Fish Regulations, Rules, Species, Etc. Information - State By State

JasonsPlecosCichlids

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Jan 23, 2010
3,589
1,574
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Kentucky
jasonsplecoscichlids.com
This is one of my favorite sections on MFK, Native Fish. What is making me start to hate it is when someone makes a post about native fish, the MFK DNR folks feel the need to tell them this and that, in almost every new post, it gets very old, very fast. So here are the rules and regulations for each and every state that I could find so we can clean up some of the useless posts and have more helpful posts in this section. It’s ultimately up to the member/OP to abide by the rules, not other MFK members.

Please note that the rules and regulations can change at any time so please check with your state website periodically. Should you not find your answer on your states DNR website, you should contact them for your definite answer, not necessarily a member from MFK that may be talking of the top of their head. Even though your answer may be embedded somewhere on their site already, it could be hard to find. When I can’t find my answer, I email or call my State DNR.

I will be posting several links per state depending on how they have their information spread out. One page may have the size limits, creel limits while another page may list a possession limits, legal and illegal to poses, etc.

I do realize some sites have what is allowed, not allowed, prohibited species, etc. But since that can be changed at any time without notice its best to have a direct link to the site itself rather than worrying about updating outdated information.

If anything needs to be added please do so and make sure to post a live link to the source so we have 100% confirmation otherwise it will not be used.

Don’t assume just because it’s not listed, mentioned, stated, etc. that it is legal or illegal. You should always contact your state DNR first.

Alabama

http://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/regulations/

http://www.outdooralabama.com/research-mgmt/regulations/reg220-2-26.cfm

http://www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife/regulations/nongame.cfm

Alaska

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishregulations.main

Arizona

http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/fishing_rules.shtml

http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/h_f/regulations/FishingRegulations.pdf

http://www.azgfd.gov/inside_azgfd/documents/2011-2012 Laws and Rules Book.pdf

Arkansas

http://www.agfc.com/fishing/Pages/FishingRegulations.aspx

http://www.agfc.com/licenses/Pages/LicensesFishing.aspx

California

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/regulations.asp

Colorado

http://wildlife.state.co.us/fishing/seasondatesandfees/Pages/SeasonDatesAndFees.aspx

http://www.flipseekpubs.com/publication/?i=99616

Connecticut

http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&q=322716

http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2704&q=323512&depNav_GID=1511

Delaware

http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/fisheries/pages/recfishsizeseasoncreel.aspx

http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Fisheries/Documents/Summary rec regs 2012.pdf

Florida

http://myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/regulations/

http://myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/regulations/general/

Georgia

http://www.georgiawildlife.com/fishing/regulations

Hawaii

http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/regulations.html

http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/regulations_special_provis.html

Idaho

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/fish/

Illinois

http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/fishing/Pages/default.aspx

Indiana

http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2347.htm

http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2362.htm

Iowa

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/FishingLicensesLaws.aspx

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/FishingLicensesLaws/AdditionalRegulations.aspx

Kansas

http://www.kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/Fishing/Fishing-Regulations/

http://www.kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/Fishing/Fishing-Regulations/Statewide-Creel-Length-Limits

http://www.kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/Fishing/Fishing-Regulations/Legal-Bait

Kentucky

http://fw.ky.gov/navigation.aspx?cid=203&NavPath=C101

http://fw.ky.gov/fishlimits.asp

Louisiana

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/regulations

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/proposedregulations

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/aquatic-species

Maine

http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/regulations_seasons/index.htm

http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/species/index.htm

Maryland

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/table.asp?c=recreational

http://dnr.maryland.gov/service/fishing_license.asp

http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/fishing_guide/guide.pdf

http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/no_page2.asp?page=http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/fishforms.html

Massachusetts

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/regulations/regulations_exotic.htm

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/fishing/fishing_home.htm

Michigan

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364_52261_52262---,00.html

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10364_18958---,00.html

Minnesota

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/fishing/index.html

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/pubs/

Mississippi

http://www.mdwfp.com/

http://www.mdwfp.com/fishing-boating/fishing-regulations.aspx

Missouri

http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations

http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations/do-not-harvest-list

http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations/fish-id-and-measuring

http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations/general-fishing-rules

http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations/general-fishing-rules/general-fishing-methods

http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations/general-fishing-provisions/possession-and-length-limits

Montana

http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/regulations/

http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/species/exotics/

http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/species/speciesOfConcern/

http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/species/ais/

Nebraska

http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/fishing/guides/fishguide/fgregs.asp

http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/fishing.asp

http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/fishing/guides/fishguide/fgregs.asp

Nevada

http://www.ndow.org/

http://www.ndow.org/fish/index.shtm

http://www.ndow.org/law/regs/fishregs/index.shtm

Nevada

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fishing.htm

http://www.eregulations.com/newhampshire/fishing/freshwater/

New Jersey

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/fishing.htm

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/njregs.htm#fishing

New Mexico

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/recreation/fishing/index.htm

New York

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/fishing.html

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html

North Carolina

http://www.ncwildlife.org/Fishing.aspx

http://www.ncwildlife.org/Fishing/LawsSafety.aspx

North Dakota

http://gf.nd.gov/fishing/

http://gf.nd.gov/fishing/aquatic-nuisance-species

http://gf.nd.gov/fishing/2012-2014-fishing-regulations-guide

Ohio

http://www.ohiodnr.com/

http://ohiodnr.com/wildlife/dow/regulations/fishing.aspx

http://ohiodnr.com/wildlife/dow/regulations/fishing_sites.aspx

Oklahoma

http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/fishing.htm

http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/fishing/fishspecies.htm

Oregon

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/reg_changes/index.asp

Pennsylvania

http://www.fish.state.pa.us/

http://fishandboat.com/fishing.htm

http://fishandboat.com/regs_fish.htm

Rhode Island

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/manserv/hfb/index.htm

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/manserv/hfb/fishing/fishing.htm

http://www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/index.htm#FandW

South Carolina

http://www.dnr.sc.gov/fishing.html

http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/fishspecies.html

http://www.dnr.sc.gov/water/envaff/aquatic/index.html

http://www.dnr.sc.gov/regulations.html

South Dakota

http://gfp.sd.gov/fishing-boating/

http://gfp.sd.gov/fishing-boating/rules-regs.aspx

Tennessee

http://www.tn.gov/twra/rulesandregs.html

http://www.tn.gov/twra/fish/fishmain.html

Texas

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/recreational/fishreport.phtml

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/aquaticspecies/inland.phtml

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/regulations/fish_hunt/

Utah

http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/

http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/fishing.html

http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/fishing/guidebooks.html

Vermont

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/fish_sportfish.cfm

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/lawsdigest.cfm

Virginia

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/fish/

Washington

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/freshwater.html

West Virginia

http://www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/fishing.shtm

http://www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/Fishing_regs.shtm

http://www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/Regs12/regs_FishID.pdf

Wisconsin

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/regulations_index.html

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/hookline.html

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/documents/FishingRegs12-13_web.pdf#fishrestric

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/documents/FishingRegs12-13_web.pdf#urbanfish

Wyoming

http://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/home.aspx

http://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/fishing-1000428.aspx#fishregs

http://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/fishing-1000206.aspx

http://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/fishing-1000216.aspx
 
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brich999

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 3, 2010
4,312
11
38
New Hampshire
new hampshire isnt a state anymore? or can we keep anything? LIVE FREE OR DIE
 

sbuse

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 1, 2009
7,728
10
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IN YOUR HEAD
Oddball has a list in one of the sections from a while ago. There are also several sources to find the information. You just have to look around. The problem is just because the state say it is OK to keep doesn't mean it is. You still have to look at federal lists as well. My state doesn't have snakeheads listed as a prohibited fish but the feds do. I could actually have a snakehead if I found someone in the state with a breeding pair that were grandfathered in from before the ban. I have not found any yet.

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