Arizona may be landlocked and best known for its desert landscapes, but the state holds a surprising number of lakes, rivers, and reservoirs that attract anglers of every kind — including spearfishers. What many people do not realize is that spearfishing in Arizona is legal, but only under a narrow and carefully defined set of conditions.
Before you strap on a mask and grab a spear gun, you need to understand exactly which species you can target, which waters allow it, what gear is permitted, and what happens if you get it wrong. This guide walks you through every layer of Arizona’s spearfishing rules so you can fish confidently and legally.
Is Spearfishing Legal in Arizona
Yes, spearfishing is legal in Arizona — but it is not a free-for-all. The state takes a species-specific and water-specific approach, meaning the activity is only lawful when you are targeting approved species in designated waters during daylight hours.
Under Arizona law, fish may be taken only by angling unless otherwise provided by the commission. Spearfishing falls under the “otherwise provided” category, and the Arizona Game and Fish Commission has carved out explicit exceptions that allow it for certain non-game and invasive species, as well as for striped bass in specific bodies of water.
Striped bass may be taken by spear or spear gun in waters designated by Commission Order, and catfish may be taken by bow and arrow or crossbow in waters designated by Commission Order. Outside of those designated permissions, spearfishing game fish is not allowed. The key takeaway: if the regulations do not explicitly permit spearfishing for a species in a given water, you should assume it is prohibited.
Key Insight: Arizona has no saltwater coastline, so all spearfishing in the state takes place in freshwater. There are no ocean or tidal rules to navigate — only the Arizona Game and Fish Commission’s freshwater regulations apply.
Freshwater vs. Saltwater Spearfishing Rules in Arizona
Because Arizona is an entirely landlocked state, there is no saltwater spearfishing to speak of within state borders. Every lake, river, reservoir, and pond in Arizona is a freshwater body, which means all spearfishing activity falls exclusively under the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s freshwater regulations.
This actually simplifies things compared to coastal states, where anglers must juggle both state freshwater rules and separate marine fisheries regulations. In Arizona, for specific laws and regulations relating to fishing, see Arizona Revised Statute, Title 17 Laws, and Arizona Game and Fish Commission Rules.
The most important thing to understand about Arizona’s freshwater spearfishing framework is that it is built around species eligibility rather than a general open-water policy. You cannot simply pick any lake and spear any fish you see. Each permitted species has its own set of approved waters, and those waters are defined by Commission Order. If you fish near the Colorado River border with Nevada, note that special-use stamps, including the Colorado River Stamp for California, are no longer required or available, and a valid Arizona fishing license or combination hunt/fish license is all that is required to fish on those waters.
Pro Tip: Always check the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s interactive special regulations map at azgfd.gov before heading out. Water-specific rules can change between regulation cycles, and what was legal last season may have been updated.
License and Permit Requirements for Spearfishing in Arizona
Spearfishing in Arizona does not require a special spearfishing-specific permit. However, you are still required to hold a valid fishing license before you enter the water with a spear gun or pole spear.
A valid Arizona fishing license is required for Arizona resident and non-resident anglers 10 years of age or older fishing any publicly accessible water in Arizona. Youth under the age of 10 and blind residents do not need to purchase a state fishing license to fish in Arizona.
When it comes to license types and pricing, Arizona offers several license types, including General Fishing, Combination Hunt and Fish, Youth Combination, and Short-Term Combination. As of the 2025–2026 regulations booklet, published prices include General Fishing at $37 for residents and $55 for nonresidents, a Combination license at $57 for residents and $160 for nonresidents, and a Youth Combination license at $5 for ages 10–17.
