Island Spear Co.

Regulations Nebraska

Spearfishing Regulations in Nebraska

Checked against the primary source (NGPC) on July 5, 2026state

Governing agency: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC). Last verified July 5, 2026 by independent primary-source check.

Summary

Nebraska is a landlocked state with no saltwater, so there is no marine spearfishing. In fresh water, Nebraska is unusually permissive: it explicitly allows underwater spearguns to take GAME FISH (bass, walleye, catfish, etc.) in a defined list of about 18 named reservoirs and lakes during a July 1-Dec. 31 season, plus nongame fish year-round statewide in listed waters. Anyone age 16 or older needs a Nebraska fishing permit. Surface spearing is limited to hand spears and may NOT take game fish, spears on powered guns must be tethered to a shooting line no longer than 20 feet, a dive flag is required, and underwater spearfishing is banned within 100 yards of swimming areas, docks, ramps and spillways.

License

What you need to be legal

LegalA license is required
License
Nebraska Fishing Permit (Aquatic Habitat Stamp included in most permits)
Who needs it
Anyone age 16 or older must have a valid Nebraska fishing permit to take, or attempt to take, sportfish, bullfrogs, snapping turtles, barred salamanders or mussels from any Nebraska water by any legal method, including spearfishing, underwater speargun and bowfishing. 36
Resident cost
Resident Annual fish $38; 1-day $10; 3-day $31; 3-year $90.50; 5-year $132; Lifetime $616-$710 by age band. (Combination Resident Fish/Hunt Annual $52.) An average ~14% resident fee increase was approved for 2026 - the in-effect 2026 resident annual may be about $41; confirm current price with NGPC. 35
Non-resident cost
Nonresident Annual fish $84; 1-day $14.50; 3-day $37; 3-year $216.50; 5-year $326; Lifetime $929-$1,306 by age band. 3
Where to buy
Online through the NGPC permit portal at outdoornebraska.gov, at NGPC offices, and from licensed permit vendors statewide. 3

Exemptions

  • Anglers under age 16 (15 and younger) do not need a fishing permit 6
  • Reduced/qualifying permits exist for resident seniors, disabled veterans, and deployed military (e.g., veteran/senior and deployed-military permits at $5), and the Aquatic Habitat Stamp is waived on certain permits (paddlefish, veteran fish/hunt, senior fish/hunt, disabled) 3

The full story

The full story

Nebraska stands out among landlocked states. Most inland states confine spearing, gigging and bowfishing to nongame/rough fish and reserve game fish for rod and reel. Nebraska instead runs a genuine underwater game-fish spearfishing program: with a valid fishing permit, a diver may take game fish by underwater speargun in a defined list of about 18 large reservoirs and lakes - Lake McConaughy, Lake Ogallala, Lake Minatare, Box Butte, Lewis and Clark Lake, Harlan County, Enders, Elwood, Red Willow, Medicine Creek, Sutherland, Maloney, Jeffrey, Johnson, Sherman, Swanson, Merritt and Calamus, plus private lakes with permission. The game-fish season runs July 1 through Dec. 31 (sunrise to sunset), except Box Butte Reservoir and private waters, which open June 1. Game-fish size, bag and possession limits are identical to hook-and-line. Nongame fish, by contrast, may be speared year-round in listed waters with no size, bag or possession limits.

The method matters. Nebraska distinguishes SURFACE spearing from UNDERWATER spearing. On the surface, only hand spears are legal, and game fish may NOT be taken with surface spears - so surface spearing is effectively a nongame method. Underwater, the lawful arsenal is broader: hand spears, rubber band-powered spear guns, compressed air spear guns and spring-loaded spear guns, and only the underwater speargun path can take game fish (in the listed waters and season). Spears on powered guns must be tethered to a shooting line no more than 20 feet long. A dive flag is mandatory (12-inch square, red with a white diagonal stripe), the diver must stay within 150 feet of it, and underwater spearfishing is banned within 100 yards of any designated swimming or water-ski-jump area, boat dock, boat ramp or spillway.

On the license question there is no law-vs-practice gap: Nebraska genuinely issues and enforces a fishing permit, required for anyone age 16 or older to take sportfish (and bullfrogs, snapping turtles, barred salamanders or mussels) by any method, including spearfishing and bowfishing. A gear-naming caveat: NGPC regulation names 'hand spears' and the three powered speargun types but does not use the terms 'pole spear' or 'Hawaiian sling' verbatim. A pole spear is functionally a hand spear (lawful), and a Hawaiian sling is a rubber-band-powered spear (the named lawful powered category), so both appear covered - but the exact device names are inferred, not quoted, and a cautious diver should confirm with NGPC.

Where it's legal

Saltwater & freshwater

Saltwater

Not permitted

Nebraska is landlocked and has no marine or saltwater coastline, so saltwater spearfishing does not exist here. All spearfishing occurs in fresh water (reservoirs, lakes, and rivers) under Nebraska Game and Parks Commission rules.

Freshwater

Legal

Spearfishing is legal and, unusually, includes game fish by underwater speargun. UNDERWATER: lawful spear types are hand spears, rubber band-powered spear guns, compressed air spear guns and spring-loaded spear guns; spears on powered guns must be attached to a shooting line no more than 20 feet long. GAME FISH may be taken by underwater speargun only in a defined list of named waters and only July 1-Dec. 31 (sunrise to sunset), except Box Butte Reservoir and private waters where it starts June 1; game-fish size, bag and possession limits are the same as hook-and-line. NONGAME fish may be speared year-round (sunrise to sunset) in listed waters with no size, bag or possession limits. SURFACE spearfishing allows only hand spears, and game fish may NOT be taken with surface spears. A dive flag is required and underwater spearfishing is prohibited within 100 yards of designated swimming/water-ski-jump areas, boat docks, boat ramps and spillways. 12

Gear

What you can carry

Speargun
Legal underwater. Lawful powered types are rubber band-powered spear guns, compressed air spear guns and spring-loaded spear guns; the spear must be attached to a shooting line no more than 20 feet long. Underwater spearguns may take game fish only in the listed waters during the July 1-Dec. 31 season (Box Butte/private from June 1), and nongame fish year-round in listed waters. 2
Pole spear
Not named verbatim, but a hand-propelled pole spear is functionally a 'hand spear,' which is expressly lawful both as a surface spear and underwater. Note: as a surface spear it may take nongame fish only - game fish may NOT be taken with surface spears. 2
Hawaiian sling
Not named verbatim. A Hawaiian sling is a rubber-band-powered spear, and 'rubber band-powered spear guns' are expressly lawful underwater (with the 20-foot shooting-line tether). Treated as inferred from the named powered-speargun category rather than a verbatim listing; confirm with NGPC if in doubt. 2
Spearfishing on SCUBA
Underwater spearfishing (which implies free-diving or SCUBA) is expressly permitted subject to the dive-flag rule; NGPC regulation does not single out SCUBA separately in the material reviewed. A dive flag must be displayed and the diver/spearfisher must stay within 150 feet of it. Confirm any water-specific diving restrictions with NGPC and the local area manager. 2

Gear restrictions

  • Spears used on powered spear guns must be attached to a shooting line no more than 20 feet long 2
  • A dive flag must be displayed on a float/buoy: at least 12 inches square, red background with a white diagonal stripe one-fifth the flag width; the diver/underwater spearfisher must remain within 150 feet of the flag 2
  • Underwater spearfishing is prohibited within 100 yards of any designated swimming or water-ski-jump area, boat dock, boat ramp or spillway 2
  • Surface spearing allows only hand spears, and game fish may NOT be taken with surface spears 2
  • Bowfishing: only hand-drawn longbows (including compound bows) and shoulder-fired crossbows are legal; arrows may have only one barbed point and must be attached by a line to the bow; crossbows are prohibited from Gavins Point Dam downstream to the U.S. Hwy. 81 bridge 1

Do not spear

Prohibited species

  • Game fish may NOT be taken with surface spears (surface spearing is limited to nongame fish) 2
  • Game fish may NOT be speared (by any method) outside the listed spearing waters or outside the July 1-Dec. 31 game-fish season (Box Butte Reservoir and private waters from June 1) 2
  • Paddlefish may be taken only by snagging in the Missouri River under the paddlefish-snagging season and limits - not by spear or bow 4
  • Pallid sturgeon and other state/federally threatened or endangered species may not be taken by any method (confirm current listed species with NGPC)

Where you can't

Area restrictions

  • Underwater spearfishing is prohibited within 100 yards of any designated swimming or water-ski-jump area, boat dock, boat ramp or spillway 2
  • Game-fish spearing is allowed only in the named waters: Lake McConaughy, Lake Ogallala, Lake Minatare, Box Butte Reservoir, Lewis and Clark Lake, Harlan County Reservoir, Enders Reservoir, Elwood Reservoir, Red Willow Reservoir, Medicine Creek Reservoir, Sutherland Reservoir, Maloney Reservoir, Jeffrey Reservoir, Johnson Reservoir, Sherman Reservoir, Swanson Reservoir, Merritt Reservoir, Calamus Reservoir, and private lakes with owner permission 2
  • Spearing/bowfishing is closed in Platte River State Park, Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, and other park areas as posted 2
  • Bowfishing: waters within city limits are generally NOT open to bowfishing; permission is required to bow fish on any private waters 1
  • Crossbow bowfishing is prohibited from Gavins Point Dam downstream to the U.S. Hwy. 81 bridge 1

