Spearfishing Regulations in Nevada

License

Nevada Fishing License

Who needs it

Any resident 12 years of age or older who fishes in Nevada must have a valid fishing license; the same fishing-license rules apply to anyone taking fish by spear or by bow and arrow. 12

Resident cost

Resident Annual Fishing License $40; Resident Youth Combination (ages 12-17) $15; Resident Senior Combination (65+) $15; Resident 1-day permit $9 plus $3 each additional consecutive day. 2

Non-resident cost

Nonresident Annual Fishing License $80; Nonresident Youth Combination (ages 12-17) $15; Nonresident 1-day permit $18 plus $7 each additional consecutive day; Interstate Boundary Water License $30 (nonresidents fishing only the reciprocal boundary waters: Colorado River, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, Lake Tahoe and Topaz Lake). 2

Where to buy

Online through NDOW's licensing portal (nevada.licensing.app / ndow.org 'Apply & Buy'), at NDOW offices, and from license agents statewide. 23

Speargun

A mechanical spearing device (e.g., a speargun) may be used only under the surface of the water, and the spear must be attached to the device by a lanyard. Spearfishing is permitted for unprotected fish in all waters except Lake Tahoe and Topaz Lake. 1

Pole spear

Not separately named in NDOW regulations. A hand-propelled pole spear falls under the general spearfishing rules (unprotected fish only; use under the surface; diver's flag within 100 feet). The 'mechanical spearing device...lanyard' language is written for mechanical/powered devices; whether a lanyard applies to a simple pole spear is not spelled out. 1

Hawaiian sling

Not named in Nevada regulations. As a hand-powered underwater spearing device it would fall under the general spearfishing rules (unprotected fish only, used under the surface, diver's flag within 100 feet). Not expressly authorized or prohibited by name. 1

Spearfishing on SCUBA

NDOW's fishing regulations do not expressly address or prohibit SCUBA for spearfishing; they require that a mechanical spearing device be used only under the surface of the water and that a diver's flag be displayed within 100 feet. Individual land managers (e.g., Lake Mead National Recreation Area / National Park Service, state parks) may impose their own diving rules. 1

• Game fish generally may not be speared - only unprotected (nongame) fish may be taken by spear; this includes trout, salmon, whitefish, black bass (largemouth/smallmouth), catfish, crappie, walleye and sunfish 1
• Striped bass may NOT be speared in the portion of Lake Mohave from Cottonwood Cove to Davis Dam, nor from Davis Dam downriver to the Nevada state line (it may be speared only from Cottonwood Cove up to the cable below Hoover Dam) 1
• Protected fish and amphibians (species listed in NAC 503.065 and 503.075) have no open season and may not be taken by any method 1
• Any fish in Lake Tahoe or Topaz Lake may not be taken by spear (spearfishing is prohibited in both waters) 1

• Spearfishing is prohibited entirely in Lake Tahoe and Topaz Lake 1
• In Lakes Mead and Mohave and the Colorado River system, spearfishing is prohibited within 1/2 mile of any dock or swimming area 1
• Striped-bass spearing in Lakes Mead/Mohave is limited to the reach from Cottonwood Cove to the cable below Hoover Dam 1
• A diver's flag must be displayed within 100 feet of the spearfisher 1
• Federal and state land managers (e.g., Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada State Parks) may impose additional diving or access rules on specific waters

• Nevada has no saltwater; all spearfishing is freshwater only
• Spearing is limited to unprotected (nongame) fish - game fish are generally off-limits to spear, with striped bass in defined Lake Mead/Mohave waters the key exception 1
• Lake Tahoe and Topaz Lake are completely closed to spearfishing 1
• The spear must be lanyard-attached to any mechanical spearing device, which may only be discharged under the surface of the water 1
• A fishing license is required to take fish by spear or bow and arrow, just as for hook-and-line angling 12
• The 1/2-mile-from-docks/swimming-areas standoff applies specifically in Lakes Mead and Mohave and the Colorado River system 1

Fishing by any method (including spearing) without a valid license, taking a protected or game species by an unlawful method, or spearing in a closed water (Lake Tahoe, Topaz Lake, or within 1/2 mile of a dock/swimming area on the Colorado River system) is a violation of Nevada wildlife law (NRS Chapter 501-504 and NAC Chapter 503). Violations are generally misdemeanors punishable by fines, and can carry license/privilege suspension and civil penalties for unlawfully killed wildlife. Specific dollar amounts are set by statute and were not enumerated on the NDOW pages consulted.

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: Nevada Department of Wildlife - General Statewide Fishing Regulations (official NDOW contracted digital regulations, eRegulations): spearfishing methods, unprotected/game/protected fish, striped bass, diver's flag, lanyard, closed waters

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

2. [2]
   Source 2: Nevada Department of Wildlife - Fishing Licenses, Permits & Fees (official NDOW contracted digital regulations, eRegulations): 2026-2027 license costs and the age-12 license requirement

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.eregulations.com/nevada/fishing/licenses-permits-fees

3. [3]
   Source 3: Nevada Department of Wildlife - Rules & Regulations hub (official agency page; links to statewide/regional regulations and license purchase)

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.ndow.org/rules-regulations/

4. [4]
   Source 4: Nevada Department of Wildlife - 2026 Nevada Fishing regulations guide (full official PDF; independently extracted via pdftotext for verification): confirms spearfishing/unprotected-fish prose, striped-bass reaches, diver's-flag/lanyard/under-surface gear rules, the 'any resident 12 years of age or older who fishes' license requirement, and the NAC 503.060 coldwater/warmwater game-fish lists

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/resources/NV/26NVFW-LR.pdf

Is spearfishing legal in Nevada?

Saltwater spearfishing is restricted in Nevada, and it is permitted in fresh water, subject to license, gear, species, and area rules. Nevada is landlocked and has no marine or saltwater waters, so saltwater spearfishing does not exist here. All spearfishing occurs in fresh water (reservoirs, lakes and the…

Do you need a license to spearfish in Nevada?

Yes. Nevada requires the Nevada Fishing License. Resident cost: Resident Annual Fishing License $40; Resident Youth Combination (ages 12-17) $15; Resident Senior Combination (65+) $15; Resident 1-day permit $9 plus $3 each additional consecutive day. Non-resident cost: Nonresident Annual Fishing License $80; Nonresident Youth Combination (ages 12-17) $15; Nonresident 1-day permit $18 plus $7 each additional consecutive day; Interstate Boundary Water License $30 (nonresidents fishing only the reciprocal boundary waters: Colorado River, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, Lake Tahoe and Topaz Lake).

Can you spearfish on scuba in Nevada?

NDOW's fishing regulations do not expressly address or prohibit SCUBA for spearfishing; they require that a mechanical spearing device be used only under the surface of the water and that a diver's flag be displayed within 100 feet. Individual land managers (e.g., Lake Mead…

What can't you spear in Nevada?

Protected or no-take species you may not spear in Nevada include: Game fish generally may not be speared, Striped bass may NOT be speared in the portion of Lake Mohave from Cottonwood Cove to Davis Dam, nor from Davis Dam downriver to the Nevada state line, Protected fish and amphibians, Any fish in Lake Tahoe or Topaz Lake may not be taken by spear. Always check the full prohibited-species list and current seasons before diving, and confirm with Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW).