Spearfishing Regulations in Utah

License

Utah Fishing License or Combination License

Who needs it

Any person who takes fish by underwater spearfishing must possess a valid Utah fishing or combination license, and is subject to all of Utah's fishing rules, regulations, daily limits and licensing requirements just like an angler using any other method. A license is required beginning at age 12. 13

Resident cost

Resident 365-day fishing license: ages 18-64 $40; ages 65+ $31; ages 14-17 $16; ages 12-13 $5; disabled veterans (20%+ service-connected) $12. Resident short-term: 3-day $19, 7-day $30. 3

Non-resident cost

Nonresident 365-day fishing license: ages 18+ $120; ages 14-17 $44; ages 12-13 $18. Nonresident short-term (all ages): 3-day $44, 7-day $91. 3

Where to buy

Online at wildlife.utah.gov, at DWR offices, and from authorized license agents statewide; also by phone through a local DWR office (a transaction fee applies to phone purchases). 23

Speargun

Permitted for underwater spearfishing. Utah defines 'underwater spearfishing' as fishing while swimming, snorkeling or SCUBA diving using a hand-held mechanical device that uses a rubber band, spring, pneumatic power or other device to propel a pointed shaft to take fish under the surface - this covers band, pneumatic and spring-powered spearguns. 1

Pole spear

A rubber-band/spring-powered pole spear used under the surface falls within the 'mechanical device...to propel a pointed shaft' definition of underwater spearfishing and is permitted at open waters. Note a separate above-surface 'spear' is defined as a hand-held pointed instrument used to take fish from above the surface; whether a hand-thrust pole spear is treated as that above-surface 'spear' or as an underwater 'mechanical device' is not spelled out. 1

Hawaiian sling

Not named by that term, but a Hawaiian sling is a hand-held device that uses a rubber band to propel a shaft under the surface, which matches Utah's definition of the mechanical device used in underwater spearfishing; it is permitted at waters open to spearfishing. 1

Spearfishing on SCUBA

Yes - SCUBA is expressly allowed. Utah's definition of underwater spearfishing specifically includes a person 'swimming, snorkeling, or SCUBA diving.' 1

• Prohibited species (as classified by the DWR) may not be taken by spearfishing at any water 1
• Game fish generally may NOT be speared except at the specific waters listed in the Fishing Guidebook as open to game-fish spearfishing; at all other waters only nongame fish (and carp/Utah chub) may be speared 1
• Largemouth and smallmouth bass may not be POSSESSED while spearfishing from April 1 through June 27, 2026 (the fourth Saturday in June) at the designated reservoirs (Deer Creek, East Canyon, Echo, Flaming Gorge, Lake Powell, Pineview, Recapture, Red Fleet, Rockport, Starvation and Steinaker) 5
• At Fish Lake (Sevier County) spearfishing for all species is closed September 10 through the first Saturday in June; it is open only from 6 a.m. the first Saturday in June to official sunset Sept. 9 5

• Spearfishing is legal ONLY at the roughly 40 specific waters listed in the Utah Fishing Guidebook - it is prohibited at any water not on that list 1
• Blue Lake (Tooele County) is open to spearfishing for tilapia and pacu only 1
• Utah Lake (Utah County) is open to spearfishing for northern pike and white bass ONLY; both are 'No limit' species statewide. Certain Utah Lake tributaries west of I-15 (American Fork Creek, Beer Creek, Dry Creek, Hobble Creek, Spanish Fork River, Spring Creek, Spring Creek Run) also allow spearfishing for white bass and northern pike only. The Provo River and Provo River Delta remain closed to spearfishing 5
• Jordan River (Salt Lake and Utah counties) is open to spearfishing for northern pike only 5
• At Flaming Gorge underwater spearfishing for burbot and lake trout is allowed year-round, 24 hours a day, with artificial light permitted for those two species only, and shooting lines limited to 20 feet 5
• At Lake Powell, archery and underwater spearfishing are prohibited within one-quarter mile of any developed area or structure, within one-quarter mile of Rainbow Bridge National Monument and Dangling Rope Marina, and within 100 yards (300 feet) of any boat the diver does not own/occupy 5
• Common carp and Utah chub may be speared at all waters open to fishing EXCEPT the Provo River and Provo River Delta 5
• Per-water seasons and bass closures vary and are reset annually by the Wildlife Board; always confirm the specific water in the current Fishing Guidebook before diving 45

