Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 002 - Game and Fish Commission
Rule 002.00.15-008 - 2016 Fishing Regulations

Universal Citation: AR Admin Rules 002.00.15-008

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024

01.00-C DEFINITION OF TERMS

For the puiposes of the Arkansas State Game and Fish Code of Regulations, the following terms shall be construed, respectively, to mean and include:

ADULT GOBBLER - Male turkeys having at least one of the following characteristics:

a) tail feathers which are the same length,

b) wing feathers that have white barring all the way to the tip or

c) a beard more than six (6) inches in length.

ALLIGATOR DEALER - Any person, firm or corporation engaging in the sale, purchase, barter or exchange of an American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) or other crocodilian species, or any part, nest or eggs thereof in Arkansas.

ALLIGATOR FARMER - Any person, firm or corporation possessing an American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) or other crocodilian species, or any part, nest or eggs thereof in Arkansas for the purpose of propagation, production or rearing.

ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE DEALER- Any person, firm or corporation engaged in the sale or purchase of alligator snapping turtles.

ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE BREEDER- Any person, firm or corporation possessing alligator snapping turtles for the purpose of propagation, production, rearing or sale.

ANIMAL - An organism of the animal kingdom, as distinguished from the plant kingdom, including any part, product, egg or offspring thereof. ANTLERLESS DEER- A doe or a buck having 2 inches or less of hardened bone antler (this type of deer must be checked as a buck).

ANTLERLESS ELK- Any elk (male or female) not meeting requirements to be a legal bull elk.

AQUACULTURE SPECIES - Any species listed on the Approved Aquaculture Species List (Addendum J1.00) and species not listed but allowed under Unlisted or Restricted Species Possession Permits.

AQUATIC WILDLIFE - All aquatic species, including aquatic snails, aquatic turtles, crayfish (crawfish and crawdads), fish (including minnows), frogs, mussels and salamanders.

ARKANSAS RIVER BOUNDARY (Sportfishing Only) - The Arkansas Post Canal from Norrell Lock and Dam No. 1 to the Arkansas River and the Arkansas River from Wilbur D. Mills Dam No. 2 upstream to the Oklahoma state line, including all lakes, bays and tributary streams accessible by boat from the main channel except:

* Big Bayou Meto upstream from Arkansas Highway 11;

* Plum Bayou upstream from U.S. Highway 79;

* Little Maumelle River upstream from Pinnacle Mountain State Park;

* Maumelle River upstream from Lake Maumelle Dam;

* Fourche LaFave upstream from Arkansas Highway 113;

* Palarm Creek upstream from Interstate 40;

* Cadron Creek upstream from the weir;

* Point Remove Creek upstream from Arkansas Highway 113;

* Petit Jean River upstream from Pontoon Boat Ramp at Arkansas Highway 154;

* Illinois Bayou upstream from Russellville Waterworks Dam;

* Big Piney and Little Piney creeks upstream from Arkansas Highway 359;

* Horsehead Creek upstream from Interstate 40;

* Mulberry River upstream from Interstate 40;

* Frog Bayou upstream from Arkansas Highway 162 and Lee Creek upstream from Lee Creek Dam,

* And from the first non-navigable shoal for streams entering the Arkansas

River along the right bank descending from the Oklahoma state line to Lake Dardanelle Dam.

ARTIFICIAL LURE OR FLY - Terminal fishing tackle made entirely of rubber, wood, metal, glass, feathers, hair, synthetic fibers or plastic, with hook attached.

BAITFISH - Minnows, logperch, gizzard and threadfin shad, gar (other than alligator gar), bullhead catfish, crayfish, drum, bowfin under 6 inches, skipjack herring, brook and inland silversides, bigmouth, smallmouth and black buffalo, river carpsucker, banded and Ozark sculpin, bream 4 inches and under, and bream over 4 inches that are caught by hook and line.

BAITING - The direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of salt, grain or other feed that could serve as a lure or attraction for wildlife to, on or over any areas where hunters are attempting to take them.

BIG GAME - Alligator, black bear, deer, elk and turkey.

BLACK BASS - Largemouth bass, redeye bass, smallmouth bass and spotted bass.

BLOCKING OUT - The removal of the head and/or tail associated with the processing of a commercial fish. The blocked-out carcass (bullet) must be at least the minimum length required for the body of water where the commercial fish was harvested (Code 30.i a

BONUS DEER - A harvested deer that is not included in a hunter's statewide bag limit.

BOX TYPE TURTLE TRAP - A floating trap designed to capture aquatic turtles, but does not permit capture offish (Code 34.07).

BREAM - A species of the genus Lepomis, including bluegill, redear, warmouth and other sunfish.

BUCK - A male deer (see LEGAL BUCK definition).

BUCK DEER SEASON - A deer season in which no deer other than legal buck deer may be taken.

BUY - To purchase, barter, exchange or trade, including any offer to purchase, barter, exchange or trade.

CAPTIVITY OR HOLD CAPTIVE - The holding of living wildlife in a controlled environment that is manipulated by man for the puipose of exercising ownership, possession or control of the wildlife, and that has boundaries designed to prevent selected species from entering or leaving the controlled environment.

CARCASS - The body of a dead animal.

CASE - A container specifically designed to hold a firearm which completely encloses the firearm by being zipped, snapped, buckled, tied or otherwise fastened with no portion of the firearm exposed.

CATCH-AND-RELEASE - The requirement that fish of a designated species must be immediately released into the water where caught.

CERVH - A member of the Family Cervidae including without limitation deer, reindeer, moose, elk and caribou.

CHASE FOR PLEASURE - To search for, pursue or chase game animals or other wildlife with the use of dogs for recreational purposes only, with no intent of hunting such game animals or wildlife.

CHECKING WILDLIFE - The reporting of specific information to the Commission concerning harvest of alligator, bear, deer, eik and turkey by one of the following methods: phoning a designated number to report bear, deer or turkey harvests, electronically through the Commission's on-line deer and turkey checking Web site or mobile applications, and in person to report harvest of elk and alligator at a designated check station.

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD) - Fatal disease affecting the brain of cervids that belongs to a group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

CHUMMING - To dislodge or deposit any substance not attached to a hook which may attract fish.

CITES TAG - a permit that allows shipping of certain animal pelts outside the State of Arkansas and assures compliance with the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species.

CLEAN - Having no meat matter or tissue attached to the carcass.

COMPUTER-ASSISTED HUNTING - The use of a computer or any other device, equipment or software to remotely control the aiming and discharge of a firearm, bow or crossbow to kill wildlife located in Arkansas.

COMMERCIAL FISH - Bowfin (over 6 inches), paddlefish, shovelnose, sturgeon, and all species of buffalo, catfish, carp, drum, gar, and sucker family (except silver redhorse).

COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN - Any person who fishes with tackle designated as commercial tackle requiring a license and/or tag issued by the Commission.

COMMERCIAL TACKLE - Properly licensed tackle used to catch aquatic wildlife for commercial purposes.

COMMERCIAL WILDLIFE HUNTING RESORT - A facility, location, business, or operation that offers, for pay or other consideration, an opportunity to hunt native wildlife, other than pen-raised game birds, held in captivity. Includes all contiguous land, and structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on the land, used for the hunting activities.

COMMERCIAL WILDLIFE PERMIT - Any or all of the following permits:

Alligator Farmer/Dealer, Alligator Snapping Turtle Breeder/Dealer, Resident Shell Taker and Seller, Shell Buyer, Non-Resident Shell Buyer, Resident Roe Taker/Seller, Resident Roe Buyer/Exporter, Non-Resident Roe Buyer, Resident Fur Dealer, Non-Resident Fur Dealer, Special Commercial Quail, Game Bird Shooting Resort, Commercial Wildlife Hunting Resort, Wildlife Breeder/Dealer and Wildlife Importation.

COMMISSION - The Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, unless otherwise designated.

DEFERRED HUNTER EDUCATION (DHE) - Designates a holder of a valid Arkansas hunting license/permit who has deferred completion of the hunter education program.

DISABLED -Any individual who is 100 percent permanently and totally disabled as declared by one or more of the following federal agencies: the U.S. Social Security Administration, the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs or the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board.

DOE - A female deer.

DISABLED VETERAN:

(a) any individual whom the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has rated 100% permanently and totally disabled as a result of his or her U.S. military service;

(b) any individual whom the VA has rated permanently disabled as a result of his or her U.S. military service and who received the Purple Heart medal as a result of his or her service-connected disability.

DOE DEER SEASON - A deer season in which a doe may be taken.

DROWNING SET - Any leg-hold trap that uses one or more of the following techniques to retain the target animal in water of suitable depth for drowning: a slide wire with lock, a tangle stake or a drowning weight.

