National Park & Tribal Fishing Licences 2026 — Where a State Licence Stops Working

Rule: A Yellowstone-issued National Park Service fishing permit is REQUIRED. No state fishing licence is valid inside park boundaries.

• Permits are sold by NPS at park entrances, visitor centers, and most park concessionaires. Children under a published age threshold fish free with a permitted adult.
• Regulations are park-specific — barbless artificial-only on many waters, native-species catch-and-release zones, and full-park ban on felt-soled wading boots to slow whirling-disease spread.
• Boundary waters bordering Wyoming, Montana, or Idaho revert to that state's licence the moment you cross out of the park.
• Yellowstone's regulations are updated annually; verify the current year before fishing.

Yellowstone fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Either a Tennessee OR a North Carolina state fishing licence is honored throughout the park's waters under a long-standing reciprocity arrangement — no separate park permit, but park-specific regulations override state regs where they differ.

• Park rules include single hook, artificial-only on most streams, and a 7-inch minimum on brook trout (above the NC state minimum).
• Possession limit is 5 fish total across brook, rainbow, and brown trout combined under park rules.
• Special regulation streams have C&R or fly-only restrictions — check the current park regulations card available at any ranger station.

Great Smokies fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: No park fishing permit required. Park-specific regulations apply on top of the Montana state fishing licence (where required) on the park's waters.

• Montana issues a free Glacier National Park conservation permit for residents and a separate non-resident fishing licence is NOT required for waters inside the park — but check the current park regulations for any specific waters that DO require state credentials.
• Park-specific rules: native-species catch-and-release on most lakes, no live bait, single barbless hook on listed cutthroat waters.
• The park's regulations are published annually by NPS Glacier — read them before launching any trip.

Glacier fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: An Arizona state fishing licence is required for anyone 10 or older fishing the Colorado River and tributaries inside the park.

• The park does NOT sell its own fishing permit — Arizona Game & Fish credentials are the controlling document.
• Trout-stamp / two-pole add-ons follow Arizona state rules.
• Park entry fee is separate and required.
• Special regulations apply at Lees Ferry (artificial-only certain stretches, slot limits on rainbow trout).

Grand Canyon fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A Maine state fishing licence is required for anyone 16 or older fishing freshwater inside the park. Saltwater anglers follow Maine's saltwater registration rules.

• No park-specific fishing permit; the Maine licence is the controlling document.
• Several ponds inside the park (e.g. Jordan Pond, Echo Lake) have stocked brook trout and brown trout with daily creel limits set under Maine inland fisheries rules.
• Bait restrictions on some ponds — verify current park regulations before fishing.

Acadia fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A Minnesota state fishing licence is the controlling document. No park-issued permit, but Voyageurs' superintendent's compendium adds park-specific restrictions on top of the MN rules.

• Major waters: Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Namakan Lake, Sand Point Lake, and the interior lakes accessible only by portage. Walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, lake trout, and muskie are the primary fisheries.
• Border-water lakes (Rainy, Namakan, Sand Point, Crane) are jointly managed with Ontario; Minnesota's regs apply on the US side, but ON has its own bag and gear rules across the international line.
• Park superintendent's compendium adds gear restrictions on listed interior lakes — verify before launching a portage trip.
• Aquatic invasive species inspection at boat launches is mandatory; barriers are enforced for live bait and bilge-water transfer.

Voyageurs fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A Florida state fishing licence is required — saltwater licence for marine waters (Florida Bay, Ten Thousand Islands, Whitewater Bay backcountry), freshwater licence for the inland canals, sloughs, and ponds. Park-specific NPS regulations apply on top of FWC rules.

• Children under 16 do not need a Florida licence. FWC saltwater rules (snook closed seasons, redfish slot, tarpon catch-and-release tagging) all apply inside the park.
• Live or dead bait fish, amphibians, and non-preserved fish eggs are PROHIBITED as bait in fresh waters of the park (NPS rule overrides FWC general allowance). Use of cast nets is restricted.
• Mercury advisory: do not eat any largemouth bass caught north of Main Park Road; limit consumption of bass caught south of Main Park Road. Posted at trailheads.
• Backcountry overnight camping requires a separate NPS wilderness permit — issued at Flamingo or Gulf Coast visitor centers.

Everglades fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A Washington State Recreational Fishing Licence — with the appropriate catch record card for salmon and steelhead — is required for nearly all fishing inside the park. Park-specific stream regulations override the WDFW general regs on listed rivers.

• Wild salmon, trout, and char must be released on most park rivers; only hatchery-marked (adipose-clipped) fish may be retained on the Hoh, Queets, Quinault, and Sol Duc per posted river-segment rules.
• Single barbless hooks and bait restrictions apply on most river segments — see the park's annual Fish & Shellfish Regulations card for the per-segment table before fishing.
• Lake Crescent (native Beardslee and crescenti trout) is catch-and-release only with single barbless hooks; lake trout are exempt and may be retained.
• Treaty tribal co-management (Quileute, Hoh, Quinault, Makah) shares some river systems; non-tribal anglers follow WDFW + park rules, not tribal rules.

Olympic fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Either a Utah OR an Arizona state fishing licence is valid across all of Lake Powell under a long-standing UT/AZ reciprocal arrangement — one licence covers both portions of the reservoir. No NPS permit.

