Island Spear Co.

Regulations District of Columbia

Spearfishing Regulations in District of Columbia

Checked against the primary source (DOEE) on July 5, 2026district

Governing agency: District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), Fisheries & Wildlife Division. Last verified July 5, 2026 by independent primary-source check.

Summary

Spearfishing is effectively illegal in the District of Columbia. Under 19 DCMR 1502.2, a person may fish 'only with rod, hook, and line,' and 19 DCMR 1503.1(h) makes it unlawful to take fish by any method not specified in the chapter. Spears, spearguns, pole spears, Hawaiian slings, gigs, and bow-and-arrow are not permitted methods, so no fish may lawfully be speared anywhere in DC. DC has no ocean coastline (its waters are the tidal-fresh Potomac and Anacostia rivers and Rock Creek), and a DC angling license authorizes only rod-and-line fishing — there is no spearfishing license.

License

What you need to be legal

Not permittedNo license specifically required
License
D.C. Fishing License (angling license) — does NOT authorize spearfishing
Who needs it
A DC angling license is genuinely required to fish AT ALL in District waters: 19 DCMR 1501.1 requires any person fishing in DC waters (including Rock Creek Park, and even when fishing from the Virginia shoreline or National Park lands) to possess a valid license, and 1501.3 requires it be displayed on demand 3. BUT that license authorizes only rod, hook, and line (19 DCMR 1502.2). It does not and cannot authorize spearfishing — spearfishing is a prohibited method in DC regardless of licensure — so from a spearfisher's standpoint there is no license to obtain (s2, s3). The 'required: false' flag reflects that no license makes spearfishing legal in DC.
Resident cost
$10.00 per year (DC resident angling license) per DOEE 4. Note: the older codified schedule at 19 DCMR 1505 still lists $7.00 resident; DOEE's current published fee is $10.00.
Non-resident cost
$13.00 per year (non-resident angling license) per DOEE 4. The 14-day/short-term license was discontinued as of January 2022 4. The codified 19 DCMR 1505 still lists an outdated $10 non-resident / $5 two-week schedule.
Where to buy
Online only through DOEE (doee.dc.gov/service/get-fishing-license) — DC no longer sells licenses over the counter, and the 14-day license was discontinued in January 2022 4.

Exemptions

  • Persons under sixteen (16) years of age (19 DCMR 1501.2(a)) 3
  • Persons sixty-five (65) years of age or older (19 DCMR 1501.2(b); DOEE license page states '65 or older') (s3, s4)
  • No license is required during National Fishing Week (19 DCMR 1501.7) 3
  • NOTE: none of these exemptions authorize spearfishing — they exempt eligible anglers from needing a license to fish by rod and line only.

The full story

The full story

The District of Columbia is one of the clearest 'no-spearfishing' jurisdictions in the country, and it flows from a single, tightly written rule. Under 19 DCMR 1502.2, 'a person shall fish only with rod, hook, and line,' and the chapter then makes it unlawful under 19 DCMR 1503.1(h) to 'take fish except as specified in this chapter.' The only methods the chapter adds to rod-and-line are limited dip nets for baitfish, up to five eel traps, and snagging of four specific herring/shad/menhaden species. Spears, spearguns, pole spears, Hawaiian slings, gigs, and bows appear nowhere on that list — so spearfishing is prohibited everywhere in the District, in every water, for every species. There is no freshwater carve-out for rough or invasive fish the way many states allow gigging or bowfishing of carp and gar; even snakehead, which DOEE wants killed on sight, must be taken by lawful angling, not speared.

On the law-vs-practice question, the honest answer is that the license issue is moot for a spearo. DC's angling license is a real, actively enforced credential — it is sold online through DOEE, must be displayed to conservation officers on request, and fishing without it draws a $50 fine (19 DCMR 1501, s3, s5). But that license only ever authorizes rod-and-line fishing. No DC license, permit, or exemption authorizes spearfishing, because the method itself is illegal. So a visiting diver should not go looking for a 'DC spearfishing license' — none exists, and the activity cannot be made lawful. We flag this rather than bury it: the license 'required: false' in this record means specifically that no license legalizes spearfishing in DC, not that DC is license-free for ordinary anglers.

Finally, geography closes the door on the usual saltwater exception. DC has no ocean coastline. Its fishable waters — the tidal Potomac, the Anacostia, Rock Creek, and a few ponds — are fresh or tidal-fresh, so there is no marine fishery to which more permissive coastal spearfishing rules might apply. Layered on top of the DCMR ban, large stretches of DC shoreline are National Park Service land (Rock Creek Park, the National Mall tidal basin, the C&O Canal), where NPS regulations independently prohibit spearfishing and weapons. The practical bottom line: leave the speargun at home in the District.

Where it's legal

Saltwater & freshwater

Saltwater

Not permitted

The District of Columbia has no marine/ocean coastline and no saltwater fishery. Its fishable waters are the tidal-fresh Potomac River, the Anacostia River, Rock Creek, and smaller ponds — all fresh or tidal-fresh, not marine. There is therefore no saltwater spearfishing in DC (and spearfishing is prohibited in any DC water regardless) (s2, s5).