DUCKS (includes the following species) - All species of teal, merganser, whistling duck and scaup; American wigeon, American black duck, bufflehead, canvasback, gadwall, common goldeneye, mallard, mottled duck, northern shoveler, redhead, ring-necked duck, ruddy duck, northern pintail and wood duck.

EDIBLE PORTIONS - portions of the following animals are considered edible as stated below:

(a) Game Mammals: front quarters, hind quarters, loins and tenderloins.

(b) Game Fish: fillets offish.

(c) Game Birds: breasts.

(d) Frogs: hind legs.

(e) Alligators: tails, legs, flanks, loins and tenderloins.

EITHER-SEX - A male or a female.

EITHER-SEX DEER SEASON - A deer season in which a doe or a legal buck may be taken.

EMERGENCY CONDITION - Any condition involving:

(a) imminent peril to the health, safety, or welfare of the public or the wildlife resources of the State; or

(b) immediate action mandated by federal law or regulation.

ENCLOSE - To surround wildlife using man-made barriers, including but not limited to fencing, walls, structures or other devices, so that the wildlife are not free to leave a particular environment.

ENCLOSURE - Any area surrounded by a man-made barrier, including but not limited to fencing, walls, structures or other devices that prevent wildlife from leaving a particular environment.

ENDANGERED SPECIES - A wildlife species or subspecies endangered or threatened with extinction listed, or proposed as a candidate for listing, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or_any native species or subspecies listed as endangered by the Commission (Addendum PI.00).

FALCONRY - The caring for and training of raptors for pursuit of wild game, and hunting wild game with raptors. It includes the taking of raptors from the wild to use in the sport and caring for training and transporting raptors held for falconry.

FEDERAL WATERS - Waters designated by federal law as federally controlled or under the jurisdiction of a department or agency of the United States Government.

FEE LAKE - A lake in which there is a fee for fishing rights. All persons 16 years of age and older must possess an Arkansas fishing license. Daily limits apply.

FERAL HOG - Any hog, including but not limited to Russian and European wild boar, any Old World swine, or the family Tayassuidae, including without limitation peccary, javelin, and New World swine, which is roaming freely and is living in a wild or feral state, and is not conspicuously identified as required under §§ 2-34-101 and §§ 2-34-102.

FIREARM - Any device designed, made, or adapted to expel a projectile through a barrel, including without limitation modem guns, air guns and muzzleloaders (see LOADED FIREARM).

FISH OR FISHING - To lure, attract, collect or pursue fish species or aquatic wildlife for the purpose of taking or attempting to take such species by any method.

FISH DEALER - Any person who sells live fish, including baitfish.

FISH FARM - Waters and adjacent premises confined within a pond, tank or lake not connected with public waters, and under management of a fish farmer.

FISH FARMER (AQUACULTURIST) - A person, firm, partnership or corporation engaged in the propagation or rearing of aquaculture species for sale.

FREEFLOATMG FISHING DEVICE - A floating fishing device unanchored or unattached to a stationary object.

FURBEARERS - Badger, beaver, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, red fox, mink, muskrat, nutria, opossum, raccoon, river otter, spotted skunk, striped skunk and weasel.

GAFF - To take or attempt to take fish with a hand- held or handled hook.

GAME ANIMALS - Alligator, black bear, bobcat, coyote, deer, elk, gray fox, red fox, mink, opossum, eastern cottontail rabbit, swamp rabbit, raccoon, gray squirrel and fox squirrel.

GAME BIRD SHOOTING RESORT-A facility, location, business, or operation that offers, for pay or other consideration, an opportunity to hunt captive-raised game birds.

Includes all contiguous land, and structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on the land, used for the hunting activities.

GAME BIRDS - Turkey, quail, pheasant, chukar and all birds classified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as migratory game birds.

GAME FISH - Alligator gar, black bass, white bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, crappie, catfish, trout, bream, goggle-eye, walleye, muskellunge, sauger, saugeye, paddlefish and pickerel.

GEOCACHE - Items in a container (cache) placed or hidden for individuals to subsequently find using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

GEOCACHING - An outdoor sport, similar to "high-tech treasure hunting," involving use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to find a cache.

GUIDE - A person who provides, for monetary or any other compensation, that person's personal services for the purpose of assisting others to locate, pursue, catch or hunt wildlife.

HACKING - The temporary release of a raptor held for falconry to the wild so that it must survive on its own.

HARASS - An intentional or negligent act which creates the likelihood of injury to wildlife by annoying it to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavioral pattern which include but are not limited to, breeding, feeding, or sheltering.

HARVEST/HARVESTING - To reduce to possession.

HEN TURKEY - Female turkey with or without a beard.

HIGH-FENCE ENCLOSURE - An enclosure that contains an area of at least 500 contiguous acres, with at least 60 percent of the acreage in forested cover that has been classified as timberland by the local county tax assessor, that has a perimeter fence at least 8 feet high, with no cross-fencing that has the effect of reducing the size of the area to less than 500 contiguous acres with at least 60 percent of the acreage in forested cover as herein provided.

HOGGING - The taking offish by the use of hands only in or under the water.

HUNT OR HUNTING - Taking or attempting to take wildlife by any method including but not limited to searching, pursuing, chasing, tracking, luring, or attracting.

HUNTING INCIDENT - When bodily injury above basic first aid or death occurs due to an activity directly related to a hunting excursion in the field. Examples of such activities wouldjnclude discharge of a firearm, bow, or crossbow and falls from an elevated platform (tree stand, tower stand, or elevated duck blind).

HUNTING PARTY - Two or more persons hunting together.

HYBERB RAPTORS - A raptor produced from a cross-breeding birds of two different taxa, one or both of which are listed in 50 CFR 10.13, and any offspring of such raptors.

IMPORT OR IMPORTATION - To ship, convey, cany, transport, bring or introduce into Arkansas anything from outside its borders.

IMPRINT - A bird that is hand-raised in isolation from other raptors from two weeks of age until it has fledged and will be considered to be an imprinted bird for its entire life.

JAKE - Sub-adult male turkey having all these characteristics: longer central tail feathers, outermost one or two wing feathers lacking white barring all the way to the tip and a beard 6 inches or less in length.

KILLING DEVICE - Any firearm, bow and arrow, crossbow, compressed gas or spring-powered pistol or rifle, blowgun, speargun, hand-thrown spear, slingshot, irritant

gas device, explosive device, or any other implement designed to discharge a projectile capable of killing wildlife.

LARGE CARNIVORE - Tigers (Panthera tigris), African Lions {Panthera led), or any hybrid thereof and all species of bears.

LEGAL BUCK - A male deer may be considered legal under the following rules as applied by this Code:

(a) Buck of Choice: A male deer.

(b) Button Buck: A male deer less than 12 months old with no hardened boned antler.

(c) Three-point Rule: A male deer having both antlers under two inches (including button buck) or at least one antler with at least three points, each a minimum of one inch long, including the tip of the main beam. (Code 21.03).

(d) 12/15 Rule: 1) A male deer having both antlers under two inches (including button buck) or 2) a male deer having an inside spread of at least 12 inches or more in width, 3) a male deer having at least one main beam 15 inches or more in length (Code 21.03).

(e) 15/18 Rule: 1) A male deer having both antlers under two inches (including button buck) or 2) a male deer having an inside spread of at least 15 inches or more in width 3) a male deer having at least one main beam 18 inches or more in length (Code 21.03).

(f) WMA Special Restrictions: Special restrictions may apply on certain WMAs (Code 21.03).

LEGAL BULL ELK - An elk having at least one antler visible above the hair line.

LEGAL TURKEY - A turkey may be considered legal under the following rules as applied by this Code:

(a) Hunters 16 years and older a legal turkey is an adult gobbler or bearded hen.

(b) Hunters 6 to 15 years of age is an adult gobbler, bearded hen or jake.

LENGTH LIMITS-

(a) Minimum Length Limit: The shortest length of a fish of a designated species that can be kept.

(b) Maximum Length Limit: The maximum length of a fish of a designated species that can be kept.

(c) Protected Length: A species/size limit that prohibits anglers from keeping fish within a designated size group. Unless otherwise specified, all fish are measured from the front of the lower jaw with the mouth closed to the tip of the tail with tail lobes pressed together when laid flat on a rule, on its side. All fish not meeting the length limit requirements

...

for a particular water or species must be immediately released into the water where caught. LIMITS-

(a) Daily Limit: the maximum number of a species allowed to be taken during a specific 24-hour time period (midnight to midnight, unless otherwise specified).

(b) Seasonal Limit: the maximum number of a species allowed to be taken during a specific season.

(c) Possession Limit: the maximum number of species allowed to be possessed at any time. Any fish or wildlife, excluding migratory game birds, legally taken for personal consumption and stored in processed form within a residence of the possessor shall not count toward the possession limit

LITTER - All waste which has been discarded or otherwise disposed of, including, but not limited to, convenience food and beverage packages or containers, trash, garbage, all other product packages or containers, and other post consumer solid wastes as referenced in State Law, or discarded game animal carcasses.

LOADED FIREARMS - Firearms are considered loaded if shells or cartridges are in the chamber, magazine or cylinder. Percussion cap muzzleloading firearms are considered loaded if the percussion cap is on the nipple. Flintlock muzzleloading firearms are considered loaded if there is powder in the flashpan. Electronic pulse ignition muzzleloaders are considered loaded if the ignition circuit is charged.

MIGRATORY BIRDS - All birds protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and subsequent amendments.

MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS - Coots,'crows, doves, ducks, gallinules or moorhens, geese, rails, snipe and woodcock.

MILITARY RETIREE - Any individual at least 60 years old who is entitled to retired pay as a result of his or her United States military service.

MINNOWS - Small nongame fish commonly used for bait including bluntnose minnows, bullhead minnows, chubs, dace, fatheads, common carp under 6 inches, goldfish, shiners and stonerollers.

MOBILITY IMPAIRED - A designation made by the Commission based upon a satisfactoiy showing that a person has a permanent physical condition, verified by a physician duly licensed to practice medicine by a state medical board, which severely impairs the person's mobility and prevents him or her from being able to engage in hunting or fishing activities without the use of an ATV or similar specialized device for transportation.

NATIVE WILDLIFE - Those species and sub-species of wildlife that have established, naturally reproducing, free-ranging, wild populations within Arkansas.

NIGHT - The time period 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.

NOODLING - The taking of fish by the use of a pole-mounted breakaway hook that detaches at the time of the strike or catch, or snare type device, with an attached line manipulated by hand when a person is in or under the water.

NONGAME WILDLIFE - All wildlife other than rurbearing or game animals, game birds and game fish.

NON-NATIVE WILDLIFE - Any wildlife not defined as native wildlife.

NONRESIDENT - A person not defined as a resident.

NUISANCE WILDLIFE - Any wildlife creating a problem by committing damage to personal property or crops.

OPEN SEASON - A time frame established by the Commission during which a designated species may be lawfully taken.

PEN-RAISED QUAIL - Quail raised or hatched in captivity.

PERSON - Any individual, firm, corporation, association, partnership or other legal entity in singular or plural as the context requires. All pronouns shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter.

PORTABLE HUNTING STAND - Any device or structure used for the purpose of hunting that can be carried in its entirety by one person at one time including but not limited to tripod stands, lean-to stands, lock-on stands, ladder stands, and climbing stands (Box stands are not portable hunting stands).

PORTABLE POP-UP BLIND - A structure used to conceal a person that can be collapsed and carried in its entirety by one person.

POSSESS OR POSSESSION - Having or holding wildlife, or any property in one's power; the exercise of dominion over property. Possession includes actual possession (physical occupancy or control over property) and constructive possession (control or dominion over property without actual possession or custody of the property).

PRIMATE - A live individual animal of the taxonomic order Primates, excluding humans.

PROPAGATE OR PROPAGATION - To allow plants or animals to breed or multiply.

PUBLIC ROAD - The traveled portion and the shoulders on each side of any road maintained for public travel by a city, county, state, or federal government and includes all structures within the limits of the right-of-way of any such road.

PUBLIC WATERS - Waters that members of the public have a legal right to access and use for recreational purposes, including all legally navigable waters.

PUT-AND-TAKE PAY LAKE - Private waters open to public fishing for a fee, after being licensed by the Commission and where no fishing license or daily limit offish is imposed.

RAPTOR - Migratory bird of the Order Falconiformes, Accipitriformes or the Order Strigiformes.

REAR OR REARING - To maintain plants or animals to increase their size or development.

REHABILITATION - Providing medical treatment or other care to orphaned, sick or injured wild animals that have come into human possession with the goal of returning the animal to the wild.

RESIDENCE - Any dwelling such as a house, manufactured home, or apartment that is permanently fixed in place and is owned, leased, or rented fully or in part by an individual. This term does not include tents; temporaiy lodging or rental units such as hotels, motels, resorts, or commercial campgrounds; recreational vehicles; mobile travel trailers; or, motor vehicles.

RESIDENT -

(a) A person who physically inhabits a bona fide residence in Arkansas for at least 60 days and declares full-time residency. Possession of Arkansas real estate and/or proof of payment of associated services or utilities do not qualify the owner/renter as a resident if he lives out of state.

Additional facts considered in establishing proof of current Arkansas residency are:

(i) Possession of a valid Arkansas driver's license or Arkansas identification card.

(ii) Possession of a valid Arkansas vehicle registration in his name and display of current Arkansas license tags on his vehicle.

(iii) Other documentation may be considered.

(b) The following persons are considered residents for purposes of this Code:
(i) Residents of Arkansas enrolled as full-time students in colleges and universities outside of Arkansas,

(ii) Nonresidents enrolled as full-time students in colleges and universities in Arkansas,

(iii) Nonresident foreign exchange students attending school in Arkansas,

(iv) Resident foreign exchange students attending school outside of Arkansas,

(v) Active-duty military personnel assigned to duty stations in Arkansas.

(vi) Active-duty military personnel who were Arkansas residents at the time of entering service, regardless of where currently stationed,

(vii) Members of the National Guard who are assigned to an Arkansas Guard Unit.

(c) Proof of at least one year residency must be provided when applying for the following licenses/permits:

Special Guide, Alligator Farmer/Dealer, Alligator Snapping Turtle Breeder/Dealer, Commercial Fisherman's and Sportfishing, Commercial Fisherman's Helper, Junior/Senior Commercial Fishing, Resident Shell Taker/Seller, Shell Taker Helper, Shell Buyer, Resident Fish Dealer, Resident Roe Taker/Seller, Resident Roe Taker Helper and Resident Roe Buyer/Exporter. Non-Expiring Lifetime Resident Hunting and Fishing License and Sportsman's Permit.

(d) The director or his representative shall make the final determination as to the resident status of any license applicant.

ROUGH FISH - Gars, bowfin, bullhead catfish, common carp, Asian carp (grass carp, bighead carp, silver carp), suckers (including buffalo), drum and yellow bass.

SEINE - A fishing net that hangs vertically in the water where the ends can be drawn together to entrap fish.

SEINING - The act of moving a seine by boat or human power to capture fish.

SELL OR SALE - To exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent; to offer for sale, barter, exchange or trade or the act of selling, bartering, consigning, exchanging or trading.

SHELL BUYER - Anyone who buys mussels or mussel parts from a Taker. An agent purchasing for a licensed buyer is not a buyer.

SMALL GAME - Furbearers, migratory game birds, quail, rabbit and squirrel.

SNAG - to take fish using conventional rod-and-reel tackle where the fish is impaled by the forceful retrieval of one or more hooks.

SNAGLINE - Commercial tackle consisting of a horizontal line with hooks or drops less than 24 inches apart.

SPORTFISH- See GAME FISH for definition.

TACKLE - An apparatus or device used to take wildlife.

TAKE - To shoot, kill, injure, trap, net, snare, spear, catch, capture or reduce to possession.

TAXIDERMY - The art of preparing, stuffing and/or mounting wildlife and parts thereof.

TRAP OR TRAPPING -A device to catch and hold wildlife.

TROUT - Any members of the Salmonidae family including rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, lake trout, cutthroat trout, salmon and char.

WATERFOWL - AH species of coots, ducks, geese and swans.

WATERS OF THE STATE - All streams, lakes, ponds, sloughs, bayous, marshes or any other waters either permanent or intermittent located wholly or partially within Arkansas. Provided, however, "waters of the state" shall not include pay lakes and fish farms or any waters that are confined within a pond, tank, or lake, situated entirely on the premises of a single private owner and which, except under abnormal flood conditions, are not connected with_any of other flowing stream or body of water that extends beyond the premises of such owner.

WELD - To be living in a state of nature and not domesticated.

WILDLIFE - All wild birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and other wild aquatic forms, and all other wild animals, regardless of classification, whether resident, migratory or imported, protected or unprotected, dead or alive, and shall extend to and include any and every part of any individual species of wildlife, including animals living in a captive state and which lack a genetic distinction from members of the same species living in the wild. Aquatic wildlife includes all aquatic species, including aquatic snails, aquatic turtles, crayfish (crawdads and crayfish), fish (including minnows), frogs, mussels and salamanders.

WILDLIFE CHECK METHODS - The following are the official wildlife check methods:

(a) a designated elk check station;

(b) the Commission on-line deer and turkey checking Web site and mobile applications;

(c) a designated alligator check station; and,

(d) the designated bear checking telephone number or the designated deer and turkey checking telephone number.

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (WMA) - Designated areas owned or controlled by the Commission and distinguished by certain markers and considered a separate zone with regard to wildlife regulations including: wildlife management area (WMA), waterfowl rest area (WRA), wildlife demonstration area (WDA), special use area (SUA) and state park-conservation area (SP-CA).

YOUTH-

(a) for sections of this Code pertaining to big game, "youth" means any individual not less than 6 years old or more than 15 years old.

(b) for all other sections of this Code, "youth" means an individual less than 16 years of age.

ZONE - An area defined by the Commission where hunting and/or fishing activities are regulated.

09.14 NATIVE WILDLIFE PETS RESTRICTED

It is unlawful to possess native wildlife as pets except as follows:

(A) Native wildlife captured from the wild:
(1) No more than six per household of any combination of the following animals may be possessed as pets:
(a) Hand-captured bobcat, coyote, gray fox, red fox, opossum, rabbit, raccoon and squirrel; and

(b) Deer that were captured by hand prior to July 1,2012 may be retained until their death.

(c) Hand-captured native non-game wildlife other than birds, bats, alligator snapping turtles, ornate box turtles, hellbenders, Ouachita streambed salamanders, collared lizards, troglodytic species (cave dwellers), or those animals defined as endangered species.

(2) It is unlawful for any person to remove such wildlife or their offspring from Arkansas except under the terms of a permit that may be issued by the Chief of Wildlife Management to persons who are moving to another state and have presented proof from that state that it is legal to import the wildlife.

(3) The sale or transfer of ownership of such wildlife or their offspring is prohibited except as provided in (A)(7) of this regulation.

(4) All wildlife possessed in captivity shall be maintained in enclosures, pens, or cages that are sufficiently strong to prevent escape of the wildlife and that will protect the wildlife from injury.

(5) All adult deer kept in compliance with (A) of this regulation shall be confined within an enclosure that complies with the following requirements:
(a) Enclosures shall have a perimeter fence that is not less than eight feet in height and shall be constructed so as to prohibit the escape of confined cervids and the ingress of native cervids.

(b) The area of the enclosure shall not be less than 200 square feet for the fust cervid and shall be increased in size 150 square feet for each additional cervid.

(6) Males and females of the same species must be kept in separate enclosures, or if kept in the same enclosure, the owner shall provide proof that all males within the enclosure have been neutered.

(7) Native wildlife, except white-tailed deer, kept as personal pets in compliance with this regulation may be transferred to a wildlife rehabilitator permitted by the Commission (Code 09.12) and released back into the wild in the county where they were captured provided such animals were not confined with commercially obtained, captive born wildlife of the same species.

(B) Captive born native wildlife: No more than six per household of any commercially obtained, captive born native wildlife may be possessed as personal pets in compliance with the following restrictions:
(1) Commercially obtained, captive born wildlife pets and/or their offspring shall not be confined with the same species of wild born animals and/or their offspring.

(2) Owners shall maintain records of proof of legal ownership of such animals including licenses, bills of sale, bills of lading, receipts, invoices and copies of Wildlife Importation Permits or other satisfactory evidence. The date of acquisition, place of origin, and the name, address, and telephone number of the person from whom the wildlife was acquired shall be recorded. Owners shall provide these records to the Commission upon demand.

(3) Commercially obtained, captive born wildlife pets or their offspring shall only be sold in compliance with Code 09.07.

(4) Males and females of the same species must be kept in separate enclosures, or if kept in the same enclosure, the owner shall provide proof that all males within the enclosure have been neutered.

(5) Owners of commercially obtained or captive born white-tailed deer or elk that were acquired prior to June 30,2005, and that are kept as personal pets may retain ownership of such animals provided they registered with the Wildlife Management Division by June 30,2008, and are in compliance with all provisions of this regulation.

(6) Owners must immediately test all deer and elk that die in captivity for CWD and forward copies of test results to the Commission within seven days of receipt.

(7) All cervids kept in compliance with (B) of this regulation shall be confined within an enclosure that complies with the following requirements:
(a) Enclosures shall have a perimeter fence that is not less than eight (8) feet in height and shall be constructed so as to prohibit the escape of confined cervids and the ingress of native cervids.

(b) The area of the enclosure shall not be less than 200 square feet for the first ceivid and shall be increased in size 150 square feet for each additional cervid.

(8) All wildlife possessed hi captivity shall be maintained in enclosures, pens, or cages that are sufficiently strong to prevent escape of the wildlife and that will protect the wildlife from injury.

(C) It is unlawful for anyone to keep a native wildlife pet under inhumane or unhealthy conditions.

EXCEPTION:

Aquatic pets taken in compliance with Code 26.26. PENALTY: Class 1

26.08 WATERS RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN FISHING TACKLE

It is unlawful to fish with any device other than rod or pole in:

(A) Arkansas County - DeWitt City Park Lake

Benton County - Lake Atalanta and Lake Bentonville

Clark County - Big Timber Lake

Carroll County - Hidden Lake

Clark County - Guidon Lake

Clay County - Lake Hubble

Conway County - Lake Bailey, Lake Roosevelt in Petit Jean State Park

Craighead County - Craighead Forest Lake

Crawford County - Lake Cambadelle and Lake Lou Emma

Crittenden County - West Memphis City Parks Lake and Marion City Park Lake

Cross County - All lakes in Village Creek State Park

Faulkner County - Lake Bennett

Fulton County - Spring River and tributaries from 100 yards below Dam

No. 1 to the mouth of My art Creek; Spring River Lake

Greene County - Crowley Ridge State Park Lake and Reynolds Park Lake

Hempstead County - Lakes 1 and 2 on the Rick Evans Grandview WMA

Izard County (2 pole maximum limit) - Horseshoe Bend Pool on

Strawberry River

Lafayette County - Lake June

Monroe County - Lake Greenlee

Montgomery County - North Fork Lake

Lonoke County - Tommy L. Sproles Lake Pickthorne and Ward City Park Lake

Madison County - Hindsville Lake

Monroe County - Lakooed Donald Branch Fishing Pond

Perry County - Lake Sylvia

Polk County - Shady Lake

Poinsett County - Upper Lake Hogue

Randolph County - Old Davidsonville State Park Lake

Scott County - Truman Baker Lake

Sebastian County - Carol Cross Lake

St. Francis County - All lakes in Village Creek State Park; Forrest

City Park Lake Stone County - Gunner Pool and Hayden Bend Pond

Yell County - Lake Kingfisher

Washington County - Devil's Den State Park Lake and posted U.S. Forest Service ponds and lakes.

Prairie County - Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA ponds and lakes, except oxbow lakes

(B) Arkansas River from 100 yards below Dardanelle Dam to Arkansas Highway 7 bridge and 100 yards below Dam No. 2 to the mouth of Morgan Cut-Off; Fourche La Fave River from 100 yards below Nimrod Dam to Arkansas Highway 7 bridge.

(C) Waters listed in Code 26.25.

EXCEPTIONS:

1) Gigging or bowfishing for rough fish is permitted in compliance with Code 26.06. in waters listed in Section B and in other unrestricted state waters.

2) Catching bait is allowed in compliance with Code Chapter 32.00. PENALTY: Class 1

26.17 SNAGGING GAME FISH PROHIBITED

It is unlawful to snag game fish.

EXCEPTIONS:

(1) From the bank within 100 yards below a dam (prohibited below the Upper White Oak Lake Dam).

(2) From a boat froin 100 yards below all locks and dams on the Arkansas River to the downstream entrance point of the lock structure, and from 100 yards below Dam No. 2 to the boat-launching ramps immediately below the dam.

(3) From the bank below Beaver Dam, from the Corps of Engineers "No Fishing Beyond This Point" sign, downstream to the first Corps of Engineers boat ramp on the left descending bank April 15-June 15.

(4) Daily limit: With the exception of catfish and paddlefish, no more than half the daily game fish limit may be taken by snagging, or the lesser whole number nearest half the limit, when the limit is an odd number.

(5) Snagging must be discontinued once the daily limit of any species of game fish has been harvested.

(6) Game fish snagged must be retained for personal use and applied to the daily limit.

(7) Catfish may be snagged Jan. 1-Feb. 15 on the Black River from the Missouri state line to the Spring River confluence and on the St. Francis River from the Missouri state line to the Payneway Structure, with a daily limit of five catfish (no more than two of which may be flathead catfish) and no more than one paddlefish.

PENALTY: Class 1

26.21 YO-YO FISHING RESTRICTED

It is unlawful for a person to:

(A) fish more than 30 yo-yos or other mechanical fishing devices or to leave such unattended (out of sight or hearing) during daylight hoursrer-te;

(B) suspend more than one yo-yo or mechanical fishing device from any horizontal line, wire, limb or supports;

(C) use a Sstakeeor to mounting a yo-yos-er, limblines, or mechanical fishing device on a Commissioned-owned lakes-s unless the stake is made from

(D) fail to remove any mounting stake placed in a Commission-owned lake after the stake is no longer in use for fishing; or

(E) fail to clearly labeled each mounting stake, yo-yo, limbline, and mechanical fishing device with the name and address, vehicle operator's license number, or current vehicle license number of the person using such equipment.

For purposes of this regulations, "yo-yo" shall appll- include any yo-yos left in place whether "set" or "tripped" (disabled). PENALTY: Class 1

26.25 FAMILY AND COMMUNITY FISHING PROGRAM RESTRICTIONS
(A) FAMILY FISHING PROGRAM RESTRICTIONS

The restrictions in this subsection shall apply to the following waters:

Chicot County - Lake Village Community Fishing Pond

Clay County - Mom's Lake

Columbia County - Armory Pond

Craighead County - Craighead Forest Park Youth Fishing Pond

Drew County - Monticello High School Pond

Faulkner County - Dr. James E. Moore Jr. Camp Robinson Firing Range

Fulton County - Salem City Lake

Hempstead County - Mike and Janet Huckabee Youth Fishing Pond

Jefferson County - Pine Bluff Regional Park Youth Fishing Pond

Lawrence County - Walnut Ridge City Lake

Pulaski County - Landers Lake, War Memorial Park Pond

Union County - Mattocks Park Lake

RESTRICTIONS:

(1) Fishing is open only to youths or persons 65 years of age or older. All other properly licensed persons may fish if accompanied by a youth who is actively fishing. Fishing is also open to holders of a disabled fishing license (either a three-year or combination disability license). One licensed person may assist and fish with an actively fishing disabled fishing license holder.

(2) Only hand-held rod or pole allowed.

(3) Largemouth bass: catch and release only.

(4) Catfish daily limit: 3

(5) Bream daily limit: 25

(6) Trout daily limit: 5

(7) Hybrid striped bass: 3

(8) Lakes open to electric trolling motors only.

(9) All other sportfishing daily limit: same as statewide.

(B) COMMUNITY FISHING PROGRAM RESTRICTIONS

The restrictions in this subsection shall apply to the following waters:

Baxter County - Anion's Lake

Benton County - Lake Springdale, Lake Bentonville, Lake Keith

Clark County - Clear Lake

Crawford County-Van Buren Municipal Park Pond

Crittenden County - Tilden Rodgers Park Pond

Faulkner County - Conway Station Park Pond

Garland County - Family Park Pond, Entergy Park Pond

Jefferson County - Martin Luther King Jr. Park Pond in Pine Bluff

Lonoke County - Cabot Community Pond, Mike Freeze England Community

Pond

Miller County - Lake Dieffenbacher

Pike County - John Benjamin Glenwood Community Pond

Pope County - Pleasant View Park Pond

Pulaski County - all lakes, ponds and streams managed by the City of Little

Rock Parks and Recreation Department within the city limits of Little Rock,

Community Center Pond, Cherrywood Lake, Lake Valencia, Little Rock Air

Force Base Pond, North Little Rock City Park waters, Paradise Lake, Pinnacle

Mountain State Park Pond, Sherwood

Municipal City Pond, Willow Beach Park Pond

White County - Bald Knob Community Pond, Searcy City Lake

Saline County - Sunset Lake

Sebastian County - Carol Ann Cross Pond

Sebastian County - Wells Lake, Fort Chaffee

Yell County - Dardanelle City Park Ponds, Yell County Wildlife Federation

Pond

Washington County - Murphy Park Pond

RESTRICTIONS:

(1) Only hand held rod or pole allowed.

(2) Largemouth bass: catch and release only.

(3) Catfish daily limit: 3

(4) Bream daily limit: 25

(5) Trout daily limit: 5

(6) Hybrid striped bass: 3

(7) Lakes open to electric trolling motors only.

(8) All other sportfish daily limit: same as statewide. PENALTY: Class 1

30.25 COMMERCIAL FISHING RESTRICTIONS IN CERTAIN WATERS
(A) Corning Lake or Long Lake in Clay County: trotlines, throw line,

limblines or snag lines are prohibited.

(B) Lake Dardanelle: Commercial tackle of any type prohibited from noon, March 1-noon, Nov. 30 in the waters of Dardanelle Lake north of the Missouri Pacific Railroad in Pope, Johnson and Franklin counties, Dardanelle Bay in Yell County, and south of signs posted on Shoal Bay, Cane Creek Bay, Six Mile Creek at O-Kane Island Access, and south of Arkansas Highway 22 in Delaware Bay in Logan County.

(C) Lake Dardanelle: Gill and trammel nets must be anchored so they are not within 3 feet of the water surface except noon, Dec. 1-noon, April 1.

(D) Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge: March 1-Oct. 31 with 3 inch or larger square bar mesh gill and trammel nets.

(E) Lake Millwood with legal gill and trammel nets open noon, Sept. 30-noon, May 1, and slat traps open noon, Sept. 30-noon, June 1. Lake Millwood is open year-round to other legal commercial fishing.

(F) Nimrod Lake, Blue Mountain Lake and Morgan Point Bendwav Lake: Open noon, Oct. 1-noon, March I. All species of carp caught must be removed from these lakes. Commercial fishermen must register prior to fishing with the local district fisheries biologist and must submit monthly catch records to the local district fisheries biologist by the 15tU of the following month. Only legal-sized gill and trammel nets or larger.

(G) Entergy Nuclear Power Plant: No commercial fishing in the discharge bay Nov. 1-March 1.

(H) Cadron Creek and Point Remove Creek: Legal commercial tackle during the commercial fishing season noon, Sept. 30-noon, May 1 on Cadron Creek - from its mouth to Arkansas Highway 287 on its east fork in Faulkner County, North Cadron Creek - from its mouth to Arkansas Highway 285 in Faulkner County; Point Remove Creek - from its mouth up the east fork to Arkansas Highway 95 and the Kissire Bridge on the west fork in Conway County.

(I) Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA: Open noon, Jan. 1 until the last day of February.

(J) First Old River Lake (Miller County): Open noon, Nov. 1 until noon the last day of February, with legal gill and trammel nets. Commercial fishermen must obtain, and have in their possession while fishing, a commercial permit from the district biologist at the Hope Regional Office and report their catch to the Hope Regional Office by March 15.

(K) Grand Lake (Chicot County): Commercial fishing with slat traps noon, Nov. 1-noon, March 1.

(L) Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d'Arc Lake (Hempstead County): Open noon, Jan. 1 until noon February 28, with legal gill and trammel nets. Commercial fishermen must obtain, and have in their possession while fishing, a commercial permit from the district biologist at the Hope Regional Office and report their catch to the Hope Regional Office by March 15.

(M) Cation Lake (Union County): Open noon, February I until noon 1'ebr 2&-March 15, with legal gill and trammel nets. Commercial fishermen must obtain and have in their possession while fishing, a commercial permit from the district biologist at the Camden Regional Office and report their catch to the Camden Regional Office by March 44 3 I. All rough fish caught in the nets must be retained.

PENALTY: Class 2

30.26 POSSESSION OF FILLETED FISH PROHIBITED WHILE COMMERCIAL

FISHING

It is unlawful to possess filleted fish or fish with head or tail removed while commercial fishing. It is unlawful to transport filleted fish or fish with head or tail removed by boat if such fish were taken by a commercial fisherman or were taken by means of commercial tackle.

EXCEPTION:

Blocking of paddlefish in compliance with Code 30.21 PENALTY: Class 2

34.04 COMMERCIAL AQUATIC TURTLE HARVEST RESTRICTIONS
(A) It is unlawful to take or attempt to take aquatic turtle eggs from the wild.

(B) It is unlawful to take or attempt to take aquatic turtles for commercial purposes by any means other than hoop nets or box type turtle traps. Commercial aquatic turtle harvest is allowed in waters of the following counties or specified portions thereof, and/or bodies of water as specified:
(1) Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot (Exception 2), Cleveland, Clay, Columbia (Exception 2), Craighead, Crittenden (Exception 2), Cross, Dallas, Desha, Drew (Exception 2), Grant, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette (Exception 2), Lawrence (Exception 2), Lawrence (east of the Black River), Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke, Miller, Mississippi [Exception 2(g)], Monroe, Nevada, Ouachita, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, Pulaski (south of I-30 and east of 1-440 and Arkansas Highway 67), Randolph (east of the Black River) from the southern border to Pocahontas; from Pocahontas to Maynard east of Arkansas Highway 115; and from Maynard to the state line east of Arkansas Highway 166), St. Francis, Saline (east of 1-30), Union, White (east of Arkansas Highway 67) and Woodruff counties;

(2) Arkansas River, from its mouth to the Arkansas/Oklahoma state line, including that part of the Arkansas River from the Ozark Dam to the Arkansas/Oklahoma state line, bounded on the north by the Union Pacific Railroad and on the south by Arkansas Highway 22 in compliance with Code 30.25.

(3) Black River from its mouth to the Missouri state line;

(4) Little River from its mouth to the Corps of Engineers boat ramp on west bank of river below Millwood Lake Dam;

(5) Ouachita River from the Louisiana state line to the Arkansas Highway 79B Bridge (Camden);

(6) Red River from the Louisiana state line to the Oklahoma/Texas state line;

(7) Sulphur River from its mouth to the Texas state line;

(8) White River from its mouth to 100 yards below Dam No. 1 at Batesville, Independence County;

(9) Arkansas waters between the main levees of the Mississippi River.

(10) All lakes, bays or other bodies of water, other than tributary streams, connected to waters as specified above, when accessible by boat, from the main channel except as limited by Addendum Chapter HI.00.

(C) When a river or stream forms the boundaiy between opened and closed counties, that boundary segment shall be open to tackle legal in the open county.

EXCEPTIONS:

(1) Bayou Meto Bayou in compliance with Code 38.01.

(2) The following waters are closed to commercial aquatic turtle harvest:
(a) Lake Erling, including all tributaries upstream from 100 yards below Lake Erling Dam to Arkansas Highway 313 (Lafayette County)

(b) All Commission-owned lakes (excluding all natural lakes when accessible by boat from river or stream channel on WMAs in counties listed above);

(c) Lake Columbia (Columbia County);

(d) Horseshoe Lake (Crittenden County);

(e) Lake Wallace (Drew and Chicot counties);

(f) Upper and Lower Lake Chicot (Connerly Bayou to Ditch Bayou Dam inclusive)(Chicot County).

(g) The Mississippi River in Mississippi County, from the Sans Souci Landing downstream to the head of Sunrise Towhead, due east of Butler, AR, and all waters within and bounding the area known as "Driver Bar", which forms the east bank of the river channel within this river segment.

(3) USD A Forest Service lakes, State Park lakes and lakes owned by municipalities or property-owner associations.

(4) Private landowners, in closed counties, can obtain from the Commission, a Private Land Nuisance Aquatic Turtle Permit. This permit allows the harvest of Common Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentine), Redear Sliders {Trachemys scripta), and Spiny Softshells (Apalone spinifera) for commercial purposes on private property under the following conditions:
(a) Only from manmade lakes and ponds

(b) Only by a licensed commercial aquatic turtle harvest or dealer permittee

(c) Only with legal commercial turtle harvest gear as defined above

(d) All harvested turtles shall be reported on aquatic turtle harvest report forms as specified in Code 34.07.

PENALTY: Class 2

T RER

06 is s ooos lpewer-at-me-prepel-ler-or-jet

ss4 N1.01GAME FISH DAILY LIMITS

Alligator Gar

1

Black Basses (including not

more than four Smallmouth)

10

Bream (over 4 inches length)

50

Catfish (exc. Bullhead)

10

Crappie

30

Rock Bass

10

Muskellunge Paddlefish

6

2

Pickerel

6

S auger

6

Saugeye

6

Shovelnose Sturgeon

No Limit

Striped Bass or Hybrid (Combination) Trout (including not more than:

6

2 brown trout, 2 cutthroat trout, 2 brook trout)

5

Walleye

6

White Bass

25

EXCEPTIONS:

(1) The following bodies of water are restricted to half the daily limit for all sportfish: Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d'Arc Lake, Horseshoe Bend Pool of the Strawberry River in Izard County. All black bass and crappie on Lower White Oak Lake must be released immediately.

(2) BLACK BASS (LARGEMOUTH, SPOTTED, SMALLMOUTH):
(A) Smallmouth bass:

Ozark Zone (Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Newton, Randolph, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, and Washington counties) - smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 12 inches with a daily limit of four, except Bull Shoals, Beaver, Greers Ferry, Table Rock Lakes and Lake Norfolk (see Ex. 1(B) below). Greers Ferry Lake - smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 12 inches, daily limit six.

Ozark Zone Blue Ribbon Streams - Crooked Creek from Arkansas Highway 101 bridge downstream to the confluence with the White River; between the U.S. Highway 62-412 and U.S. Highway 62 Spur bridges at Pyatt - smallmouth bass minimum length limit 18 inches, daily limit of one. Buffalo River from confluence with Clabber Creek downstream to the confluence with the White River - smallmouth bass minimum length limit 18 inches, daily limit of one. All other water of Crooked Creek and Buffalo River - smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 14 inches, daily limit of two.

Ozark Zone Catch-and-Release Area - Crooked Creek, along boundary of Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation property near Kelley's Slab Access.

Ozark Zone Quality Streams - Kings River from Trigger Gap to U.S. Highway 62 bridge smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 18 inches, daily limit of one.

All other water of the Kings, Illinois, Spring, South Fork of the Spring and

Eleven Point rivers and War Eagle Creek - smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 14 inches, daily limit of two.

Ouachita/Boston Zone (all Arkansas counties not included in the Ozark Zone) - smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 10 inches, daily limit of four.

Ouachita/Boston Zone Quality Streams - (Mulberry, Caddo above

DeGray Lake, DeGray Lake, Cossatot River, Ouachita River upstream from Lake Ouachita, Ouachita River downstream from Remmel Dam,

Saline River, including its four headwater forks in Saline, Perry and

Garland counties, South Fork/Ouachita, Little Missouri above Lake

Greeson) - smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 12 inches, daily limit of two.

Ouachita/Boston Zone Catch-and-Release Area - all smallmouth bass caught in Lake Ouachita including the Ouachita River upstream to the

River Bluff access and the South Fork of the Ouachita River upstream to

Hovel Branch must be immediately returned to the stream.

(B) Largemouth bass:

Grandview Lake 2, Lake Sylvia, and Lower White Oak Lake - daily limit five.

Lake Millwood - daily limit six. Mallard Lake - daily limit one.

Marion McCollum Lake, Lake Sylvia - Largemouth bass caught must be immediately returned to the water.

(C) Black Bass (all species combined):

Beaver, Bull Shoals, DeGray, DeQueen, Norfolk, Table Rock lakes, Lakes Jack Nolen, Ouachita, Ashbaugh - daily limit six. Lake Lou Emma- daily limit five. Lake Atkins - daily limit four. War Eagle Creek - daily limit two.

(3) BREAM:

No limit on bream 4 inches or shorter.

(4) CATFISH:
(A) No limit on catfish on Grand Lake - Chicot County, between the mam levees of the Mississippi River, from the confluence of the Mississippi/White Rivers upstream to the Benzal Railroad Bridge, and from the confluence of the Mississippi/Arkansas Rivers upstream to the Yancopin Railroad Bridge. No limit on blue and channel catfish from Little River (below Millwood Dam) Red and Sulphur Rivers. No limit on channel catfish on Marion McCollum Lake Greenlee- Monroe County, and on Lake Chicot (including that portion of Connerly Bayou downstream from Connerly Dam to the bayou's mouth and Ditch Bayou from the inlet on Lake Chicot to Ditch Bayou Dam).

(B) Catfish daily limit five on:

DeWitt City Park Lake (Arkansas County); Lake Atalanta_(Benton County); Hidden Lake (Carroll County); Big Timber Lake and Gurdon Lake (Clark County); Hubble Lake (Clay County); Lake Bailey (Conway County); Lake Cambadelle and Lake Lou Emma (Crawford County); Marion City Park Lake (Crittenden County); Village Creek State Park Lakes (Cross and St. Francis Counties); Lake Bennett (Faulkner County); Lake Clearfork (Garland County); Crowley Ridge State Park Lake and Reynolds Park Lake (Greene County); Newark City Lake (Independence County); Lake June (Lafayette County); Ward City Park Lake (Lonoke County); Hindsville Lake (Madison County); Blytheville City Park Lake (Mississippi County); Donald Branch Fishing Pond (Monroe County); Lower White Oak Lake (Ouachita County);_Lake Sylvia (Perry County); Shady Lake (Polk County); Twin Lakes A and B, Camp Ferncliff (Pulaski County); Old Davidsonville State Park Lake (Randolph County); Forrest City Park Lake (St. Francis County); Truman Baker Lake (Scott County); Cave City's Lakes (Sharp County); Gunner Pool and Hayden Bend Pond (Stone County); Devils Den State Park (Washington County); Spring Lake, Kingfisher, Clubhouse Lakes in Petit Jean WMA (Yell County) and posted USDA Forest Service ponds and lakes.