Hunting and fishing licenses are available for purchase online, at all Arizona Game and Fish Department offices, and at license dealers statewide. All licenses are valid 365 days from the date of purchase. This rolling 365-day validity means your license does not expire at the end of a calendar year — it runs from the date you buy it.
| License Type | Resident Fee | Non-Resident Fee | Who It Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fishing | $37 | $55 | Anglers 10 and older |
| Combination Hunt & Fish | $57 | $160 | Anglers and hunters 10 and older |
| Youth Combination | $5 | $5 | Ages 10–17 |
| Short-Term (per day) | $15/day | $20/day | Visitors or occasional anglers |
If you plan to fish tribal waters or boundary sections of the Colorado River, additional considerations or separate permits may apply, making it essential to confirm jurisdiction-specific rules before fishing to remain compliant and avoid penalties. Tribal nations in Arizona operate under their own sovereign authority and may require separate tribal fishing permits regardless of your state license.
For more on how Arizona manages animal and wildlife-related laws, see our guide to wildlife removal laws in Arizona for additional context on state jurisdiction.
Legal Species and Prohibited Species for Spearfishing in Arizona
This is the section that trips up most would-be spearfishers in Arizona. The list of species you can legally target with a spear is short and specific. Targeting the wrong fish — even accidentally — can result in serious penalties.
Legal species for spearfishing in Arizona include:
- Carp (Cyprinus carpio) — legal for spearfishing at designated waters such as Lake Powell during daylight hours
- Striped bass — legal by spear or spear gun in Commission Order-designated waters
- Buffalofish, mullet, tilapia, goldfish, and shad — permitted by alternative take methods in designated areas
At Lake Powell, for example, carp may be taken by spearfishing and bow and arrow during daylight hours, and striped bass may also be taken by spearfishing during daylight hours. These are among the clearest explicit permissions in the current 2025–2026 regulations.
Under Arizona Admin Code R12-4-313, carp, buffalofish, mullet, tilapia, goldfish, and shad are listed as species that may be taken by alternative methods, which include spearing in designated areas. These species are largely considered non-game or invasive fish, which is why the state permits more aggressive take methods for them.
Prohibited species for spearfishing include all game fish not explicitly permitted by Commission Order, such as:
- Trout (rainbow, brown, brook, Apache)
- Largemouth and smallmouth bass (except where Commission Order allows other methods)
- Walleye
- Catfish (not permitted by spear — only by bow and arrow or crossbow in designated waters)
- Crappie and sunfish
- Channel catfish and flathead catfish
Important Note: Native Arizona fish such as the Gila trout, roundtail chub, and spikedace are fully protected under both state and federal law. Targeting or harming any of these species — by any method, including spearing — can result in felony-level charges.
Arizona law protects endangered and threatened species under ARS § 17-303. Violations involving the taking, harming, or destruction of protected species or their habitats can result in criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
Gear Restrictions for Spearfishing in Arizona
Arizona’s regulations address gear in terms of what is specifically authorized, rather than providing a broad list of prohibited equipment. Understanding the distinction matters because using an unauthorized device — even if it is not explicitly banned — can still constitute an illegal method of take.
Striped bass may be taken by spear or spear gun in waters designated by Commission Order. This language explicitly authorizes both hand-held pole spears and rubber-band or pneumatic spear guns for striped bass. The same authorization covers carp at permitted waters like Lake Powell.
A hybrid device is lawful for the take of aquatic wildlife provided all components of the device are authorized for the take of that species under this subsection. In practical terms, this means a spear gun rigged with an authorized spear tip is legal where spearing is permitted, but attaching unauthorized components could void that legality.
Key gear rules to know:
- Spear guns and pole spears are permitted for authorized species in designated waters
- Scuba gear is not addressed as a separate prohibition in Arizona’s freshwater rules, but spearfishing must occur during daylight hours
- Explosive-propelled devices, poisons, and electrical devices are strictly prohibited for taking any fish
- No spearing is allowed within 200 yards of a designated swimming area
- No spearing is allowed within 200 yards of any boat dock or fishing pier (except snagging)
A person shall not use alternative take methods within 200 yards of a designated swimming area as indicated by posted signs or notices, and except for snagging, shall not use those methods within 200 yards of any boat dock or fishing pier.