• Utah has no saltwater; all spearfishing is freshwater only
• Spearfishing is allowed only at a defined list of ~40 waters, not statewide 1
• SCUBA and snorkeling are expressly permitted methods for underwater spearfishing 1
• Free shafting is banned - the shaft must stay attached to the device 1
• Underwater spearfishing is now allowed 24 hours a day where open (formerly sunrise-to-sunset) 1
• Artificial light is illegal while underwater spearfishing except for common carp/Utah chub anywhere spearfishing is allowed and burbot/lake trout at Flaming Gorge 15
• A valid Utah fishing or combination license is required, and all angling seasons, daily limits and rules apply to spearfishers 135
• Common carp and Utah chub may be speared at all waters open to fishing during open seasons, except the Provo River and Provo River Delta 5
• Recent Wildlife Board changes: Utah chub opened at all waters that allow fishing, and northern pike/white bass (both 'No limit') opened at Utah Lake 15

Spearfishing without a valid fishing/combination license, taking a prohibited or game species by an unlawful method or at a closed water, free shafting, or using artificial light where not allowed are violations of Utah's fishing rules under Utah Administrative Code R657-13 and Title 23 of the Utah Code. Fishing violations are generally class B or class C misdemeanors punishable by fines and possible jail, and can carry license suspension and civil restitution for unlawfully taken wildlife. Specific dollar amounts are set by statute/court and were not enumerated on the DWR 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: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources - Fishing Methods / Underwater Spearfishing (official DWR contracted digital Fishing Guidebook, eRegulations): definitions of spear vs underwater spearfishing, license requirement, allowable/prohibited species, free shafting ban, artificial-light rules, 24-hour rule, SCUBA/snorkel, and designated waters

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.eregulations.com/utah/fishing/fishing-methods

2. [2]
   Source 2: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources - General Fishing Regulations (official DWR digital Fishing Guidebook, eRegulations): general rules, spearfishing hours/light notes, Free Fishing Day, license purchase

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

3. [3]
   Source 3: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources - Fees: licenses, permits & miscellaneous (official agency page): current 2026 resident and nonresident fishing license fees and age tiers

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://wildlife.utah.gov/fees

4. [4]
   Source 4: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources - Guidebooks hub (official agency page linking to the current Utah Fishing Guidebook PDF, which is the Wildlife Board's authoritative summary of fishing/spearfishing rules and per-water listings)

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks

5. [5]
   Source 5: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources - 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook (authoritative PDF, downloaded direct from DWR and extracted via pdftotext): pages 19-20 Underwater spearfishing (Utah Admin. Rule R657-13-9) with definitions, license requirement, free-shafting ban, 24-hour rule, artificial-light exceptions, designated game-fish waters, carp/Utah chub statewide-except-Provo rule, seasonal bass-possession closure (April 1-June 27, 2026), Fish Lake/Utah Lake/Flaming Gorge/Lake Powell water-specific rules; plus Definitions (Spear vs Spearfishing underwater), license-age rules, statewide daily-limits table, and Free Fishing Day (June 6, 2026)

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks/fishing_guidebook.pdf

Is spearfishing legal in Utah?

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

Do you need a license to spearfish in Utah?

Yes. Utah requires the Utah Fishing License or Combination License. Resident cost: Resident 365-day fishing license: ages 18-64 $40; ages 65+ $31; ages 14-17 $16; ages 12-13 $5; disabled veterans (20%+ service-connected) $12. Resident short-term: 3-day $19, 7-day $30. Non-resident cost: Nonresident 365-day fishing license: ages 18+ $120; ages 14-17 $44; ages 12-13 $18. Nonresident short-term (all ages): 3-day $44, 7-day $91.

Can you spearfish on scuba in Utah?

Yes - SCUBA is expressly allowed. Utah's definition of underwater spearfishing specifically includes a person 'swimming, snorkeling, or SCUBA diving.'

What can't you spear in Utah?

Protected or no-take species you may not spear in Utah include: Prohibited species, Game fish generally may NOT be speared except at the specific waters listed in the Fishing Guidebook as open to game-fish spearfishing; at all other waters only nongame fish, Largemouth and smallmouth bass may not be POSSESSED while spearfishing from April 1 through June 27, 2026, At Fish Lake. Always check the full prohibited-species list and current seasons before diving, and confirm with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR).