002.01.22 Ark. Code R. 011

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 10, October, 2024

Rule 002.01.22-011 - 30.13 Commercial Fishing Season Restrictions

It is unlawful to fish commercial tackle in waters of the state and possession of commercial fishing tackle is prohibited while on these waters, including all lakes owned and/or operated by Arkansas State Parks, USDA Forest Service, or AGFC, except for the following:

A. The following waters, including all lakes, bays or other bodies of water, other than tributary streams, connected to waters as specified below, when accessible by boat, from the main channel except as limited by Addendum Chapter H1.00 and in accordance with landowner permission Code 05.35, are open year-round to legal commercial tackle as defined in Code 30.05:

1. ARKANSAS RIVER from its mouth to the Oklahoma state line including that part of the Arkansas River from the Ozark Dam to the Oklahoma state line, bounded on the north by the Union Pacific Railroad and on the south by Arkansas Highway 22 in compliance with Section C codes below. It is unlawful to fish with commercial tackle in waters between arrival point signs and any lock and dam;

2. MISSIPPI RIVER Arkansas waters between the main levees of the river;

3. BLACK RIVER from its mouth to the Missouri state line;

4. CACHE RIVER from its mouth to its headwaters in Clay County;

5. FOURCHE LaFAVE RIVER from its mouth to the Arkansas Highway 7 bridge in Perry County;

6. LITTLE RIVER from its mouth in Hempstead and Little River counties upstream to the Corps of Engineers boat ramp on west bank of river below Millwood Lake Dam; Little River upstream of Patterson Shoals boat ramp to the Oklahoma state line;

7. OUACHITA RIVER from the Louisiana state line to U.S. Highway 79B bridge (Camden) (see Emergency Closure Code 38.01);

8. PETIT JEAN RIVER from its mouth to the Arkansas Highway 10 bridge in Yell County;

9. RED RIVER in Hempstead, Lafayette, Little River, and Miller Counties;

10. ST. FRANCIS RIVER upstream to the mouth of the Left Hand Chute of Little River in Poinsett County;

11. SALINE RIVER from its mouth upstream to the Arkansas Highway 278 bridge in Bradley County; Saline River and backwaters upstream of the Stillions Railroad Bridge is closed to gill and trammel nets; Saline River above Highway 278 bridge in Bradley County closed to commercial fishing; (see Emergency Closure Code 38.01);

12. SULPHUR RIVER from its mouth to the Texas state line;

13. WHITE RIVER upstream from its mouth to the mouth of the Black River; White River above the mouth of the Black River is closed to commercial fishing;

14.EXCEPTIONS:

i. Flathead catfish, bowfin, drum, and gar may not be taken or possessed by commercial fishermen on the Ouachita River from Smackover Creek to the northern boundary of Felsenthal NWR.

ii. Blue catfish, flathead catfish, bowfin, drum, and gar may not be taken or possessed by commercial fishermen on the Ouachita River from the northern boundary of Felsenthal NWR to the Louisiana state line, all waters within Felsenthal NWR, and from the Saline River from its mouth within Felsenthal NWR upstream to the Stillion railroad bridge.

B. The following counties are open year-round to legal commercial tackle as defined in Code 30.05 unless noted closed in Section A above or other codes in Chapter 30.00. When a river or stream forms the boundary between opened and closed counties, that boundary segment shall be closed to commercial tackle, unless noted open in Section A above or other codes in Chapter 30.00. Gill and trammel nets may be fished in the following counties only from noon September 30 to noon May 1, unless noted open in Section A or other codes in Chapter 30.00:

1. Arkansas (see Emergency Closure Code 38.01);

2. Ashley (see Emergency Closure Code 38.01);

3. Bradley (see Emergency Closure Code 38.01);

4. Calhoun (see Emergency Closure Code 38.01);

5. Chicot; Lake Wallace closed; Grand Lake closed;

6. Clay;

7. Columbia (see Emergency Closure Code 38.01); Dorcheat Bayou closed; Columbia County Lake closed;

8. Craighead;

9. Crittenden; Horseshoe Lake closed;

10. Cross;

11. Desha;

12. Drew (see Emergency Closure Code 38.01); Lake Wallace closed;

13. Greene;

14. Hempstead; Little Missouri River closed;

15. Independence;

16. Jackson;

17. Jefferson (see Emergency Closure Code 38.01); Hensley Lake closed;

18. Lafayette; Lake Erling, including all tributaries upstream from 100 yards below Lake Erling Dam to Arkansas Highway 313 in Lafayette County closed;

19. Lawrence; Strawberry River above Highway 25 closed;

20. Lee;

21. Lincoln;

22. Little River;

23. Lonoke (see Emergency Closure Code 38.01);

24. Miller; Long Slough closed;

25. Mississippi;

26. Monroe;

27. Phillips;

28. Poinsett;

29. Prairie (see Emergency Closure Code 38.01);

30. Pulaski (see Emergency Closure Code 38.01); Lake Maumelle closed;

31. St. Francis;

32. Union (see Emergency Closure Code 38.01);

33. White; Little Red River closed year-round to commercial fishing upstream of the Arkansas Highway 367 bridge at Searcy; and

34. Woodruff;

35.EXCEPTIONS:

i. For waters in the above counties located within the Dale Bumpers White River NWR below Arkansas Highway 1, gill and trammel net season is from noon September 30 - noon November 30 and from noon March 1 - noon September 30 when accessible by boat from the White River and the White River is above 23.5 feet on the St. Charles gauge. All commercial fishermen must obtain a special use permit from the Dale Bumpers White River NWR manager prior to fishing refuge waters.