(C) In addition to daily limit, 10 channel catfish under 16 inches may be taken on the Arkansas River.

(D) In addition to daily limit, 10 channel catfish and 10 blue catfish any size may be taken in Lake Erling and Millwood Lake.

(5) CRAPPEE:
(A) Crappie daily limit - 15 in Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork reservoirs, Cane Creek Lake (Lincoln County'), and Guidon Lake (Clark County).

(B) Crappie daily limit - 50 between the main levees of the Mississippi River, from the confluence of the Mississippi/White Rivers upstream to the Benzal Railroad Bridge, from the confluence of the Mississippi/Arkansas Rivers upstream to the Yancopin Railroad Bridge and on Horseshoe Lake (Crittenden County).

(C) Crappie daily limit - 20 in Lake Chicot and Lake Monticello.

(6) WALLEYE:
(A) Beaver Lake and its tributaries; Table Rock Lake and its tributaries to Beaver Dam; Bull Shoals Lake, and Norfork Lake - minimum length limit of 18 inches, daily limit four.

(B) Greers Feny Lake and its tributaries - protected slot limit of 20-28 inches, daily limit of six (only one of which may be longer than 28 inches).

(C) In compliance with Addendum N 1.02 and Code Chapter 28.00.

(7) WHITE BASS, STRIPED BASS, HYBRID STRIPED BASS:
(A) White bass:

Between the main levees of the Mississippi river, from the confluence of the Mississippi and White rivers upstream to the Benzal Railroad Bridge, and from the confluence of the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers upstream to the Yancopin Railroad Bridge - daily limit of 50, possession limit of 100. Beaver Lake and its tributaries; lakes Ashbaugh, Sequoyah and Monticello - no limit.

(B) Striped bass and hybrid striped bass (combined): Beaver, Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes; lakes Greeson, Maumelle, and Ouachita - daily limit three. Arkansas River and connecting lakes - daily limit 10. Lake Monticello -no limit.

(8) ALLIGATOR GAR:

Alligator gar longer than 36 inches may not be harvested from noon, May 1-noon, July 1, statewide. Alligator Gar Permit is required to harvest alligator gar (Code 26.28).

(9) TROUT (BROOK, BROWN, CUTTHROAT, RAINBOW):
(A) Brown trout:

White River (Bull Shoals Tailwater) and North Fork White River (Norfork Tailwater) - minimum length 24 inches, daily limit one, Spavinaw Creek (Benton County) west of Arkansas Highway 59 and Spring River -minimum length 16 inches, daily limit two. Little Red River (Greers Ferry Tailwater) from Greers Ferry Dam to Arkansas Highway 305 Bridge -protected slot limit of 16-24 inches, daily limit of five (only one of which may be longer than 24 inches).

White River (Beaver Tailwater) from Beaver Dam to boundary signs at Houseman Access - protected slot limit of 13-16 inches, daily limit of five (only one of which may be longer than 16 inches). Little Missouri River, from Narrows Dam to Arkansas Highway 27 Bridge - all brown trout must be released immediately.

(B) Cutthroat trout:

White River (Bull Shoals Lake Tailwater), North Fork White River (Norfork Tailwater), Spavinaw Creek (Benton County) west of Arkansas Highway 59, Spring River - minimum length 16 inches, daily limit of two.

(C) Brook trout:

White River (Bull Shoals Lake Tailwater), North Fork White River (Norfolk Tailwater), Spavinaw Creek (Benton County) west of Arkansas Highway 59, Spring River - minimum length 14 inches, daily limit two.

(D) Rainbow trout:

Lake Atalanta (Benton County) - daily limit five.

All fish measurements must follow procedures listed in Code Q1.Q0-C Length Limit definition.

N1.02 LENGTH AND PROTECTED LENGTH LIMITS ON CERTAIN LAKES AND RIVERS

(A) BLACK BASS - It is unlawful to possess black bass as follows:
(1) Largemouth bass less than 12 inches on Lake Frierson.

(2) Spotted bass less than 12 inches on, Bull Shoals, Norfork and Table Rock lakes.

(3) All black bass less than 12 inches in Horseshoe Bend Pool on the Strawberry River.

(4) Largemouth and spotted bass less than 13 inches on Lake Ouachita.

(5) Largemouth bass 13-16 inches on lakes Austell (Cross County), Barnett (White County), Brewer, Wilhelmina (Polk County), Bear Creek Lake, Bob Kidd; Lee Creek; Sugar Loaf Lake, and Dierks Reservoir (Howard and Sevier counties).

(6) Largemouth bass less than 13 inches on DeGrav Lake and within the boundaries of Felsenthal NWR.

EXCEPTION: No restriction in Woodland Trail Pond - located at the Felsenthal NWR Headquarters on Hwy 82 (Ashley County); Locust Ridge Pond - located at Locust Ridge on Hwy 82 (Union County); Eagle Lake Pond- located north of Eagle Lake on Bradley Road 53 (Bradley County); and Shallow Lake Field Pond located west of Shallow Lake (Union County). Person(s) keeping largemouth bass less than 13 inches from these waters must exit the NWR boundaries immediately upon leaving these ponds and may not enter NWR campgrounds or fish other NWR waters with largemouth bass less than 13 inches from these four ponds in their possession.

(7) Largemouth bass less than 14 inches on the Arkansas River and its tributaries.

(8) Smallmouth bass less than 15 inches on Beaver, Bull Shoals, Norfolk and Table Rock lakes.

(9) Largemouth bass less than 15 inches on Beaver Lake, Big Lake NWR, Blue Mountain, Bull Shoals, Georgia Pacific, Greers Ferry, Kingfisher, Norfolk, Shady and Table Rock lakes; Caddo Fishing Pond; Upper and Lower Lake Chicot (including Connerly Bayou downstream from Connelly Dam to the bayou's mouth and Ditch Bayou from the inlet on Lake Chicot to Ditch Bayou Dam); Lake Greenlee, Mercer Bayou (Sulphur River WMA); and Moss Creek Pond.

(10) Black bass greater than 16 inches in Lake Winona.

(11) Largemouth bass 16-21 inches on Lake Atkins. Daily limit four (only one of which may be longer than 21 inches).

(12) Largemouth bass 16-21 inches on Tommy L. Sproles Lake Pickthorne. Daily limit two (only one of which may be longer than 21 inches).

(13) Largemouth bass daily limit ten (only one of which may be longer than 20 inches) on Lake Columbia.

(14) Largemouth bass daily limit 10 (only one of which may be longer than 18 inches) on Lake SWEPCO.

(15) Smallmouth bass less than 18 inches on the lower Little Missouri River from Narrows Dam to its mouth. Daily limit one.

(16) Largemouth bass less than 21 inches on Mallard Lake. Daily limit one.

(17) Largemouth bass 19-22 inches on Lake Monticello. Daily limit eight, only one of which may be longer than 22 inches.

(18) Largemouth Bass less than 16 inches on Lower White Oak Lake. Daily limit five.

(B) CRAPPIE: It is unlawful to possess crappie as follows:
(1) Less than 10 inches in Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals and Norfork Reservoirs; Cane Creek Lake in Lincoln County; Lake Chicot (including Connerly Bayou downstream from Connerly Dam to the bayou's mouth and Ditch Bayou from the inlet on Lake Chicot to Ditch Bayou Dam); Lake Charles, Lake Conway, Lake Monticello, Lake Overcup and Harris Brake Lake.

(2) Less than 9 inches on Blue Mountain e .

EXCEPTION:

(1) From December-February, the minimum length limit is waived on Lake Monticello and the harvest is regulated by a 20-fish daily limit. The first 20 crappie caught, regardless of size, must be kept. Culling is not permitted. From March-November, harvest is controlled by a 10-inch minimum length, daily limit of 20.

(C) CATFISH (channel, blue and flathead):
(1) It is unlawful to possess flathead catfish less than 20 inches on the Ouachita River from Sandy Beach Access (Ouachita County) to Remmel Dam.

(D) STRIPED BASS: It is unlawful to possess striped bass less than 20 inches on Lake Norfork and Beaver Lake.

(E) SHOVELNOSE STURGEON: It is unlawful to possess shovelnose sturgeon less than 21 inches. Shovelnose sturgeon may not be taken from the Mississippi River.

EXCEPTION:

(1) Sportfish may be snagged (except in catch-and-release areas) in compliance with Codes 26.05; 26.17 and within the restrictive size limits in this addendum chapter.

N1.03 SPECIFIC TROUT WATER REGULATIONS

(A) Beaver Tailwater (White River from 100 yards below Beaver Dam to boundary signs at Houseman Access).
(1) No fishing, boating or wading within 100 yards of Beaver Dam.

(2) An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish other than as specified for the paddlefish-snagging season.

(3) Bait fishing allowed only with a single, hooking point.