Freshwater

Not permitted

Rod-and-line freshwater fishing is legal and popular in DC's rivers and Rock Creek, but SPEARING of fish is not permitted in any DC freshwater. 19 DCMR 1502.2 limits fishing to 'rod, hook, and line,' and 1503.1(h) makes it unlawful to 'Take fish except as specified in this chapter' 2. No spear, speargun, pole spear, Hawaiian sling, gig, or bow method is listed as permitted, so freshwater spearfishing/gigging/bowfishing is prohibited throughout the District. (Even for the invasive northern snakehead, DOEE's guidance is to kill any snakehead caught by angling and not return it to the water — it does not authorize spearing or bowfishing to take it) (s2, s5).

Gear

What you can carry

Speargun
Prohibited. Spearguns are not among the permitted methods in 19 DCMR 1502; taking fish by any unspecified method is unlawful under 19 DCMR 1503.1(h) 2.
Pole spear
Prohibited. Pole spears are not a permitted method under 19 DCMR 1502.2 (rod, hook, and line only); taking fish by any unspecified method is unlawful (1503.1(h)) 2.
Hawaiian sling
Prohibited. Hawaiian slings are not a permitted method under 19 DCMR 1502; all take must be by the methods specified in the chapter (1503.1(h)) 2.
Spearfishing on SCUBA
Moot / not applicable. Because spearfishing is illegal in DC regardless of how one is submerged, SCUBA or free-diving to spear fish is not a lawful activity here. DOEE does not address SCUBA spearfishing because there is no legal spearfishery to regulate 2.

Gear restrictions

  • Only rod, hook, and line is permitted (max 3 lines, max 2 hooks per line); artificial lures/plugs with multiple or gang hooks count as one unit — 19 DCMR 1502.2 2.
  • Dip nets are prohibited except for capturing baitfish (gizzard shad, blueback herring, alewife) and landing angled fish; max 24 inches diameter / 9 square feet, and banned entirely in Rock Creek Park — 19 DCMR 1502.3 2.
  • Seine nets and cast nets are prohibited — 19 DCMR 1502.4 2.
  • Snagging is prohibited except for blueback herring, alewife, gizzard shad, and menhaden — 19 DCMR 1502.5 2.
  • Taking, killing, or injuring fish by explosives, chemicals, firearms, or electricity is unlawful — 19 DCMR 1503.1(f) 2.
  • Commercial fishing is prohibited — 19 DCMR 1502.1 2.

Do not spear

Prohibited species

  • ALL species — no fish of any kind may be taken by spear/speargun/pole spear/Hawaiian sling/gig/bow in the District of Columbia, because spearfishing is not a permitted method (19 DCMR 1502.2, 1503.1(h)) 2.
  • Beyond the blanket spearfishing ban, the following may not be taken by ANY method (including rod and line) unless a special season is posted by DOEE: Sturgeon (all species), Striped Bass and hybrid striped bass (also separately barred under 1503.1(i)), American Shad, Hickory Shad, Chain Pickerel, and Northern Pike — 19 DCMR 1503.1(g), (i) 2.
  • Any species listed by the U.S. Department of the Interior as endangered or threatened must be returned to the water immediately and may not be harmed — 19 DCMR 1503.1(e) 2.

Where you can't

Area restrictions

  • Rock Creek Park: nets of any kind are prohibited for catching fish, and digging for bait is prohibited (19 DCMR 1503.2, 1503.3); dip nets are banned there under any circumstances (1502.3) 2.
  • The DC license requirement and fishing rules apply to all fishable District waters — including when fishing from the Virginia shoreline or from National Park lands within DC (19 DCMR 1501.1) 3.
  • Much of DC's waterfront falls within National Park Service jurisdiction (e.g., Rock Creek Park, the C&O Canal, National Mall waters); NPS units carry their own prohibitions on spearfishing and weapons in addition to the DCMR ban (see unverified).

Worth knowing

Notable rules, seasons & limits

  • DC bans spearfishing outright: the only permitted fishing method is rod, hook, and line (19 DCMR 1502.2), and taking fish by any method not specified in the chapter is unlawful (1503.1(h)) 2.
  • There is no marine/saltwater fishery in DC — the District has no ocean coast; its waters are the tidal-fresh Potomac and Anacostia rivers and Rock Creek (s2, s5).
  • A DC angling license is required to fish at all (residents 16-64; non-residents), sold ONLINE ONLY, but it authorizes only rod-and-line fishing — there is no spearfishing license (s3, s4).
  • Striped bass / hybrid striped bass, sturgeon, American and hickory shad, chain pickerel, and northern pike are off-limits to all anglers unless a special season is posted (19 DCMR 1503.1(g), (i)) 2.
  • If you catch a northern snakehead, DOEE directs you not to return it to the water — kill it — but this does not authorize any spearing or bowfishing method to take one 5.
  • Fishing without displaying a valid license carries a $50 fine (19 DCMR 1501.1, 1501.3) 5.