• Reciprocity applies specifically to Lake Powell within the NRA boundary; on tributary streams outside the lake (Escalante, San Juan, Colorado above the reservoir), the licence of the state where the water sits controls.
• Striped bass have NO bag or possession limit (invasive species control); largemouth, smallmouth, walleye, crappie, and bluegill follow the host state's standard limits — verify which state's regs apply to your specific cove.
• Lees Ferry tailwater (downstream of Glen Canyon Dam) is the trout fishery — AZ-only water with separate trout-stamp + special regulations including artificial-only and slot limits on rainbow trout.
• Anglers 11 and under fish free under both states' rules; check each state's youth licence age separately.

Glen Canyon NRA fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Either a Nevada OR an Arizona state fishing licence is required — NV and AZ both honor each other on Lake Mead and Lake Mohave through an Interstate Boundary Waters arrangement, but a use stamp on the non-resident licence may be required to fish from the opposite-state shore. No NPS permit.

• Nevada Interstate Boundary Water Licence (NDOW) and Arizona's equivalent stamp are the explicit reciprocal credentials — verify which add-on you need for the side you launch from versus fish toward.
• Striped bass are the marquee fishery (no NV bag limit, AZ has a 10-fish limit south of the dam); largemouth, smallmouth, channel cat, and bluegill all follow the host state's regs.
• Below Hoover Dam on the Colorado River (Lake Mohave tailwater and the willow beach trout reach), AZ-only water — AZ trout stamp required for retention.
• Quagga mussel decontamination is mandatory before launching any boat that has visited another water body in the prior 30 days.

Lake Mead NRA fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A state fishing licence is required — Montana licence for the northern (MT) end of Bighorn Lake, Wyoming licence for the southern (WY) end. No NPS permit, and the two states do NOT have a Bighorn-specific reciprocity — verify which side of the state line your boat is on before casting.

• Bighorn Lake (the Yellowtail Dam impoundment) straddles the MT/WY border inside the NRA; the state line cuts across open water with no signage, so a multi-state licence pair is common for through-boating anglers.
• The southern reach of the lake also crosses Crow Indian Reservation land — on tribal water, neither state licence is valid; a Crow Tribe fishing permit takes over (see the Crow Reservation entry).
• Walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, lake trout, and brown trout are the primary lake fisheries; the Bighorn River BELOW Yellowtail Dam (MT side, outside the NRA) is one of the premier blue-ribbon trout tailwaters in the US.
• Boat launches operate at Horseshoe Bend (WY), Barry's Landing (MT), and Ok-A-Beh (MT) — confirm season-pass / day-use fees with the NPS unit before arrival.

Bighorn Canyon NRA fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A California state fishing licence is required for anyone 16 or older. CDFW inland regulations apply throughout the park EXCEPT on the listed Merced, Tuolumne, and Hetch Hetchy stretches where stricter park rules take over.

• Stream season on most park waters runs the last Saturday in April through November 15 (CA general inland trout season); designated lakes are open year-round per CA rules.
• Merced River (Happy Isles through El Portal) and the South Fork Merced: artificial flies/lures with barbless hooks only, rainbow trout are catch-and-release (zero bag), and any brown or brook trout caught MUST be retained, not released — a deliberate inversion designed to protect the native rainbow population.
• Tuolumne River below O'Shaughnessy Dam: barbless artificial only, open year-round, 12-inch maximum size + 2-fish daily bag during the regular season, zero bag in winter; Frog Creek (Hetch Hetchy) above Lake Eleanor is barbless artificial with zero bag.
• Fishing is PROHIBITED from bridges, piers, and the top of O'Shaughnessy Dam; review the statewide mercury advisory for CA lakes and reservoirs and the quagga / zebra mussel inspection rules before launching any vessel.

Yosemite fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A California state fishing licence is required for anyone 16 or older. CDFW daily bag and possession limits apply throughout the park EXCEPT inside any Developed Area, where stricter park-specific rules take over.

• Developed Area (defined as within 1/4 mile of buildings, campgrounds, picnic areas, or parking lots accommodating more than 5 vehicles): rainbow trout, Sacramento sucker, Kern rainbow, riffle sculpin, and California roach must be released only — barbless artificial flies or lures are the only authorized terminal tackle.
• Outside Developed Areas the CA general inland creel applies — typically 5 trout per day in possession with the 10-in-aggregate rule, but verify the current CDFW district rules for the Kern, Kings, and Kaweah drainages before fishing.
• Native California golden trout, Little Kern golden trout, and Kern River rainbow trout populations in the high country are conservation-priority fisheries — anglers are asked to use single barbless hooks and quick photo-release on suspected natives even outside the C&R zones.
• Wilderness overnight trips into the Kern, Mineral King, and Sixty Lake Basin require a separate NPS wilderness permit issued by the park; bear-canister rules apply across all backcountry waters.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A California state fishing licence (CDFW) is required for anyone 16 or older. Redwood NSP is a joint NPS + California State Parks administrative unit, so CDFW + CA State Parks rules layer on top of the federal superintendent's compendium — the strictest rule wins on any given water.

• Salmon and steelhead waters — Smith River, Klamath River, and Redwood Creek — are federal-ESA habitat for Southern Oregon / Northern California Coast Coho salmon (threatened); CDFW's annual low-flow closure protocol shuts these rivers to angling when gauged flows drop below published thresholds — check the CDFW Low-Flow Closures page before traveling.
• Redwood Creek and tributary closures: portions of the creek are closed to all persons and vehicles from 10pm–6am daily during salmon spawning (October 15 – March 31) under the superintendent's compendium to protect redds and emergent fry.
• The Klamath River through Redwood NSP runs along Yurok ancestral and reservation lands; tribal members operate under separate Yurok / Karuk / Hupa Tribal fishing rights, and the Klamath chinook quota allocation is set jointly by CDFW, the tribes, and PFMC each year — non-tribal anglers follow CDFW rules.
• Coastal surf smelt, redtail surfperch, and Pacific tomcod follow CDFW saltwater rules; rocky-intertidal collection inside park boundaries is generally prohibited (the park is a Marine Reserve / Marine Conservation Area patchwork — verify which MPA classification applies to your stretch of beach).

Redwood NSP fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A Washington state fishing licence is required throughout the North Cascades National Park Service Complex (North Cascades NP + Ross Lake NRA + Lake Chelan NRA). The complex defers to WDFW's licensing and seasonal rules; park-specific overrides apply on listed waters.

• Licences are NOT sold at any visitor or information station inside the complex — buy yours from WDFW (online or any authorized vendor) before driving in.
• Skagit River is one of Washington's major anadromous watersheds — 5 salmon species + steelhead + coastal cutthroat trout; the corresponding WDFW catch record card is required to retain salmon or steelhead.
• Lake Chelan NRA has a notable warm-water + lake-trout mix unusual for the Cascades — burbot, golden trout, lake trout, west slope cutthroat, kokanee, and both largemouth and smallmouth bass; verify WDFW district rules for each species before fishing.
• Mandatory AIS inspection: report any felt-soled-boot use or out-of-state boat to the WDFW AIS hotline 1-888-WDFW-AIS before launching into Ross Lake or Lake Chelan.

North Cascades fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: North Dakota state fishing laws and licence requirements apply in full inside the park — no separate NPS permit is issued.

• The Little Missouri River runs through the South Unit, the Elkhorn Ranch Unit, and the North Unit of the park before flowing into the Missouri River / Lake Sakakawea — most park angling happens on or from the Little Missouri.
• Sport-fish opportunities are limited and quality varies year to year: channel catfish, goldeye, and sauger are the realistic targets. Other species present include chubs, minnows, bluegills, and carpsuckers; walleye and small pike are occasional.
• Buy a North Dakota Game & Fish fishing licence (resident or non-resident, by duration) and follow the current ND statewide creel, size, and season regulations — Little Missouri-specific rules are minor relative to state defaults.
• Sediment-heavy flow makes the Little Missouri unpredictable for sight-fishing — check the river-levels page on the official NPS unit fishing site before planning a trip; flow extremes can shut down the fishery for days at a time.

Theodore Roosevelt fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid California state fishing licence is required and all California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Ocean Sport Fishing regulations apply — in addition, thirteen Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around the islands carry special take restrictions that supersede the statewide rules.

• Thirteen MPAs surround the five islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, Santa Barbara) — each MPA is classified as a State Marine Reserve (no take of any living marine resource), State Marine Conservation Area (limited take of specific species), or State Marine Recreational Management Area. Before fishing, check the MPA map and the per-MPA take rules: a reserve allows ZERO take; a conservation area may allow only finfish-by-hook-and-line; a recreational management area is the most permissive.
• California statewide ocean rules apply outside MPAs: CDFW seasons, daily bag and possession limits, size limits, and gear restrictions for groundfish (rockfish complex, lingcod), pelagics (yellowtail, white seabass, tuna), nearshore species, and invertebrates (lobster, crab, abalone). Spiny lobster season runs Oct – Mar and requires a separate Spiny Lobster Report Card; abalone has been closed statewide for years.
• All passengers on a charter boat or private boat fishing in park waters must hold a current California sport fishing licence; non-resident short-term options (1-day, 2-day, 10-day) are available from CDFW for visiting anglers.
• Boat-based access only — there is no shore-fishing infrastructure on most islands and many island shorelines fall within reserve boundaries. The park concessioner runs ferry service from Ventura and Oxnard; private boats must follow MPA boundaries which often extend ~1 nautical mile offshore.

Channel Islands fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A Wisconsin state fishing licence AND a Great Lakes Trout/Salmon Stamp are both required to fish in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Season dates, closed areas, line and fish limits, and method restrictions are enforced jointly by NPS rangers and Wisconsin DNR officers.

• Target species in the Lakeshore's Lake Superior waters are Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow (Steelhead) Trout, and Coho Salmon — the Great Lakes Trout/Salmon Stamp is required even if you only intend to fish for one of these species.
• Park boundary extends ¼ mile offshore from each island — fishing charters operating outside that line do not need NPS registration, but most reputable Bayfield-area charters are park-authorized. Many water taxi services and charters depart from Bayfield Peninsula towns (Ashland, Port Wing, Bayfield).
• Seasonal pattern: Spring (ice-out – early June) brings near-shore trout/salmon to spawning streams (Sioux, Onion, Pikes, Cranberry, Flag Rivers) and points along the Bayfield Peninsula — cast from shore in 10–30 ft. Summer (mid-June – August) means deeper water trolling for Lake Trout, often inside the Madeline – Long Island 'sportfishing only' area established by Wisconsin DNR. Fall (Sep – Nov) returns trout/salmon to shore.
• Eagle Island closed to approach within 500 feet during the summer nesting season to protect colonial nesting birds. Lake Superior is dangerous water — sudden squalls, fog, and cold temperatures are routine; monitor NOAA marine channel 7 (162.525 MHz) before and during any trip.