Underwater lights and night-diving equipment present an additional consideration. A person may take wildlife, except aquatic wildlife, only during daylight hours unless otherwise prescribed by the commission, and shall not take any species of wildlife by the aid or with the use of a jacklight, other artificial light, or illegal device, except as provided by the commission. Since spearfishing must occur during daylight hours under current regulations, using underwater lights for spearfishing purposes at night would not be lawful.
Off-Limits Areas and No-Spearfishing Zones in Arizona
Even where spearfishing is generally permitted for a given species, certain waters and zones carry additional restrictions or outright closures. You need to check both the statewide rules and the site-specific special regulations before fishing any body of water.
The general statewide regulations are open statewide from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026, but before you fish any body of water, you must review both the General Statewide Regulations and the Special Regulations for the area you intend to fish. Anglers are responsible for knowing what regulations apply to the body of water they are fishing.
Categories of off-limits or restricted areas include:
- Catch-and-release-only waters — Waters like Aker Lake, Oak Creek West Fork, and Middle Tank are restricted to catch-and-release for trout; spearing fish that must be immediately released is a contradiction in terms and not permitted
- Fly-and-lure-only waters — Many trout streams in Arizona are restricted to artificial fly and lure only, which excludes spearing as a method
- Hatchery areas — Sections of Silver Creek within Arizona Game and Fish Commission-owned property that are designated as state fish hatchery are excluded from general fishing access
- Closed streams for native species protection — KP Creek in Greenlee County is closed to angling to protect Gila trout, and spearfishing there would be equally prohibited
- Tribal waters — Waters on tribal lands operate under tribal jurisdiction and may have entirely separate rules or outright prohibitions on spearfishing
- National Park waters — Waters within National Park boundaries, including portions of the Grand Canyon, are subject to National Park Service rules, which generally prohibit spearfishing
Common Mistake: Assuming that because spearfishing is legal at Lake Powell for carp and striped bass, it is also legal at other Arizona lakes for the same species. Each water body must be individually verified against the current Commission Order designations.
Statewide regulations include all state and federal refuges, parks and monuments, but open areas do not include any area closed to hunting, fishing, or trapping under A.R.S. sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission rules R12-4-321, R12-4-801, R12-4-802, and R12-4-803. State wildlife management areas and refuges may carry their own additional restrictions beyond the general statewide rules.
Arizona’s broader animal and property laws also intersect with access rights. If you are considering fishing near private land boundaries, review how Arizona handles property access disputes to understand your rights and responsibilities near private land adjacent to public waters.
Bag Limits and Size Limits for Spearfishing in Arizona
Bag limits and size limits that apply to rod-and-reel anglers apply equally to spearfishers. There is no separate or more lenient limit structure for spearfishing — you are held to the same daily and possession limits as every other angler on the water.
Most fishing waters in Arizona do not have length limits. You should check the Special Regulation waters, including Designated Community Fishing Program waters, to determine if length limits apply to species found in the water you wish to fish.
For the specific waters where spearfishing is most commonly practiced, here are the relevant limits under the 2025–2026 regulations:
| Water Body | Species | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit | Size Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Powell | Carp | Unlimited | Unlimited | None |
| Lake Powell | Striped bass | Unlimited | Unlimited | None stated |
| Lake Powell | Smallmouth bass | 20 | 40 | Check special regs |
| Lake Powell | Largemouth bass | 5 | 10 | Check special regs |
| Statewide | Tilapia (designated areas) | Unlimited | Unlimited | None |
At Lake Powell, the limit is 20 for smallmouth bass and 5 for largemouth bass, unlimited for striped bass, unlimited for walleye, and the limit is 10 crappie. Note that while striped bass are unlimited at Lake Powell, smallmouth and largemouth bass are not — and those species are not authorized for spearfishing anyway, reinforcing the importance of species identification before you shoot.