What divers here typically use

Gear up for District of Columbia spearfishing

Where spearfishing is allowed in District of Columbia, this is the core kit divers assemble before their first day in the water. Our honest guide to the Beginner Spearfishing Gear List walks through what to look for — curated from published specs and community consensus, not paid placement.

If you break them

Penalties

Fishing without a valid, displayed license is subject to a $50 fine (19 DCMR 1501.1, 1501.3) 5. Using a prohibited method — which includes any form of spearfishing — is 'taking fish except as specified in this chapter,' unlawful under 19 DCMR 1503.1(h), and taking fish by firearms/explosives/chemicals/electricity is separately barred under 1503.1(f); DOEE conservation officers have search-and-inspection authority (19 DCMR 1507) and licenses may be revoked (19 DCMR 1508) (s2, s3). Because DC's fish-and-wildlife rules sit in the Municipal Regulations, violations are enforced as civil/criminal infractions of the DCMR; the exact per-offense fine schedule for an illegal-method violation was not isolated to a single primary citation (see unverified).

Not yet independently confirmed — verify directly

  • The specific National Park Service prohibition on spearfishing/weapons within DC's NPS-administered waters (Rock Creek Park, C&O Canal, National Mall tidal waters) was not pulled from an NPS primary-source page this session; it is stated on the widely established basis that NPS units generally ban spearfishing and prohibit weapons, but the exact DC-unit regulation was not quoted.
  • The exact monetary/criminal penalty for an illegal-method (spearfishing) violation beyond the $50 no-license fine was not isolated to a single primary citation; DC fish-and-wildlife rules are enforced as DCMR infractions with license revocation available under 19 DCMR 1508, but the fine amount for a method violation specifically was not confirmed.
  • The codified fee schedule in 19 DCMR 1505 ($7 resident / $10 non-resident / $5 two-week) is outdated relative to DOEE's currently published fees ($10 / $13, 14-day discontinued); the current figures are taken from DOEE's live license page (s4), and the regulation text has simply not been amended to match.

Confirm these points directly with District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), Fisheries & Wildlife Division before you rely on them.

Primary sources

Sources

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

  1. Source 1: DC DOEE — Fisheries & Wildlife Division (agency home; managing authority and contact)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://doee.dc.gov/service/fisheries-and-wildlife

  3. Source 3: 19 DCMR Chapter 15 §§ 1501, 1505 — Licensing Requirements, exemptions (under 16; over 65; National Fishing Week), and codified fee schedule

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://doh.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/publication/attachments/Fish%20and%20Wildlife.pdf

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is spearfishing legal in District of Columbia?
Saltwater spearfishing is restricted in District of Columbia, but it is not permitted in fresh water, subject to license, gear, species, and area rules. The District of Columbia has no marine/ocean coastline and no saltwater fishery. Its fishable waters are the tidal-fresh Potomac River, the Anacostia River, Rock Creek, and…
Do you need a license to spearfish in District of Columbia?
No license is specifically required to spearfish in District of Columbia, but other rules still apply. A DC angling license is genuinely required to fish AT ALL in District waters: 19 DCMR 1501.1 requires any person fishing in DC waters (including Rock Creek Park, and even when fishing from the Virginia shoreline or National Park lands) to possess a valid license, and 1501.3 requires it be displayed on demand. BUT that license authorizes only rod, hook, and line (19 DCMR 1502.2). It does not and cannot authorize spearfishing — spearfishing is a prohibited method in DC regardless of licensure — so from a spearfisher's standpoint there is no license to obtain (s2, s3). The 'required: false' flag reflects that no license makes spearfishing legal in DC.
Can you spearfish on scuba in District of Columbia?
Moot / not applicable. Because spearfishing is illegal in DC regardless of how one is submerged, SCUBA or free-diving to spear fish is not a lawful activity here. DOEE does not address SCUBA spearfishing because there is no legal spearfishery to regulate.
What can't you spear in District of Columbia?
Protected or no-take species you may not spear in District of Columbia include: ALL species — no fish of any kind may be taken by spear/speargun/pole spear/Hawaiian sling/gig/bow in the District of Columbia, because spearfishing is not a permitted method, Beyond the blanket spearfishing ban, the following may not be taken by ANY method, Any species listed by the U.S. Department of the Interior as endangered or threatened must be returned to the water immediately and may not be harmed — 19 DCMR 1503.1(e). Always check the full prohibited-species list and current seasons before diving, and confirm with District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), Fisheries & Wildlife Division.

Stay current

Get an email when District of Columbia's size & bag limits change

Regulations shift between seasons. We re-check District of Columbia's rules against the primary source and send a short note when the limits, seasons, or licensing move — nothing else.

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Last verified July 5, 2026. Regulations change — always confirm the current rules with District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), Fisheries & Wildlife Division before you dive.

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