A General Guide To Crappie Fishing Regulations

Each state has their own set of crappie fishing regulations and rules. In order to keep yourself on the right side of the Game and Fish Commission, you really have to check the regulations for the areas in which you will be fishing closely and conduct your fishing accordingly.

Briefly, here are the regulations that are usually common, and have been pulled directly from the Arkansas Game and Fish Division's guide book:

You may not legally:

Refuse an officer's lawful request to see or inspect your wildlife, tackle, weapon or license.

Interfere with an officer performing his or her duties.

Flee from an officer.

Aid, accompany or abet someone else in a violation.

Hunt or fish after your license has been revoked or suspended.

Import, transport, possess or take endangered species.

Transport illegally taken fish or wildlife across state lines.

Waste the edible portion of fish or wildlife, with the exception of rough fish (excluding buffalo).

Take wildlife for scientific studies without a permit from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Fisheries Division.

Use gamefish, or parts thereof, for bait or lures.

General regulations

Buy or sell game fish unless they were raised by a licensed fish farmer or unless they are bream four inches or shorter. In either case, a fish dealer's license may be required.

Litter or fail to extinguish fires on public property.

Take bait other than insects, freshwater shrimp, worms and baitfish from public waters and sell or offer to sell it. A fish dealer's license may be required.

Release any fish, baitfish or crayfish into public waters without written permission from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Feed or lure alligators in the wild.

Possess fish or wildlife taken by someone else without a signed statement from the taker, stating name, address, species, date taken and license number. This requirement also applies to commercial storage facilities.

On wildlife management areas, lakes and accesses, unless otherwise noted in the fishing guidebook, you may not legally:

Hunt, trap or possess hunting equipment except when seasons are open.

Possess a loaded firearm in a camping area or in fishing or boating access areas.

Remove anything from Commission-owned land without permission.

Camp outside a designated area, camp more than 14 consecutive days (including time when the camp is set up but not occupied), or allow the camp to remain unoccupied for more than 48 hours.

Disobey official signs.

Damage Commission property.

Cut trees.

Burn timber, brush or grass.

Burn materials containing nails, screws or other metal objects.
Leave a fire unattended.

Bait wildlife.

Post signs.

Create a disturbance after 10 p.m.

Use or possess alcohol while hunting.

Engage in commercial activities without prior Commission approval. Construct, place or occupy a permanent hunting stand, building, shelter or moored houseboat.

Use or possess chainsaws, handsaws, hatchets, axes, weed trimmers, string trimmers or other cutting devices. Chemical defoliants are prohibited.