(4) From April 15-June 15, snagging game fish is legal only from 100 yards below Beaver Dam from the Corps of Engineers "No Fishing Beyond This Point" sign downstream to the first Corps of Engineers boat ramp on the left descending bank to the first boat-launching ramp. Snagging must cease after half the daily limit of any game fish has been snagged. Snagged fish of any species shall not be released.

(5) Special Regulation Area:

Artificial Lures Only Area/No Bait Zone from approximately 0.5 mile below Beaver Dam to approximately 100 yards upstream of Parker Bend Access, as indicated by signs.

(a) Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(b) Chumming is prohibited.

(B) Bull Shoals Tailwater (White River from 100 yards below Bull Shoals Dam to Arkansas Highway 58 Bridge at Guion).
(1) No fishing, boating or wading within 100 yards of Bull Shoals Dam.

(2) An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.

(3) Special Regulation Areas:
(a) Bull Shoals Dam Catch-and-Release Area - Open to fishing from Feb. 1-Oct 31 from 100 yards below Bull Shoals Dam to the upstream boundary of Bull Shoals/White River State Park, as indicated by signs.
(1) AH trout caught must be immediately released.

(2) Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(3) Chumming is prohibited.

(b) Bull Shoals Dam Closed Area - the area 100 yards below Bull Shoals Dam to the wing dike at the Bull Shoals/White River State Park Trout Dock. This area is closed to fishing or wading Nov. 1-Jan.31.

(c) Bull Shoals Dam Seasonal Brown Trout Catch-and-Release Area, Nov. 1 -Jan. 31. From the wing dike at Bull Shoals/White River State Park Trout Dock to the downstream boundary of the Bull Shoals/White River State Park.
(1) All brown trout must be immediately released.

(2) Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(3) Chumming is prohibited.

(4) No fishing 30 minutes after sunset-30 minutes before sunrise.

(d) Rim Shoals Catch-and-Release Area (near Cotter). From sign immediately above mouth of Jenkins Creek to the first electric power line downstream, as indicated by signs.
(1) All trout caught must be immediately released.

(2) Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(3) Chumming is prohibited.

(e) Monkey Island Catch-and-Release Area (between Reds Landing Access and Chesmond Ferty Access), from the upstream end of Monkey Island to mouth of Moccasin Creek, as indicated by signs.
(1) All trout caught must be immediately released.

(2) Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(3) Chumming is prohibited.

(C) Norfork Tailwater (North Fork of the White River from 100 yards below Norfork Dam to the confluence of the White River).
(1) No fishing, boating or wading within 100 yards below Norfork Dam.

(2) An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.

(3) Chain dragging is prohibited. It is unlawful to drag chains or other objects from boats, capable of destroying aquatic vegetation.

(4) Special Regulation Areas:
(a) Norfork Catch-and-Release Area - from the downstream end of Long Hole to the Bill Ackerman River Ridge Walk-in Access (about 1-2 miles), as indicated by signs.
(1) AH trout caught must be immediately released.

(2) Only artificial lures or flies shall be used. All hooking points must be barbless. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(3) Chumming is prohibited.

(D) Greers Ferry Tailwater (Little Red River from 100 yards below Greers Ferry Dam to the Arkansas Highway 305 Bridge).
(1) No fishing, boating or wading within 100 yards of Greers Ferry Dam.

(2) An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish. Only a single hooking point per pole may be used for bait-fishing.

(3) Special Regulation Areas:
(a) JFK Special Regulations Area (at John F. Kennedy Park below Greers Ferry Dam) - from 100 yards downstream from Greers Ferry Dam to approximately 0.5 miles downstream to the last Greer's Ferry National Fish Hatcheiy effluent outfall in John F. Kennedy Park, as indicated by signs.
(1) Only artificial lures with barbless hooks shall be used.

(2) Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(3) Chumming is prohibited.

(b) Cow Shoals Seasonal Catch-and-Release Area, Oct. 1-Dec. 31. From the head of Cow Shoals to the mouth of Canoe Creek, as indicated by signs.
(1) All trout caught must be immediately released.

(2) Only artificial lures with a single, barbless hooking point per pole shall be used. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(3) Chumming is prohibited.

(4) Closed to night fishing (half hour before sunset to half hour before sunrise).

(c) Mossy Shoals Special Regulations Area - from the head of Dunham Shoals downstream to the end of Mossy Shoals, as indicated by signs.
(1) Only artificial lures with barbless hooks shall be used.

(2) Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(3) Chumming is prohibited.

(E) Collins Creek (from its source in John F. Kennedy Park below Greers Ferry Dam to the confluence of the Little Red River).
(1) An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.

(2) Catch-and-Release Stream. All trout caught must be immediately released.

(3) Only artificial lures with a single, barbless hooking point shall be used. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(4) Chumming is prohibited.

(5) Fishing is limited to youths upstream of the wooden vehicle bridge in John F. Kennedy Park.

(6) Fishing is allowed from sunrise to sunset.

(7) Downstream of the wooden vehicle road bridge in John F. Kennedy Park, anglers with a fishing license and a trout permit may fish when accompanying a youth under age 16 in the act of fishing.

(F) Dry Run Creek (from its source on the east side of Norfork National Fish Hatchery below Noifork Dam to the confluence with the North Fork of the White River).
(1) An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.

(2) Catch-and-Release Stream. All trout caught must be immediately released.

(3) Only artificial lures with a single, barbless hooking point shall be used. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(4) Chumming is prohibited.

(5) Fishing is limited to youths and mobility impaired anglers.

(6) Fishing is allowed from sunrise to sunset.

(7) Mobility impaired anglers shall fish from the mobility impaired access pier or boardwalk only.

(8) Mobility-impaired card is required for mobility-impaired anglers in compliance with Addendum Cl.ll.

(G) Blanchard Spring Mirror Lake (in Ozark National Forest Blanchard Spring, from its source to the confluence with North Sylamore Creek, including Mirror Lake) .
(1) An angler shall use no more than two fishing rods or poles and must attend them at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.

(H) Spring River, from 100 yards below Dam No. 1 at Mammoth Spring State Park to the mouth of Myatt Creek.
(1) An angler shall use no more than two fishing rods or poles and must attend them at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.

(I) Spavinaw Creek (Benton County), from its source downstream to the Arkansas Highway 59 bridge.
(1) An angler shall use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.

(2) Catch and Release Stream. All trout caught must be immediately released.

(3) Only artificial lures with a single, barbless hooking point shall be used. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(4) Chumming is prohibited.

(J) Narrows Tailwater - Little Missouri River from 100 yards below Narrows Dam (Lake Greeson) downstream to the low-water bridge (Arkansas Highway 27 Bridge).
(1) An angler shall use no more than two fishing rods or poles and must attend them at all times. No other devices shall be used to catch fish.

(2) Special Regulation Areas:
(a) Nairows Catch-and-Release Area - from 100 yards below Narrows Dam downstream to the upstream boundaiy of Riverside Park Access.
(1) All trout caught must be immediately released.

(2) Only artificial lures with a single, barbless hooking point shall be used. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(3) Chumming is prohibited.

(b) Narrows Summer Catch-and-Release Area - May 1-Oct. 15. Downstream from the upstream boundary of the Riverside Park Access to the gas line crossing above River Ridge Pool.
(1) All trout caught must be immediately released.

(2) Only artificial lures with a single, barbless hooking point shall be used. Natural or scented baits are not allowed.

(3) Chumming is not allowed.

(c) NaiTows Winter Catch-and-Release Area - Oct. 16-April 30. From approximately 300 yards downstream of Hinds Bluff Access to approximately 300 yards upstream of Old Factory Site (Weir 2), as indicated by signs.
(1) All trout caught must be immediately released.

(2) Only artificial lures with a single, barbless hooking point shall be used. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(3) Chumming is prohibited.

(K) Big Spring (at Cotter) from its source to the confluence with the White River.
(1) Fishing is limited to youths and disabled anglers. Youths must be accompanied by an adult when fishing. Adult disabled anglers must cany proof they are 100 percent permanently and totally disabled (Code 01.00-C Disabled) and possess a sport fishing, lifetime fishing, or combination hunting and fishing license, plus a trout permit.

(2) An angler may use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times. No other devices may be used to catch fish.

(3) All fish caught must be released.

(4) Only artificial lures with barbless hook(s) may be used. Natural or scented baits are prohibited.

(5) Chumming is prohibited.

(6) Fishing is allowed from sunrise to sunset.

(7) No fishing in the swimming hole at the upstream end of Big Spring, as indicated by signs.

(8) No motorized boats allowed in Big Spring.

(9) Fishing derbies must be requested, and permitted in writing by AGFC District 2 fisheries biologist, and can include fishing with natural or scented baits, and harvest of trout.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arkansas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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