For each water listed in the special regulations, the possession limit is two times the daily bag limit, unless a different possession limit is specified. This standard 2:1 possession-to-bag ratio applies across most Arizona waters.
One critical rule that applies to all methods of take, including spearfishing: anglers may transport up to a possession limit of any fish species as long as they are not alive. It is illegal to transport live fish, including in live wells or other containers. Since spearfished fish are typically killed immediately, this rule is generally easy to comply with, but it is worth noting if you are also rod fishing on the same trip.
Pro Tip: Carp and tilapia are among the most spear-friendly species in Arizona because they carry no bag or size limits in most permitted areas. If you are new to Arizona spearfishing, targeting these invasive species is the most legally straightforward starting point.
Penalties for Spearfishing Violations in Arizona
Spearfishing outside the rules in Arizona is not treated as a minor infraction. The state’s wildlife laws carry a tiered penalty structure that can escalate quickly from fines to criminal charges depending on what you did and which species were involved.
Criminal penalties under ARS Title 17:
Unless a different or other penalty or punishment is specifically prescribed, a person who violates any provision of this title, or who violates or fails to comply with a lawful order or rule of the commission, is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor. In Arizona, a class 2 misdemeanor carries up to four months in jail and fines up to $750.
The penalties for unlawfully taking or possessing wildlife can range from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the specific circumstances, the value of the wildlife involved, and any previous convictions. Penalties may include fines, imprisonment, probation, community service, and forfeiture of hunting or fishing equipment.
Civil penalties under ARS § 17-314:
Under state law (A.R.S. 17-314) anyone who is found to have unlawfully wounded or killed, or unlawfully possessed any of the following wildlife may be subject to civil action by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The civil damages may reach as much as $8,000 per incident.
These fines are deposited into the Wildlife Theft Prevention Fund, also known as “Operation Game Thief,” to support investigations and public awareness campaigns against poaching.
Protected species violations:
Under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 17, wildlife offenses can carry severe criminal penalties, including jail time, fines, license revocation, and even federal prosecution. If a spearfisher targets a protected native fish such as the Gila trout or Apache trout, the case can escalate to federal wildlife crime territory under statutes like the Lacey Act.
License revocation and suspension:
ARS § 17-314 establishes civil penalties for unlawfully taking, possessing, or transporting wildlife. It also allows the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to revoke licenses and permits. A revoked license means you cannot fish, hunt, or trap anywhere in Arizona for the duration of the revocation — and under the Wildlife Violator Compact, that revocation can be honored by other participating states as well.
| Violation Type | Potential Penalty | Governing Statute |
|---|---|---|
| General fishing regulation violation | Class 2 misdemeanor; up to $750 fine | ARS § 17-309 |
| Unlawful take of wildlife (civil) | Up to $8,000 per incident | ARS § 17-314 |
| Taking protected/endangered species | Criminal penalties, potential felony | ARS § 17-303 |
| Fishing without a license | Class 2 misdemeanor | ARS § 17-331 |
| Exceeding bag or possession limits | Class 2 misdemeanor; license revocation possible | ARS § 17-309 |
If you witness a spearfishing violation or any other wildlife crime, you can help ensure responsible and ethical fishing by reporting violations immediately to the Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-352-0700.
Arizona takes its wildlife laws seriously across the board. If you want to understand how the state regulates other animal-related activities, our guides on roadkill laws in Arizona and backyard pig laws in Arizona offer useful context on how the state balances public access with wildlife protection. You can also explore United States laws on exotic pets for a broader look at how states manage non-standard animal ownership and take regulations.
The bottom line on spearfishing in Arizona: it is a legal and rewarding activity when done correctly. Stick to authorized species, fish only in Commission Order-designated waters, carry your valid fishing license, respect the daylight-only rule, and stay clear of protected zones. The regulations are specific, but they are not complicated once you know what to look for. When in doubt, contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department directly at (602) 942-3000 before your trip — it takes five minutes and can save you from a costly mistake on the water.