Apostle Islands fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Ohio fishing licence is required to fish in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (children under 16 are exempt). Ohio Division of Wildlife regulations apply except where a federal NPS regulation conflicts — in that case the federal rule supersedes the state rule.

• Hook-and-line only with the rod or line being closely attended — no jug, set, trot, or unattended lines; no nets, spears, or traps; no drugs, poisons, explosives, or electricity; no commercial fishing.
• Possessing or using live or dead minnows, other bait fish, amphibians, or non-preserved fish eggs / fish roe is PROHIBITED except in specifically designated waters — confirm any water before bringing live bait.
• No chumming and no introducing wildlife / fish / plants (or their reproductive bodies) into park waters — this includes dumping the contents of any bait bucket. Carry out unused bait.
• No fishing from motor-road bridges, within 200 feet of a public raft or float designated for water sports, or within designated swimming beach / public boat dock limits — read posted signage at the Cuyahoga River, Brandywine Falls, Beaver Marsh, and the towpath access points.

Cuyahoga Valley fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: An Arkansas state fishing licence is required to fish in Hot Springs National Park, and all Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) regulations apply except where a federal NPS rule below overrides them.

• Hook-and-line only with the rod or line closely attended — no trot lines, no jug lines, no nets, no spears, no traps, no commercial fishing, no use of drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity in park waters.
• Live or dead bait fish, amphibians, and non-preserved fish eggs or roe are PROHIBITED except in waters specifically designated for them — Hot Springs has no general bait-fish allowance, so bring no live bait unless current rules specifically permit it for the water you are fishing.
• Chumming and the introduction of any wildlife, fish, or plants into park waters are prohibited — this includes dumping bait or bait buckets. Digging for bait is prohibited except on private inholdings.
• No fishing from motor-road bridges or within 200 feet of any public raft / float / designated swimming beach / public boat dock unless the area is specifically designated for fishing — Hot Springs NP's primary fishery is Lake Catherine + Lake Hamilton boundary waters; the park itself is mostly the bathhouse-district mountain area with limited stream fishing.

Hot Springs fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Split rule. NO Alaska state fishing licence is required inside the boundaries of the former Mount McKinley National Park (the original park area containing the Denali Park Road and the most-visited corridor). An Alaska state sport fishing licence IS required in the post-1980 park additions and in the Denali National Preserve.

• Inside the former Mt McKinley NP only: NPS-set catch limit of 10 fish per person per day not to exceed 10 lbs + 1 fish, EXCEPT lake trout (mackinaw) at 2 fish per person per day (hooked-and-released fish count toward the lake trout limit). Possession of more than one day's limit is prohibited.
• In the new park additions and the preserve: full Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADFG) state sport-fishing regulations apply — AK licence, AK statewide seasons, AK bag and possession limits. Buy the licence before entering remote sections; there are no in-park sales.
• Hook-and-line only with the rod or line closely attended; live or dead bait fish, amphibians, and non-preserved fish eggs / fish roe are PROHIBITED in all park waters (this is stricter than ADFG's statewide rules); no chumming; no digging for bait; no commercial fishing.
• Denali's accessible waters near the Park Road are mostly glacial and silt-heavy with poor fish habitat — clearer creeks and deeper ponds away from the road corridor hold occasional grayling, lake trout, and Dolly Varden. Lead tackle is discouraged. Fish remains should be disposed of in the water away from developed areas, not on land, to minimize wildlife conflict near backcountry campsites.

Denali fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Alaska state fishing licence is required to fish in the park and preserve, with exceptions for resident subsistence users in designated resident-zone communities. Children under 18 (residents) or under 16 (non-residents) fish without a licence but must still record harvest on a Sport Fishing Harvest Record Card.

• Park and Alaska Department of Fish & Game cooperatively manage fish resources. State season + bag + possession limits apply, set under ADF&G's Upper Copper-Upper Susitna Management Area (interior) and Yakutat Management Area (coastal). Buy the licence + king salmon stamp + harvest record card before reaching remote sections — there are no in-park sales kiosks.
• Primary fisheries are the Copper River system and its tributaries (migration routes for sockeye, coho, and king salmon). NPS notes the Copper River main stem is generally NOT the best place to actually catch salmon because of glacial silt — the nearby Klutina and Gulkana Rivers (outside the park) hold cleaner water and are the more productive choice for trip planning.
• Interior small lakes and clear-water tributaries hold lake trout, Dolly Varden, burbot, grayling, cutthroat and rainbow trout, sculpin, suckers, and whitefish. Some of the northernmost steelhead populations on the continent occur within the park/preserve.
• Subsistence fishing is allowed for local rural residents of the designated resident-zone communities (Chisana, Chistochina, Chitina, Copper Center, Dot Lake, Gakona, Gakona Junction, Glennallen, Gulkana, Healy Lake, Kenny Lake, Lower Tonsina, McCarthy, Mentasta Lake, Nabesna, Northway/Northway Village/Northway Junction, Slana, Tanacross, Tazlina, Tetlin, Tok, Tonsina, Yakutat) under 36 CFR §2.3 and §13.40 — they may use nets, seines, traps, spears, and native species as bait where permitted. Visiting non-subsistence anglers may NOT use these methods.
• A 2014 mercury study found elevated mercury in fish from some park lakes — consult NPS's Mercury in Fish guidance before sustained consumption from interior lakes.

Wrangell-St. Elias fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Alaska state fishing licence + all required ADF&G tags + stamps are required. NPS and the State of Alaska cooperatively manage Lake Clark — full Alaska sport-fishing regulations apply throughout the park and preserve.

• Preservation of the sockeye salmon fishery was an original founding purpose of the park — Lake Clark hosts some of the most intact watershed habitat in the National Park System. Season runs primarily May–October with peak July–August during salmon runs; some interior lakes are still iced over until June. Ice fishing is open in winter where lakes freeze through.
• Headline destinations: Crescent Lake (Chigmit Mountains — sockeye + lake trout + grayling), Silver Salmon Creek (coho run mid-Aug to early Sep, fished alongside coastal brown bears), the Tanalian and Tlikakila Rivers (salmon + Dolly Varden), and the Mulchatna River system below Bonanza Hills (salmon + rainbow trout). All five Pacific salmon species are present in the system along with arctic char, arctic grayling, Dolly Varden, lake trout, rainbow trout, and northern pike.
• Lake Clark is bear country wherever salmon run — anglers must keep gear immediately on their person, surrender catch (cut the line or give slack) if a bear approaches a hooked fish, clean fish at the waterline and disperse all remains into fast-moving current away from the shore, and accept that bears have right-of-way on prime fishing sites.
• Most park access is by float plane from Anchorage / Port Alsworth — there is no road access and there are no in-park licence sales kiosks. Buy the Alaska licence + king salmon stamp + any harvest record card before flying in.

Lake Clark fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: An Alaska sport fishing licence is required for all non-residents 16 and over and most residents 16 to 59. A king salmon stamp and/or harvest record card may also be required by species and area. Special federal NPS regulations layer on top of state regulations specifically on the Brooks River.

• ADF&G state regulations governing Katmai sit under the Bristol Bay, Kodiak/Aleutian, and Lower Cook Inlet management areas. Target species: rainbow trout (the headline fishery), arctic char, Dolly Varden, arctic grayling, lake trout, and all five Pacific salmon species. Many of Katmai's pools see heavy seasonal pressure and individual trout are caught and released multiple times in a season — barbless single hooks and minimum-handling catch-and-release ethics are strongly emphasized by NPS.
• Brooks River carries park-specific federal restrictions on top of state rules — this is the famous brown-bear-and-sockeye corridor near Brooks Camp and is the most heavily managed reach in the park. Anglers fishing the Brooks must read both ADF&G's regional regulation summary AND the NPS-issued Brooks River regulations before the trip; rules cover season windows, gear, retention, and standoff distance from bears feeding on the same run.
• Bear-conflict reduction is mandatory practice site-wide. A splashing fish reads as food to a brown bear and bears will move toward the splash — stop fishing if a bear is near enough to notice, give slack or cut the line if hooked while a bear approaches, and surrender any caught fish to the current rather than retrieve it past a bear. Brooks Camp has formal bear-protocols staff brief on arrival.
• Katmai is fly-in only (no road access) — float plane from King Salmon or Anchorage. There are no in-park licence sales; buy Alaska licence + king salmon stamp + harvest record card before flying out. NPS mercury-and-toxin fish-consumption advisory applies park-wide for sustained-consumption planning.

Katmai fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Alaska state sport fishing licence is required. Fishing is regulated under 36 CFR §2.3 plus Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) regulations where the two are non-conflicting.

• Sport fishing is permitted with hook and line only. The use of live bait and dead minnows is prohibited inside the park and preserve — this is stricter than ADF&G's statewide rules and is set under 36 CFR §2.3. Buy the Alaska licence in Fairbanks, Bettles, or Coldfoot before entering — there are no in-park licence sales kiosks, and the park is fly-in / pack-in only with no road access.
• Because Gates of the Arctic sits north of the Arctic Circle, the open-water season for lakes and streams is short: ice is typically present from mid-October through late June. Trout fishing is best immediately after ice-out; grayling and char fishing peaks in autumn. Arctic waters have very low productivity and slow growth rates, so NPS strongly encourages catch-and-release or harvest of only what an angler can immediately consume — populations are highly susceptible to over-fishing.
• Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) is the most widespread species and the most accessible to anglers; it is the only species in the park that readily takes a dry fly. Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush — Alaska's largest freshwater fish) live in large, deep, cold lakes and stay near the surface only in spring. Both forms of arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) are present, though Alaska's char are typically lake-resident rather than anadromous.
• Northern pike inhabit clear vegetated lakes and slow river backwaters; their diet is heavily fish-and-bird, so big flashy flies or splashing lures attract them. Sheefish (Stenodus nelma — also called inconnu) migrate upstream during ice break-up and are taken on medium-action spinning gear with 10–20 lb line; solid-silver lures fish well during the feeding period.
• Whitefish and chum salmon are also present in northern park waters. For the current statewide sport-fishing regulation summary, contact the Alaska Department of Fish & Game — interior Alaska management areas govern season and bag limits inside the park.

Gates of the Arctic fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Alaska state fishing licence is required for all freshwater and saltwater fishing in and around the park. Kenai Fjords is primarily a marine park — most fishing happens in Resurrection Bay and the outer fjords, not in the limited backcountry freshwater.

