Island Spear Co.

Regulations Vermont

Spearfishing Regulations in Vermont

Checked against the primary source (VTF&W) on July 5, 2026state

Governing agency: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (VTF&W). Last verified July 5, 2026 by independent primary-source check.

Summary

Vermont is a landlocked state with no saltwater, so there is no marine spearfishing; all spearing is in fresh water, chiefly Lake Champlain. Spearing is legal but restricted: statewide you may spear only non-game / 'cull' fish (carp, suckers, bowfin, gar, mullet/redhorse and similar), while game fish such as trout, salmon, bass, walleye, northern pike and panfish generally may NOT be speared. A notable quirk: to take fish by hand-held spear, spear gun or shooting you need a HUNTING or combination license (not a fishing-only license). Spear guns must be used while snorkeling or free diving only - SCUBA is prohibited - and the spear line may not exceed 20 feet.

License

What you need to be legal

LegalA license is required
License
Vermont Hunting License or Combination Hunting/Fishing License (for spear/spear gun/shooting); a Fishing or Combination license is required for bow/crossbow take
Who needs it
Anyone taking fish by hand-held spear, spear gun, or shooting must hold a Vermont hunting or combination license - a fishing-only license does NOT authorize spearing. Taking fish by bow or crossbow (line attached) requires a fishing or combination license, EXCEPT on Lake Champlain between March 25 and May 25, when taking northern pike and pickerel by bow or crossbow requires a hunting or combination license. Children under 15 never need a license. 16
Resident cost
Resident hunting (1-year, ages 18-65) $28.00; resident combination hunting/fishing $47.00; resident youth (17 or under) hunting $8.00 / combination $12.00; resident permanent license (age 66+) one-time $60.00. (Resident fishing-only, if using bow/crossbow off Lake Champlain, is $28.00.) 45
Non-resident cost
Nonresident hunting (1-year) $102.00; nonresident combination hunting/fishing $143.00; nonresident youth (17 or under) hunting $25.00 / combination $30.00. (Nonresident fishing-only, for bow/crossbow off Lake Champlain, is $54.00 annual, or $21 one-day / $23 three-day / $31 seven-day.) 45
Where to buy
Online at vtfishandwildlife.com, at VTF&W district offices and authorized license agents, or by printing and mailing an application to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. 6

Exemptions

  • Children under 15 never need a license to fish (regardless of residency) 6
  • A resident owner of land in Vermont, his or her spouse, and minor children may take fish from a private pond within the boundary of that land without a license during season 6
  • Free Fishing Days (second Saturday in June and last Saturday in January) - no license required for anyone that day 6

The full story

The full story

Vermont is landlocked, so 'spearfishing' here is entirely a freshwater question, and the practical center of it is Lake Champlain. The state treats spearing as a restricted method aimed at rough/cull fish, not a general angling technique. Statewide in lakes and ponds a spear gun (or a bow/crossbow with line attached) may be used only on bowfin, mullet/redhorse, gar, carp, longnose and white suckers, and similar cull fish. The prized game fish - trout, landlocked salmon, bass, walleye, northern pike and panfish - are reserved for rod and reel and may not be speared. In rivers and streams, spearing is not even a listed method of take.

There is one genuinely important exception. On Lake Champlain, from March 25 to May 25, the statute (10 V.S.A. sec 4606(e)) opens a shooting-and-spearing season for pickerel, northern pike, carp, gar, bowfin, mullet, shad, suckers, bullhead and other cull fish - but only in waters other than the designated spawning areas, and with daily limits (chain pickerel 10, northern pike 5, bowfin and mullet no more than 5 of any one species, carp/suckers/bullhead no limit). This spring window is the main opportunity to legally take northern pike or pickerel with a spear in Vermont.

On the license question there is no law-versus-practice gap - the requirement is real and enforced - but it is easy to get wrong. Vermont requires a HUNTING or combination license (not a fishing-only license) to take fish by hand-held spear, spear gun, or shooting. A fishing-only license authorizes bow/crossbow take of the allowed species, but NOT spear or spear-gun use. And during the Lake Champlain spring season, taking northern pike or pickerel by bow or crossbow also bumps you into needing a hunting or combination license. A spearfisher who buys only a fishing license is not properly licensed for a speargun.

Two gear rules are strict and worth repeating: the spear-gun line may not exceed 20 feet, the gun must be loaded and discharged only beneath the surface, and it may be used while snorkeling or free diving only - SCUBA diving is prohibited. Note also that Vermont's statutory 'hand-held spear' is defined as a manually powered spear used from ABOVE the water's surface (i.e., surface/gigging-style), which is a separate legal category from an underwater speargun.