C. The following waterbodies are open to commercial tackle with certain restrictions:

1.Corning Lake or Long Lake in Clay County: Trotlines, throw line, limblines, and snag lines are prohibited.

2.Lake Dardanelle:

i. Commercial tackle of any type is prohibited from noon March 1 - noon November 30 in the waters of Dardanelle Lake north of the Union 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.

ii. Gill and trammel nets must be anchored so they are not within 3 feet of the water surface except noon December1 - noon April 1.

iii. Commercial tackle of any type is prohibited in the Entergy Nuclear Power Plant discharge bay from noon November 1 - noon March 1.

3.Central Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge Complex: The following NWRs allow commercial fishing activities through Special Use Permit only. See refuge manager for Special Use Permit and refuge specific regulations.

i.Big Lake NWR

ii.Cache River NWR

iii.Holla Bend NWR

4.Lake Millwood: Legal gill and trammel nets open noon September 30 - noon May 1. Lake Millwood is open year-round to other legal commercial fishing. Commercial fishers must obtain, and have in their possession while fishing, a commercial permit from the district biologist at the Commission's Hope Regional Office, and report their catch in compliance with Code 30.03.

5.Nimrod Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, and Morgan Point Bendway Lake: Open noon October 1 - noon March 1. All species of carp caught must be removed from these lakes. Commercial fishers must obtain, and have in their possession while fishing, a commercial permit from the district biologist at the Commission's Russellville Regional Office, for Nimrod and Blue Mountain Lakes, or the Monticello Regional Office for Morgan Point Bendway Lake, and report their catch in compliance with Code 30.03. Only legal-sized gill and trammel nets or larger.

6.Cadron Creek and Point Remove Creek: Legal commercial tackle during the commercial fishing season noon September 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.

7.Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA: Open noon January 1 until noon the last day of February.

8.First Old River Lake (Miller County): Open noon November 1 until noon February 28, with legal gill and trammel nets. Commercial fishers must obtain, and have in their possession while fishing, a commercial permit from the district biologist at the Commission's Hope Regional Office and report their catch in compliance with Code 30.03.

9.Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d'Arc Lake (Hempstead County): Open noon November 1 - noon February 28, with legal gill and trammel nets. Commercial fishers must obtain, and have in their possession while fishing, a commercial permit from the district biologist at the Commission's Hope Regional Office and report their catch in compliance with Code 30.03.

10.Lake Erling (Lafayette County): Open noon November 1 - noon February 28, with slat traps and fiddler-size hoops nets upstream to the Highway 360 bridge. Commercial fishers must obtain and have in their possession while fishing, a commercial permit from the district biologist at the Commission's Camden Regional Office, and report their catch in compliance with Code 30.03.

11.Lake Chicot (Chicot County): Open noon November 1- noon December 31. Commercial fishers must obtain, and have in their possession while fishing, a commercial permit from the district biologist at the Commission's Monticello Regional Office, and report their catch in compliance with Code 30.03. All species of carp and all rough fish, excluding alligator gar, caught must be removed from the lake. Alligator gar must be released back into the lake. The 16-inch minimum length limit on buffalo is waived. Only legal-sized or larger gill and trammel nets may be used.

12.Old River Lake (Pulaski County): Open noon December 1- noon February 28. Commercial fishers must obtain, and have in their possession while fishing, a commercial permit from the district biologist at the Commission's Brinkley Regional Office, and report their catch in compliance with Code 30.03. All species of carp and all rough fish, excluding alligator gar, caught must be removed from the lake. Alligator gar must be released back into the lake. The 16-inch minimum length limit on buffalo is waived.

13.Horseshoe Lake (Crittenden County): Open noon November 1 until noon February 28 with legal gill and trammel nets. Commercial fishers must obtain, and have in their possession while fishing, a commercial permit from the district biologist at the Commission's Brinkley Regional Office, and report their catch in compliance with Code 30.03. All species of carp and all rough fish, excluding alligator gar, caught must be removed from the lake. Alligator gar must be released back into the lake. The 16-inch minimum length limit on buffalo is waived.

14.Long Slough (Miller County): Open noon November 1 until noon February 28, with legal gill and trammel nets. Commercial fishers must obtain, and have in their possession while fishing, a commercial permit from the district biologist at the Commission's Hope Regional Office, and report their catch in compliance with Code 30.03.

PENALTY: Class 2

002.01.22 Ark. Code R. 011

Adopted by Arkansas Register Volume 47, Number 12, Effective 12/19/2022