• Saltwater is the headline fishery: Resurrection Bay and the fjords are hotspots for Pacific halibut, salmon (Chinook and coho primarily), rockfish, and lingcod. Many anglers also fish from shore in and around Seward. Most saltwater trips depart Seward as guided charters — operating mainly during the summer with some year-round availability.
• Backcountry freshwater opportunity inside the park itself is modest: salmon and Dolly Varden under standard Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) regulations. For more substantial freshwater fishing, NPS directs visitors to the adjacent Chugach National Forest, which abuts the park to the north and east and holds lakes and streams stocked and managed by the US Forest Service in cooperation with ADF&G.
• Pacific halibut is managed under the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) treaty with Canada, separately from ADF&G. The IPHC's annual Section 28 sets season duration plus size and bag limits, and rules typically differ for guided versus unguided anglers — read the federal NOAA halibut rules in addition to the AK state booklet for any halibut trip.
• Buy the Alaska licence before reaching the park: there are no in-park licence sales, and access to most park coastline is by boat or float plane. ADF&G's online licence portal works year-round. NPS publishes a commercial-services directory listing operators authorised for fly-in sportfishing along the park's coast.

Kenai Fjords fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Alaska sport fishing licence is required for all non-residents 16 and older and for Alaska residents 18 to 59. Alaska residents 60+ may use the ADF&G Permanent Identification Card (lifetime hunting / fishing / trapping licence). National Park Service unit-wide rules under 36 CFR §2.3 layer on top of state regulations.

• Glacier Bay was designated a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in 2009 — conservation is the primary goal, with recreational fishing encouraged only where it is compatible. NPS unit-wide rules add: freshwater fishing with hook and line gear only; possession or use of live or dead bait and unpreserved fish eggs or roe is prohibited; chumming is prohibited; careful and immediate release of any fish not meeting size or species restrictions is required.
• Saltwater target species: Pacific halibut (the bottom-dweller most anglers target), Chinook and coho salmon, plus rockfish and lingcod. Halibut is managed under the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) treaty with Canada — federal halibut regulations are issued separately by NOAA, and rules differ for guided versus unguided anglers. Charter vessels are required to carry and use a deep-water release mechanism to safely return rockfish to depth.
• Freshwater fishing covers salmon, sea-run and resident trout including steelhead and cutthroat, and Dolly Varden char in the park's streams and lakes. Always check ADF&G's Sport Fish Emergency Orders and News Releases — Southeast Alaska regulations can change in-season by emergency order and supersede the printed Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet for Southeast Alaska.
• Bartlett River carries park-specific rules above and beyond state regulations because of past bear / human conflicts: all harvested fish caught in the Bartlett River must be kept within six feet of the angler or on their person, and all harvested fish must be packed out whole — only gills and entrails may be disposed of, and those must go into the deepest, fastest-flowing part of the stream channel. Fish carcasses may not be disposed of within 200 feet of the Bartlett Cove dock anywhere in the park.
• Glacier Bay is fly-in or boat-in from Gustavus / Juneau — no road access from the broader Alaska highway system. Note: the canonical NPS regulatory page is `/planyourvisit/glacier-bay-fishing-regulations.htm` (the standard `/planyourvisit/fishing.htm` URL convention used elsewhere on nps.gov returns 404 for this park). Before consuming large, long-lived halibut and other marine species (shark, lingcod, large rockfish), check the State of Alaska's Fish Consumption Guidelines for contaminant warnings (especially relevant for pregnant women and young children).

Glacier Bay fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Alaska state fishing licence is required and ADF&G state regulations apply. Local subsistence users with set-net rights operate in the same waters — visiting anglers must give them wide berth while their harvest activity is in progress.

• Headline species: sheefish (Stenodus nelma — known here also as inconnu), Pacific salmon, arctic grayling, northern pike, and Dolly Varden. NPS reports all five are good to catch and good to eat. Sheefish are more plentiful in the autumn; grayling and pike are available year-round.
• A substantial chum salmon run and a smaller pink salmon run come through the Kobuk River in the fall. Salmon spawn more in the tributaries north of the Kobuk River, while sheefish and other whitefish spawn more in the southern tributaries — Pah, Black, and Pick Rivers are the named sheefish destinations.
• Local subsistence users (often based in nearby villages including Kiana, Ambler, Shungnak, Kobuk) may be fishing with set nets — give them a wide berth so they can complete their important harvest activities. Their subsistence rights operate under 36 CFR §13.40 / §2.3 carve-outs and are not available to visiting sport anglers.
• Kobuk Valley is one of the most remote units in the entire National Park System — no roads, no in-park visitor facilities, and very little published information on river conditions or fishing-specific access. Most visitors are river-trip boaters who arrive by float plane from Kotzebue and self-rescue if anything goes wrong. Buy the Alaska licence in Kotzebue or online before flying in.
• Headquarters is the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center in Kotzebue — visit before flying in for the most current backcountry-condition briefing, since the park's own info channels publish on a long lag relative to in-season conditions.

Kobuk Valley fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Alaska state fishing licence is required and ADF&G state regulations apply. Local subsistence users with set-net rights operate in the same waters — visiting anglers must give them wide berth while their harvest activity is in progress.

