under 321 CMR 4.00, “carp” means only the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and “sucker” means only the white sucker (Catostomus commersoni). Those are the only two species you can legally target with archery gear in Massachusetts inland waters.
Common carp are widespread throughout Massachusetts lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers, making them the most realistic bowfishing target in the state. White suckers are also present in many freshwater systems but tend to be less commonly targeted. Both species are considered rough fish and are not protected sport fish, which is why the state carved out this exception.
Pro Tip: Learn to positively identify both common carp and white suckers before heading out. Shooting a protected or sport fish species by mistake is still a violation — ignorance of species identification is not a legal defense.
A few important restrictions apply to what you do with your catch. Massachusetts allows you to bowfish for common carp and white suckers, but carp and suckers shall not be taken from the inland waters of the Commonwealth to be sold or offered for sale. You can keep them for personal use, but commercial sale is prohibited.
It is also worth noting that possession of certain species — including sturgeon (all species), American brook lamprey, Atlantic (sea-run) salmon, bridle shiner, burbot, eastern silvery minnow, lake chub, longnose sucker, and northern redbelly dace — is illegal. If you accidentally shoot one of these protected fish, you must release it immediately. Note that “longnose sucker” is on this protected list — only the white sucker is legal to bowfish.
Bowfishing License Requirements in Massachusetts
Bowfishing in Massachusetts freshwater is treated as fishing, not hunting. That means you need a valid Massachusetts freshwater fishing license — not an archery or hunting license — to bowfish legally. Anglers ages 15 years or older need a license to fish, and fishing licenses are free for anglers ages 15–17 and for anglers ages 70 and older.
As of 2026, the resident annual freshwater license is $40, resident age 65–69 is $20, resident age 15–17 is free, resident age 70+ is free, nonresident annual is $50, nonresident minor age 15–17 is $8, and nonresident 3-day is $30.50. These figures are from fishinglicenseinfo.org (as of May 2026) — always verify current fees at MassFishHunt before purchasing.
| License Type | Who It Covers | Fee (as of 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Freshwater | Residents ages 18–64 | $40 |
| Resident Senior (65–69) | Residents ages 65–69 | $20 |
| Resident Minor (15–17) | Resident youth | Free |
| Resident Age 70+ | Resident seniors 70 and older | Free |
| Nonresident Annual | Out-of-state anglers | $50 |
| Nonresident Minor (15–17) | Out-of-state youth | $8 |
| Nonresident 3-Day | Short-term visitors | $30.50 |
You can purchase your license online through MassFishHunt, by phone, or in person at license agent locations and sporting goods retailers. Once you have your license, make sure to bring it with you while fishing. A clear photograph of the permit on your smartphone is also acceptable.
No separate bowfishing permit or archery stamp is required in Massachusetts beyond the standard freshwater fishing license. However, if you plan to bowfish in saltwater or tidal waters, the licensing structure is entirely different — covered in the saltwater section below. If you are curious how Massachusetts compares to other states, see how bowfishing laws in Ohio and bowfishing laws in Missouri handle licensing requirements.
Legal Bowfishing Equipment in Massachusetts
Massachusetts does not publish a dedicated bowfishing equipment specification list the way some states do, but the general hunting and fishing regulations provide important guardrails. The core rule under 321 CMR 4.00 permits taking carp and suckers by “archery,” which means hand-drawn bows used as fishing implements with a line-attached arrow.
On the hunting side, Massachusetts general regulations give useful context for what archery equipment is and is not allowed. Airbows, arrow guns, or any firearms or other devices which project or propel an arrow, dart, or bolt by gunpowder, compressed air, or by any other means except by the flexing and release of a bow string are prohibited. The same principle applies to bowfishing — your bow must be a traditional hand-drawn model (recurve, longbow, or compound) that operates by bowstring flex and release.
Poisoned arrows, or explosive tips, including firearms cartridges affixed to the end of arrows in such a way as they discharge upon impact with the target, are also prohibited. For bowfishing purposes, you must use standard barbed bowfishing points with a line attached — no explosive, chemical, or electrically enhanced tips of any kind.
- Permitted bow types: Recurve, longbow, and compound bows that operate by bowstring release
- Required arrow setup: Barbed or harpoon-style bowfishing point with a line tethered to the bow or reel
- Prohibited devices: Airbows, arrow guns, compressed-air launchers, crossbows (unless you hold a disability permit)
- Prohibited tips: Poisoned arrows, explosive tips, or any tip designed to discharge on impact
- Crossbows: Crossbows may be used by certain permanently disabled persons by permit only.
Bowfishing reels — either hand-wrap, spin-cast, or bottle reels — are standard equipment and are not addressed as prohibited gear. The key requirement is that the arrow must be attached to the bow by a tethered line, which is the defining characteristic of bowfishing equipment in virtually every state.
Pro Tip: Massachusetts also bans the use of lead sinkers, lead weights, and lead jigs in inland waters. While this rule targets conventional fishing, keep it in mind if you use any weighted accessories with your bowfishing rig on inland waters.
Where You Can and Cannot Bowfish in Massachusetts
Massachusetts inland waters are broadly open to bowfishing for carp and white suckers, but several important restrictions apply to where you can shoot. The most significant location rule comes directly from Massachusetts General Law. No arrows shall be released within one hundred and fifty feet of any state or hard surfaced highway for the purpose of taking such fish. This 150-foot buffer from paved roads applies statewide to bowfishing.