Where it's legal

Saltwater & freshwater

Saltwater

Not permitted

Vermont is landlocked and has no marine or saltwater waters, so saltwater spearfishing does not exist here. All spearfishing occurs in fresh water - primarily Lake Champlain, plus other lakes and ponds - under Vermont Fish & Wildlife rules. 12

Freshwater

Legal

Legal but limited to non-game species. Statewide in lakes and ponds, a spear gun (or bow/crossbow with line attached) may be used only for bowfin, mullet (redhorse), gar, carp, longnose and white suckers, and other 'cull' fish; these methods are not a listed legal method in rivers and streams. Game fish - trout (brook, brown, rainbow, lake), landlocked Atlantic salmon, largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye and panfish - may NOT be speared statewide. The major exception is Lake Champlain: from March 25 to May 25, pickerel, northern pike, carp, gar, bowfin, mullet, shad, suckers, bullhead and other cull fish may be taken by shooting and hand-held spearing in other than designated spawning areas (10 V.S.A. sec 4606(e)). 238

Gear

What you can carry

Speargun
Legal for below-surface use on allowed species. A 'spear gun' is defined as a pneumatic or rubber band-powered device with a line not to exceed 20 feet attached to a spear, used from below the water's surface. Spear guns shall be loaded and discharged only beneath the surface of the water and shall be used while snorkeling / free diving only. 1
Pole spear
Vermont law uses the term 'Hand-Held Spear' = a manually powered spear used from above the water's surface. Note this statutory definition contemplates use from ABOVE the surface (surface/gigging-style), distinct from an underwater speargun. A hunting or combination license is required to take fish by hand-held spear. Classic underwater pole spears are not separately named; the manually powered underwater device would most closely fall under the hand-held spear category and is subject to the same species limits and license. 1
Hawaiian sling
Not named in Vermont regulations. As a manually (rubber) powered spear device it would fall under either 'hand-held spear' (if used from above the surface) or the spear-gun rules (rubber band-powered, used below the surface). It is neither expressly authorized nor prohibited by name; the species limits, 20-foot line rule, snorkel-only/no-SCUBA rule and hunting-license requirement would apply by analogy. 1
Spearfishing on SCUBA
No. SCUBA diving is prohibited for spear-gun use - spear guns shall be used while snorkeling / free diving only. 1

Gear restrictions

  • Spear-gun line may not exceed 20 feet attached to the spear 1
  • Spear guns must be loaded AND discharged only beneath the surface of the water 1
  • Spear guns may be used while snorkeling / free diving only - SCUBA is prohibited 1
  • A hunting or combination license (not a fishing-only license) is required to take fish by hand-held spear, spear gun, or shooting 1
  • Fish taken by hand-held spear, speargun, bow or crossbow must be kept in the taker's possession until permanently removed from the waters of the state and used or disposed of properly 1

Do not spear

Prohibited species

  • Trout - brook, brown, rainbow, and lake trout - may NOT be taken by spear gun, bow, or crossbow 2
  • Landlocked Atlantic salmon may NOT be speared 2
  • Largemouth and smallmouth bass may NOT be speared 2
  • Walleye may NOT be speared 2
  • Panfish (e.g., yellow perch, sunfish/bluegill, crappie) may NOT be speared 2
  • Northern pike and chain pickerel may NOT be speared statewide; on Lake Champlain they may be taken ONLY during March 25-May 25, in non-spawning areas, by shooting and hand-held spearing (and by bow or crossbow with line attached, which during that window requires a HUNTING or combination license). There is no year-round spear-gun/spearing season for pike or pickerel - Table 2 lists only open-water and ice fishing for them outside the spring window 2389
  • Any species in designated spawning areas during the closed period, and in rivers/streams where spearing is not a listed legal method 38

Where you can't

Area restrictions

  • Rivers and streams: spear/spear-gun/bow methods are not listed as a legal method of take for any species in flowing waters - these methods are for lakes/ponds and Lake Champlain 2
  • Lake Champlain shooting and hand-held spearing (March 25-May 25) is allowed only in waters OTHER than the spawning areas designated under 10 V.S.A. sec 4140 8
  • Hatchery Cove, Grand Isle (Lake Champlain): a 2,000 sq ft area directly in front of Hatchery Brook is closed to all fishing October 1 - November 30 3
  • Individual state parks, wildlife management areas and municipal waters may impose additional local restrictions; verify site-specific rules

Worth knowing

Notable rules, seasons & limits

  • Vermont has no saltwater; all spearing is freshwater, centered on Lake Champlain 12
  • Counterintuitive license rule: taking fish by hand-held spear, spear gun, or shooting requires a HUNTING or combination license - a fishing-only license is NOT sufficient 1
  • SCUBA is prohibited for spear guns; snorkeling / free diving only 1
  • Spear-gun line is capped at 20 feet, and the gun must be loaded and fired only beneath the surface 1
  • The statutory 'hand-held spear' is defined as used from ABOVE the water's surface (surface/gigging-style), which is a different category from an underwater speargun 1
  • Lake Champlain has a dedicated March 25-May 25 shooting-and-spearing season for cull fish and (uniquely) for northern pike and pickerel, in non-spawning areas, with daily limits (pickerel 10, northern pike 5, bowfin/mullet max 5 of any one species) 38
  • Fish taken by these methods must stay in the taker's possession until permanently removed from state waters and used/disposed of properly (no waste dumping) 1

What divers here typically use

Gear up for Vermont spearfishing

Where spearfishing is allowed in Vermont, 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 by an unlawful method or without the required hunting/combination license, or taking prohibited (game) species by spear, violates Title 10 of the Vermont Statutes and the Fish & Wildlife Regulations, and is enforceable by the VTF&W with fines, possible license suspension, and forfeiture. Exact dollar fine amounts are set by statute (Title 10) and were not enumerated on the VTF&W pages consulted.

Not yet independently confirmed — verify directly

  • Exact penalty/fine dollar amounts for spearing without the required license or for spearing a prohibited game species (set in Title 10 of the Vermont Statutes; not enumerated on the VTF&W pages consulted).
  • SOURCING NOTE (content is verified, only the direct .gov fetch failed): legislature.vermont.gov again returned TLS certificate errors on 2026-07-05, so 10 V.S.A. App. sec 107 (spear/spear gun definitions, license requirement) and 10 V.S.A. sec 4606(e) (Lake Champlain shooting/spearing) could not be fetched from the primary .gov page. Their exact text was independently confirmed via the Justia statutory mirror (2024 sec 107; sec 4606) and VTF&W's official eRegulations reproduction (s1)(s3)(s9), which agree.
  • Whether 'shad' remains a currently harvestable spear/shooting target on Lake Champlain in practice: shad appears in the sec 4606(e) statutory list (s8) but was not separately itemized in the current eRegulations Table 2 species list (s3); verify with VTF&W before targeting shad.
  • The precise legal treatment of an underwater hand-propelled pole spear: Vermont's statute defines 'hand-held spear' as used from ABOVE the surface, and 'spear gun' as rubber/pneumatic used below the surface, leaving a manually-powered underwater pole spear not explicitly categorized; confirm with VTF&W.

Confirm these points directly with Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (VTF&W) 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.

  4. Source 4: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department - Fishing: License Fees (resident/nonresident fishing and combination fees)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://www.eregulations.com/vermont/fishing/license-fees

  7. Source 7: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department - Fishing Regulations (agency landing page)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://vtfishandwildlife.com/fish/fishing-regulations

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is spearfishing legal in Vermont?
Saltwater spearfishing is restricted in Vermont, and it is permitted in fresh water, subject to license, gear, species, and area rules. Vermont is landlocked and has no marine or saltwater waters, so saltwater spearfishing does not exist here. All spearfishing occurs in fresh water - primarily Lake Champlain, plus…
Do you need a license to spearfish in Vermont?
Yes. Vermont requires the Vermont Hunting License or Combination Hunting/Fishing License (for spear/spear gun/shooting); a Fishing or Combination license is required for bow/crossbow take. Resident cost: Resident hunting (1-year, ages 18-65) $28.00; resident combination hunting/fishing $47.00; resident youth (17 or under) hunting $8.00 / combination $12.00; resident permanent license (age 66+) one-time $60.00. (Resident fishing-only, if using bow/crossbow off Lake Champlain, is $28.00.) Non-resident cost: Nonresident hunting (1-year) $102.00; nonresident combination hunting/fishing $143.00; nonresident youth (17 or under) hunting $25.00 / combination $30.00. (Nonresident fishing-only, for bow/crossbow off Lake Champlain, is $54.00 annual, or $21 one-day / $23 three-day / $31 seven-day.)
Can you spearfish on scuba in Vermont?
No. SCUBA diving is prohibited for spear-gun use - spear guns shall be used while snorkeling / free diving only.
What can't you spear in Vermont?
Protected or no-take species you may not spear in Vermont include: Trout, Landlocked Atlantic salmon may NOT be speared, Largemouth and smallmouth bass may NOT be speared, Walleye may NOT be speared, Panfish, Northern pike and chain pickerel may NOT be speared statewide; on Lake Champlain they may be taken ONLY during March 25-May 25, in non-spawning areas, by shooting and hand-held spearing, Any species in designated spawning areas during the closed period, and in rivers/streams where spearing is not a listed legal method. Always check the full prohibited-species list and current seasons before diving, and confirm with Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (VTF&W).

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Last verified July 5, 2026. Regulations change — always confirm the current rules with Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (VTF&W) before you dive.

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