• Headline species (the same regional Western Arctic mix as adjacent Kobuk Valley): sheefish, Pacific salmon, arctic grayling, northern pike, and Dolly Varden. Sheefish peak in the autumn; grayling and pike are available year-round. A substantial salmon run typically arrives in the river in the fall.
• Like Kobuk Valley, local subsistence users may be set-netting in the same reaches that visiting anglers fish — give them a wide berth and do not photograph or interfere with their harvest. Subsistence rights operate under 36 CFR §13.40 / §2.3 carve-outs and are not available to non-local sport anglers.
• The Noatak River is the headline corridor — a designated Wild & Scenic River that drains the central Brooks Range. River-trip boaters are the dominant visitor type; the preserve has effectively no walk-in access and zero in-park licence sales.
• Park-published fishing information is sparse because the unit is so remote — visitors are on their own for current river-and-ice conditions, and most prefer it that way. The ADF&G Northern Alaska or Lower-Yukon-Kuskokwim management area summary covers the applicable state limits.
• Headquartered out of the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center in Kotzebue — buy the Alaska licence in Kotzebue or online before flying in.

Noatak fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Alaska state fishing licence is required to fish anywhere in the preserve. Alaska state fishing regulations apply to the extent they do not conflict with federal regulations or NPS rules.

• Located on the central Seward Peninsula across from Russia at the Bering Strait — among the most isolated NPS units. Headline species: Pacific salmon and Dolly Varden in the freshwater streams and lakes scattered across the tundra and volcanic-crater country, plus the wider mix of Arctic / Sub-Arctic species typical of the region.
• Bears are present throughout the preserve. Practice standard wildlife-safety protocols: do not surprise bears at close range, keep catch contained and food storage away from sleeping areas, and surrender catch (cut line / give slack) if a bear approaches.
• For current sport-fishing information, the ADF&G Nome office is the working desk for the area — they publish in-season management updates and emergency orders for Seward Peninsula waters. NPS itself does not publish a regulation booklet specific to the preserve.
• Access is by chartered float plane from Nome or via the rare overland route in winter; there are no roads into the preserve and no in-park licence sales. Buy the Alaska licence in Nome or online from ADF&G before flying out.
• Headquarters is in Nome — visit the Bering Land Bridge Visitor Center for current ice / river conditions before any trip.

Bering Land Bridge fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Wyoming fishing licence is REQUIRED and Wyoming Game & Fish regulations control season, bag, and gear, with several park-specific overlays — including a Snake River cutthroat catch-and-release window, two named lake / stream seasonal closures, and per-water-body artificial-only restrictions.

• Licences are sold in-park at Flagg Ranch, Colter Bay Marina, and Signal Mountain Lodge, in the surrounding community (Jackson / Moose / Moran), and online from the Wyoming Game & Fish Department — the licence requirement is identical inside and outside the park boundary.
• Lake seasons: park lakes are open year-round EXCEPT Jackson Lake, which is closed to fishing every year from October 1 through October 31. River and stream seasons: all Snake River cutthroat trout must be released immediately from November 1 through March 31 (mandatory catch-and-release window protecting the Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat — a regionally endemic subspecies the park is conservation-managing).
• Closure zones: from December 15 through March 31 the Snake River is closed to access from the Buffalo Fork confluence at Moran to Menors Ferry at Moose, and the Buffalo Fork itself is closed from the east park boundary to its Snake River confluence. From December 1 through July 31 all streams plus Blacktail Spring Ponds are closed to access, with named exceptions for Polecat Creek, Buffalo Fork River, Pacific Creek, Gros Ventre River, and the Snake River within Teton County.
• Gear and bait — artificial-only zones: only artificial flies and lures may be used on the Snake River from the gauging station 1,000 ft below Jackson Lake Dam down to the Wyoming Highway 22 (Wilson) Bridge, and on all streams except the Buffalo Fork, Gros Ventre River, Pacific Creek, Polecat Creek, and the Snake River upstream of Jackson Lake. On lakes not otherwise restricted, dead non-game baitfish are permitted from a published list (redside shiner, speckled dace, longnose dace, Paiute sculpin, mottled sculpin, Utah chub, Utah sucker, and commercially preserved dead baitfish). Two rods or poles permitted with the angler in attendance; each line may carry up to three single or treble hooks, flies, or lures.
• Creel limits: lakes — 6 trout per day or in possession, no more than 3 of which may be cutthroat, and no more than 1 cutthroat may exceed 12 inches. Streams — 3 trout, no more than 1 over 16 inches, and again no more than 1 cutthroat over 12 inches. Additional in-possession allowances: 16 brook trout, 6 lake trout (no more than 1 over 24 inches), 25 whitefish. Wyoming Game & Fish publishes mercury consumption advisories specific to Jackson Lake cutthroat, brown, and lake trout — sensitive consumers (pregnant or nursing women, children) should read the advisory before keeping fish from the park.

Grand Teton fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Colorado fishing licence is REQUIRED for anyone 16 or older. Colorado Parks & Wildlife regulations control season and possession, with park-specific overlays on tackle (one rod only, single-hook artificial flies and lures, barbless on catch-and-release waters), a published closed-waters list, and a native-trout-conservation possession schedule.

