Spearfishing Regulations in Arkansas

License

Arkansas fishing license (Resident Fisheries Conservation License, or a nonresident fishing license)

Who needs it

Every person 16 years of age or older must possess an appropriate Arkansas fishing license to fish in any manner, including spearfishing, gigging, and bowfishing (AGFC Code 03.02). Persons under 16 do not need a license.

Resident cost

Resident Fisheries Conservation License (FSH) $10.50; Resident 3-Day Trip Fishing License $6.50; Combination Sportsman's License (hunting + fishing) $35.50. Add a Resident Trout Permit ($10.00) to keep trout or fish designated trout waters. 3

Non-resident cost

Nonresident Annual Fishing License (NRF) $60.00; Nonresident 3-Day Trip (NT3) $30.00; Nonresident 1-Day (NT1) $15.00. Add a Nonresident Trout Permit ($20.00) for trout. 3

Where to buy

Online through the AGFC licensing system (agfc.com/licensing), by phone, or in person from licensed agents (many bait, tackle, and sporting-goods retailers) and AGFC regional offices and nature centers. 3

Speargun

Expressly regulated and permitted for taking both game and rough fish in the listed waters/season (Code 28.01). Note the code specifically uses the word 'speargun,' and it is unlawful to even POSSESS a speargun in public waters other than the ~20 listed spearfishing waters (Code 28.01D). 2

Pole spear

Not separately named in the AGFC code. The game-fish spearfishing rule (28.01) is written in terms of 'spearguns'; a pole spear or hand-thrown spear is not listed among the legal methods for taking game fish, so game fish should be taken only by speargun in the listed waters. Rough fish may broadly be taken by spear/gig/bow. Confirm intended gear with AGFC before use. 2

Hawaiian sling

Not named anywhere in the AGFC code. Treat as not expressly authorized for game fish (game-fish spearfishing is written for 'spearguns'); verify directly with AGFC. 2

Spearfishing on SCUBA

The code does not prohibit SCUBA and clearly contemplates diving: the diver's-flag rule (Code 28.02) requires a 'standard diver's flag' flown from the boat or flotation device and prohibits spearfishing more than 300 feet from the flag. No explicit statement authorizes or bans SCUBA specifically, so this rests on the absence of any prohibition plus the diver-flag framing. 2

• Black bass (largemouth, spotted, smallmouth) may NOT be taken by speargun in Beaver, Bull Shoals, Norfork, and Table Rock lakes (Code 28.01B) 2
• Smallmouth bass may NOT be taken by speargun on Lake Ouachita - this restriction appears on AGFC's Alternative Fishing Methods guidance page but is not enumerated in Code 28.01, so confirm with AGFC 1
• Flathead catfish may NOT be taken by speargun March 15-July 15 (Code 28.01C) 2
• All game fish are off-limits to GIGGING and to SNAGGING (except narrow paddlefish/catfish snagging exceptions) - game fish (e.g., black/white/striped bass, crappie, sunfish/bream, walleye, catfish, trout, paddlefish, alligator gar) may only be speared under the Code 28.00 speargun rules, not gigged or snagged (Codes 26.16, 26.17) 2
• Any game fish taken anywhere or anytime outside the Code 28.01 speargun windows (wrong lake, wrong season, over the half-limit) is unlawful 2

• Speargun possession and use for game fish is limited to ~20 named lakes plus Arkansas River lock-and-dam impoundments; spearguns may not be possessed in other public waters (Code 28.01) 2
• Spearfishing must stay within 300 feet of the displayed diver's flag (Code 28.02) 2
• Fishing (including by these methods) is restricted within 100 yards below dams and certain hydroelectric outlet channels (Code 26.07) 2
• Buffalo National River (NPS-administered): only hook-and-line fishing is allowed river-wide; gigging, bowfishing, and snagging are permitted, but spearfishing (spearguns) is NOT - confirmed against the primary NPS Buffalo National River fishing page 5

• Arkansas is one of the few inland states that expressly permits taking GAME fish with a speargun - but only in the ~20 designated reservoirs and only in season (Code 28.01)
• Only half the daily game-fish limit may be taken while spearfishing 1
• Diver's flag is mandatory and you must stay within 300 feet of it (Code 28.02) 2
• You cannot clean speared fish on the water where they were taken (Code 28.03) 2
• Rough fish may also be taken by gig or bow and arrow; catfish may be taken by bow noon July 15-noon May 1 (half the daily limit); alligator gar has special tag/season rules (Code 26.06) 2
• Game fish definition (Code 01.00-C) includes alligator gar, largemouth/spotted/smallmouth bass, bluegill and other sunfish, Ozark/rock/shadow bass, white and striped bass, black and white crappie, blue/channel/flathead catfish, trout, walleye, sauger, paddlefish, and shovelnose sturgeon 2

Spearfishing, gigging, and related fishing-method violations (Codes 28.01-28.03, 26.06, 26.16, 26.17) are Class 1 offenses. A Class 1 offense carries a fine of $100 to $1,000 and a jail sentence of 0 to 30 days; the court may add community service and suspend or revoke hunting/fishing privileges and licenses, and the Commission may assign violation points and administratively suspend privileges. Repeat offenses face enhanced penalties (a 2nd offense is penalized as Class 2, etc.). 2

Every fact above is drawn from these official sources. Each was retrieved on the date shown; regulations can change after that date.

1. [1]
   Source 1: AGFC - Alternative Fishing Methods (spearfishing, gigging, bowfishing, snagging rules)

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.agfc.com/education/alternative-fishing-methods/

2. [2]
   Source 2: AGFC Code of Regulations (codebook PDF, effective July 1, 2025) - Sec. 28.00 Spearfishing, Sec. 26.06/26.16/26.17 bow/gig/snag, Sec. 03.02 license, Sec. 01.00-C definitions, Sec. 01.00-I penalties

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://agfc-omnibus.s3.amazonaws.com/eregs/regulation_pdfs/small/agfc_regulations_codebook_small.pdf

3. [3]
   Source 3: AGFC - Fishing License Descriptions and Fees

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.agfc.com/resources/licensing/fishing-license-descriptions-and-fees/

4. [4]
   Source 4: AGFC - General Fishing Regulations (landing / code links)

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.agfc.com/regulations/general-fishing-regulations/

5. [5]
   Source 5: National Park Service - Buffalo National River, Fishing (methods of take)

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/fishing.htm

Is spearfishing legal in Arkansas?

Saltwater spearfishing is restricted in Arkansas, and it is permitted in fresh water, subject to license, gear, species, and area rules. Arkansas is a landlocked state with no ocean coastline and no marine (saltwater) waters, so there is no saltwater spearfishing. All Arkansas spearfishing occurs in fresh water and…

Do you need a license to spearfish in Arkansas?

Yes. Arkansas requires the Arkansas fishing license (Resident Fisheries Conservation License, or a nonresident fishing license). Resident cost: Resident Fisheries Conservation License (FSH) $10.50; Resident 3-Day Trip Fishing License $6.50; Combination Sportsman's License (hunting + fishing) $35.50. Add a Resident Trout Permit ($10.00) to keep trout or fish designated trout waters. Non-resident cost: Nonresident Annual Fishing License (NRF) $60.00; Nonresident 3-Day Trip (NT3) $30.00; Nonresident 1-Day (NT1) $15.00. Add a Nonresident Trout Permit ($20.00) for trout.

Can you spearfish on scuba in Arkansas?

The code does not prohibit SCUBA and clearly contemplates diving: the diver's-flag rule (Code 28.02) requires a 'standard diver's flag' flown from the boat or flotation device and prohibits spearfishing more than 300 feet from the flag. No explicit statement authorizes or bans…

What can't you spear in Arkansas?

Protected or no-take species you may not spear in Arkansas include: Black bass, Smallmouth bass may NOT be taken by speargun on Lake Ouachita, Flathead catfish may NOT be taken by speargun March 15-July 15, All game fish are off-limits to GIGGING and to SNAGGING, Any game fish taken anywhere or anytime outside the Code 28.01 speargun windows. Always check the full prohibited-species list and current seasons before diving, and confirm with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC).