Utah Admin. Code R657-13-9 - Underwater Spearfishing

(1) A person possessing a valid Utah fishing or combination license may engage in underwater spearfishing, only as provided in this section.

(2) The following waters are open to underwater spearfishing from January 1 through December 31 for all species of game fish, unless specified otherwise by individual water:

(a) Big Sand Wash Reservoir (Duchesne County);

(b) Brown's Draw Reservoir (Duchesne County);

(c) Causey Reservoir (Weber County);

(d) Deer Creek Reservoir (Wasatch County), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(e) East Canyon Reservoir (Morgan County), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(f) Echo Reservoir (Summit County), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(g) Electric Lake (Emery County);

(h) Fish Lake (Sevier County), except underwater spearfishing for any game fish is closed from September 10 to the first Saturday in June the following year;

(i) Flaming Gorge Reservoir (Daggett County), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(j) Grantsville Reservoir (Tooele County);

(k) Jordan River, for northern pike only (Salt Lake and Utah Counties);

(l) Lake Powell (Garfield, Kane and San Juan Counties), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(m) Newcastle Reservoir (Iron County), except underwater spearfishing is closed for all species of game fish other than wipers and rainbow trout;

(n) Pineview Reservoir (Weber County), except underwater spearfishing is closed for:

(i) largemouth and small mouth bass from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June; and

(ii) tiger musky year round.

(o) Porcupine Reservoir (Cache County);

(p) Quail Creek Reservoir, for smallmouth bass only (Washington County);

(q) Recapture Reservoir (San Juan County);

(r) Red Fleet Reservoir (Uintah County);

(s) Rockport Reservoir (Summit County), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(t) Sand Lake (Uintah County);

(u) Smith-Moorehouse Reservoir (Summit County);

(v) Starvation Reservoir (Duchesne County), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(w) Steinaker Reservoir (Uintah County), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(x) Utah Lake, for northern pike and white bass only (Utah County);

(y) Utah Lake tributaries, including the following tributaries, west of I-15: American Fork, Creek, Beer Creek, Dry Creek, Hobble Creek, Spanish Fork River, Spring Creek and Spring Run Creek, for northern pike only (Utah County). Spearfishing is not permitted on the Provo River or Provo River Delta;

(z) Willard Bay Reservoir (Box Elder County); and

(aa) Yuba Reservoir (Juab and Sanpete Counties).

(3) Nongame fish, excluding prohibited species listed in Section R657-13-13, may be taken by underwater spearfishing:

(a) in the waters listed in Subsection (2) and at Blue Lake (Tooele County) for tilapia and pacu only; and

(b) during the open angling season set for a given body of water.

(4) The waters listed in Subsections (2) and (3)(a) are the only waters open to underwater spearfishing for game or nongame fish, except carp may be taken by underwater spearfishing from any water open to angling during the open angling season set for a given body of water.

(5)

(a) Underwater spearfishing is permitted from official sunrise to official sunset only, except burbot may be taken by underwater spearfishing at Flaming Gorge Reservoir (Daggett County) between official sunset and official sunrise.

(b) No other species of fish may be taken with underwater spearfishing techniques at Flaming Gorge Reservoir or any other water in the state between official sunset and official sunrise.

(6)

(a) Use of artificial light is unlawful while engaged in underwater spearfishing, except artificial light may be used when underwater spearfishing for burbot at Flaming Gorge Reservoir (Daggett County).

(b) Artificial light may not be used when underwater spearfishing for fish species other than burbot at Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

(7) Free shafting is prohibited while engaged in underwater spearfishing.

(8) The daily limit and possession limit for underwater spearfishing is the same as the daily limit and possession limit applied to anglers using other techniques in the waters listed in Subsections (2) and (3)(a), and as identified in the annual Utah Fishing Guidebook issued by the Utah Wildlife Board.

Notes

Utah Admin. Code R657-13-9

Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2015-1, effective 12/8/2014 Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2022-10, effective 5/9/2022 Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2022-24, effective 12/8/2022 Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2023-23, effective 11/21/2023