You should also be aware of the 500-foot rule for hunting near dwellings under MGL Chapter 131, Section 58. While bowfishing is legally classified as fishing rather than hunting, some Environmental Police Officers have applied this rule in the field. There is no explicit mention of 500 feet from a dwelling in the bowfishing-specific regulation, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a DFW rule or local bylaw that is stricter. Check local town bylaws before bowfishing near residential areas.
Additionally, the bowfishing statute shall not apply to ponds or waters held under lease from the department. Waters leased by MassWildlife may have separate rules — confirm access and regulations before fishing any leased water body.
| Location Type | Bowfishing Allowed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General inland lakes and ponds | Yes (carp and white sucker only) | Standard freshwater license required |
| Rivers and streams | Yes (carp and white sucker only) | Observe 150-ft road buffer |
| Within 150 ft of a paved road | No | Prohibited by MGL c. 131 |
| MassWildlife-leased waters | Restricted | Bowfishing statute does not apply here |
| Stocked trout waters | Use caution | No specific MA prohibition, but species ID is critical |
| Saltwater / tidal waters | Highly restricted | See saltwater section below |
You can use the MassWildlife Lands Viewer to identify wildlife management areas open to fishing and to check whether specific water bodies have special regulations. Always confirm access rules at the local level, as towns can impose their own ordinances on top of state law. For a broader look at how other states handle location rules, see bowfishing laws in North Carolina and bowfishing laws in Tennessee.
Night Bowfishing Rules in Massachusetts
Night bowfishing is one of the most popular styles of the sport across the country, but Massachusetts does not explicitly address it in the bowfishing-specific regulations. The state’s archery fishing regulation under 321 CMR 4.00 permits taking carp and suckers by archery without specifying a time-of-day restriction, which means there is no outright ban on night bowfishing for those two species in inland waters.
However, a critical restriction applies to artificial lights. Artificial lights for hunting any bird or mammal are prohibited except for raccoon and opossum. While this rule specifically covers hunting, not fishing, it signals the state’s general caution around artificial light use at night. More practically, Massachusetts does not have a published rule expressly permitting lights for bowfishing the way states like Minnesota do.
Before you plan a night bowfishing trip, contact MassWildlife directly at (508) 389-6300 or the Massachusetts Environmental Police at (800) 632-8075 to confirm whether the use of spotlights or boat-mounted lights for locating fish is permissible under current interpretations of the regulation. Local town ordinances may also restrict nighttime activity on certain water bodies.
Important Note: Because Massachusetts does not explicitly authorize artificial lights for bowfishing, and because interpretations can vary by officer, get written or documented guidance from MassWildlife before heading out at night with lighting equipment. This protects you if you are questioned in the field.
If you are drawn to the night bowfishing scene and want to see what a more permissive framework looks like, compare Massachusetts to bowfishing laws in Minnesota, where night bowfishing with lights is explicitly legal for rough fish, or bowfishing laws in Arizona.
Saltwater Bowfishing Rules in Massachusetts
Saltwater bowfishing in Massachusetts is a different regulatory world from freshwater. The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) governs all tidal and marine waters, and the rules under 322 CMR do not contain a specific provision authorizing bowfishing the way the freshwater code does for carp and suckers.
The closest analog in saltwater is spearfishing, which the DMF does address. Spearfishing is the taking of fish by use of a speargun. When spearfishing, you must comply with all recreational fishing regulations regarding size, seasons, and bag limits on the species. You are not allowed to catch striped bass or lobster by spearfishing. Bowfishing with a line-attached arrow is functionally similar to spearfishing, and the same restrictions would logically apply — but Massachusetts does not publish a regulation explicitly permitting or prohibiting bowfishing in saltwater.
Popular spearfishing species in Massachusetts waters include tautog and black sea bass. Whether these could be legally taken by bow-and-arrow with a line attached is not settled in published DMF regulations. Given this ambiguity, contacting the DMF directly at (617) 626-1520 before attempting saltwater bowfishing is strongly advised.
What is clear is the licensing requirement for any saltwater fishing activity. Anyone 16 or older who fishes in Massachusetts saltwater needs a recreational saltwater fishing permit. Most anglers ages 16–59 need a $10 recreational saltwater permit, while anglers age 60 and older can get a free saltwater permit. Your freshwater fishing license does not cover saltwater — the two permits are entirely separate.
- Saltwater bowfishing is not explicitly authorized or prohibited in published DMF regulations
- Spearfishing rules (which prohibit targeting striped bass and lobster) provide the closest regulatory parallel
- A recreational saltwater fishing permit is required for any saltwater fishing activity for anglers age 16 and older
- Contact the DMF at (617) 626-1520 before attempting any saltwater bowfishing to confirm current guidance
- The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries sets species-specific seasons, slot limits, gear restrictions, and handling requirements that change from year to year based on stock assessments. Getting any of these wrong can result in fines starting at $400 per violation.
Massachusetts is one of the more restrictive states for bowfishing overall, and the saltwater situation reflects that broader regulatory posture. Regulations are set annually by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, so rules can change from season to season. Always verify with the official Massachusetts DMF saltwater regulations page before any outing.
For a broader understanding of animal-related laws in Massachusetts, you may also find it useful to review other state-specific regulations such as dog leash laws in Massachusetts, backyard chicken laws in Massachusetts, or beekeeping laws in Massachusetts — each of which reflects how the Commonwealth takes a detailed, regulation-aware approach to animal and wildlife management.