Worth knowing

Notable rules, seasons & limits

  • Nebraska is landlocked - all spearfishing is freshwater only
  • Unusual for a landlocked state: underwater spearguns MAY take game fish, but only in about 18 listed reservoirs/lakes and only July 1-Dec. 31 (Box Butte and private waters from June 1) 2
  • Surface spears may take nongame fish only; game fish may NOT be taken with surface spears 2
  • Nongame fish may be speared year-round in listed waters with no size, bag or possession limits; game-fish limits equal hook-and-line limits 2
  • Spears on powered spearguns must be tethered to a shooting line no more than 20 feet long 2
  • A dive flag (12-in square, red with white diagonal stripe) is mandatory and you must stay within 150 feet of it 2
  • A Nebraska fishing permit is required for anyone 16+ to take sportfish/bullfrogs/turtles/mussels by any method, including spearing and bowfishing 36

What divers here typically use

Gear up for Nebraska spearfishing

Where spearfishing is allowed in Nebraska, 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

Taking fish without a required permit, taking game fish by an unlawful method (e.g., surface spear or spearing outside the listed waters/season), or violating gear, area or dive-flag rules is a violation of Nebraska game-and-parks law (Neb. Rev. Stat. Chapter 37) and NGPC regulations, punishable by fines, court costs, possible permit revocation and equipment forfeiture. Specific fine schedules are set by statute and the courts and were not enumerated on the NGPC pages reviewed.

Not yet independently confirmed — verify directly

  • Exact in-effect 2026 resident annual fishing permit price - eRegulations shows $38 while the NGPC 2026 fee-increase release indicates a ~14% resident increase (roughly $41); the precise current figure should be confirmed on NGPC's permit-pricing page.
  • Verbatim regulatory status of the terms 'pole spear' and 'Hawaiian sling' - NGPC names 'hand spears' and the three powered speargun types but not these device names; their legality is inferred (pole spear = hand spear; Hawaiian sling = rubber-band-powered spear), not quoted.
  • Whether SCUBA (vs breath-hold free-diving) carries any additional NGPC or water-specific restriction beyond the dive-flag rule - not separately addressed in the material reviewed.
  • The complete verbatim list of nongame-only spearing waters/WMAs - the eRegulations spearfishing page (s2) does carry this list and partial names were retrieved on re-fetch (e.g., Union Pacific SRA, War Axe SRA, Dogwood WMA, Cozad WMA, Cheyenne SRA), but the full official roster with county assignments was not captured in machine-readable form and should be confirmed on the NGPC/eRegulations spearfishing page before relying on any specific water.
  • Exact statutory penalty/fine dollar amounts (set by Neb. Rev. Stat. Chapter 37 and the courts; not enumerated on the pages reviewed).

Confirm these points directly with Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) 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: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission - Bowfishing Regulations (bowfishing gear, crossbow reach limits, city-limit and private-water rules, surface-spear note)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://outdoornebraska.gov/guides-maps/fishing-guides-reports/bowfishing-regulations/

  5. Source 5: NGPC news release - Commissioners approve increase to 2026 hunt/fish permit fees (~14% resident increase)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://outdoornebraska.gov/about/press-events/news/commissioners-approve-increase-to-hunt-fish-permit-fees/

  6. Source 6: NGPC - Fishing Permits (age 16+ requirement; species/activities requiring a permit)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://outdoornebraska.gov/permits/fishing-permits/

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is spearfishing legal in Nebraska?
Saltwater spearfishing is restricted in Nebraska, and it is permitted in fresh water, subject to license, gear, species, and area rules. Nebraska is landlocked and has no marine or saltwater coastline, so saltwater spearfishing does not exist here. All spearfishing occurs in fresh water (reservoirs, lakes, and…
Do you need a license to spearfish in Nebraska?
Yes. Nebraska requires the Nebraska Fishing Permit (Aquatic Habitat Stamp included in most permits). Resident cost: Resident Annual fish $38; 1-day $10; 3-day $31; 3-year $90.50; 5-year $132; Lifetime $616-$710 by age band. (Combination Resident Fish/Hunt Annual $52.) An average ~14% resident fee increase was approved for 2026 - the in-effect 2026 resident annual may be about $41; confirm current price with NGPC. Non-resident cost: Nonresident Annual fish $84; 1-day $14.50; 3-day $37; 3-year $216.50; 5-year $326; Lifetime $929-$1,306 by age band.
Can you spearfish on scuba in Nebraska?
Underwater spearfishing (which implies free-diving or SCUBA) is expressly permitted subject to the dive-flag rule; NGPC regulation does not single out SCUBA separately in the material reviewed. A dive flag must be displayed and the diver/spearfisher must stay within 150 feet of…
What can't you spear in Nebraska?
Protected or no-take species you may not spear in Nebraska include: Game fish may NOT be taken with surface spears, Game fish may NOT be speared, Paddlefish may be taken only by snagging in the Missouri River under the paddlefish-snagging season and limits, Pallid sturgeon and other state/federally threatened or endangered species may not be taken by any method. Always check the full prohibited-species list and current seasons before diving, and confirm with Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC).

Stay current

Get an email when Nebraska's size & bag limits change

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

No spam. Regulations updates, gear data drops, and the launch of the guide.

Last verified July 5, 2026. Regulations change — always confirm the current rules with Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) before you dive.

← All regulations