• Licences and the Habitat Stamp: buy from CPW agents statewide, online, or by phone (1-800-244-5613); residents and non-residents both required at 16. Individuals over 18 and under 65 must pay the $10 Habitat Stamp with their first licence of the year. The Colorado Second Rod Stamp is NOT honored in park waters — one rod only — regardless of state-side privileges.
• Tackle restrictions: only artificial flies or lures with one hook (single, double, or treble on a common shank) may be used in park waters. Fly fishers may run a two-hook system with one hook as an attractant. In waters designated catch-and-release, barbless hooks are mandatory. Children 12 and under may use worms or preserved fish eggs in any park water open to fishing and not designated catch-and-release — bait of any kind is prohibited in catch-and-release waters. Use of lead sinkers or other lead fishing materials is strongly discouraged.
• Possession schedule (native-trout-protection design): no more than 18 trout in possession at any time, in one of two combinations — 18 brook trout (8 any size, the remaining 10 must be 8 inches or less) OR 16 brook trout (6 any size, 10 must be 8 inches or less) plus 2 additional trout 10 inches or longer (which may include rainbow, brown, or cutthroat). The schedule is built around restoring native Colorado River and Yellowstone cutthroat populations the park has been actively recovering since the 1970s.
• Closed-waters list (no fishing): Bear Lake (including 200 yards up- and downstream of inlet/outlet), Fern Creek (Fern Lake outlet down to The Pool), Hague Creek (above the Mummy Pass Creek junction), Kettle Tarn, Lake Nanita (outlet to 100 yards downstream), Shadow Mountain Reservoir below the spillway to the southern park boundary including Columbine Bay (Oct 1 – Dec 31), South Fork of the Cache la Poudre above Pingree Park, and Upper Columbine Creek above 9,000 ft (barrier-marked). All creeks and rivers not on the closed list or the catch-and-release list default to catch-and-keep under the possession schedule.
• Aquatic-invasive prevention: park fish are vulnerable to whirling disease, New Zealand mudsnails, and other invasives carried on waders, boats, and tackle. NPS Rocky publishes a Disinfection Guidelines document anglers are expected to read and follow before fishing the park's waters; cross-drainage gear transfer is the main vector the park is trying to interrupt.

Rocky Mountain fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Florida saltwater fishing licence (FWC) is REQUIRED for anyone 16 or older, with the standard Florida resident / non-resident structure. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission regulations set season, bag, and size, with park-specific federal overlays — including the Biscayne National Park Coral Reef Protected Area, more-stringent size and bag limits on several reef species, a published prohibited-species list, and mandatory shore-shark / private-vessel-reef / snook / spiny-lobster / tarpon endorsements where they apply.

• Licences: buy from FWC online, by phone, or from licensed dealers; same Florida saltwater licence covers all park waters. Children under 16 are exempt. Several activity-specific endorsements layer on top of the base licence: shore-based shark fishing permit, reef-fish endorsement for private-vessel reef fishing, snook permit, spiny lobster permit, and tarpon tag — each managed by FWC, each required inside the park when the targeted species or method is in play.
• Federal-vs-state rule: park-wide, Florida regulations apply under 36 CFR §2.3(a), EXCEPT where the federal NPS regulation is more restrictive — in that case the federal rule supersedes. Size and bag limits inside park boundaries are MORE stringent than Florida-side regulations for multiple reef species; anglers must consult the park-specific FWC regulation summary, not the open-Florida summary, before keeping fish.
• Prohibited species — no harvest under any circumstance: Goliath Grouper, Nassau Grouper, Queen Conch, Sawfish, sea turtles, stony and fire corals, sea fans, Longspine Urchin, Bahama Starfish, and several shark species (see the FWC Florida saltwater regulations for the complete prohibited shark list). Harvest of tropical ornamental marine life species and tropical ornamental marine plants is prohibited park-wide except under a Superintendent-issued collecting permit.
• Coral Reef Protected Area: a federally designated zone within Biscayne where additional gear, anchor, and harvest restrictions apply to protect the reef tract — the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. Charter operators are required to brief clients on CRPA boundaries; reef anchoring outside marked anchor zones is prohibited. Park-wide federal prohibitions also include fishing from motor-road bridges or within 200 ft of designated public floats, swim beaches, surfing areas, and boat docks except in posted areas; introducing wildlife / fish / plants (including bait dumping) into the park; and any harvest using drugs, poisons, explosives, or electricity.
• Lobstering: Biscayne is a major spiny-lobster destination but is regulated independently of the Florida-side sport season — read the park's standalone lobstering page (linked from the fishing page) before the 2-day sport season or the regular commercial season; bag, gear, and zone restrictions inside the park have historically diverged from Florida statewide rules. Park reminders: any fish or shellfish that does not meet size or species rules — or that the angler chooses not to keep — must be released immediately back to the water from which it was taken, before any additional fish are taken into possession.

Biscayne fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Virginia state fishing licence is REQUIRED at age 16 and older. No separate park permit and no Virginia trout licence are needed. All park streams are open to catch-and-release fishing; harvest is permitted ONLY on a named list of streams. Park-wide artificial single-hook restriction applies along with a total prohibition on organic bait.

• Licence exemptions (Virginia DWR-set): resident active-duty members of the US armed forces on official leave (must carry military orders); legally blind persons; any Indian who habitually resides on an Indian reservation, or a member of a Virginia-recognized tribe residing in the Commonwealth (must carry tribal ID / signed chief's letter / written tribal registry confirmation / certificate from a tribal office); any person not fishing but aiding a disabled licence holder. Resident and non-resident licences are sold as 5-day or 1-year products by Virginia DWR online.
• Park-wide gear rule (36 CFR §2.3 + Superintendent's Compendium): the only legal terminal tackle is an artificial lure with one single-point hook. Multiple single-hook lures (dropper-fly rigs, etc.) are permitted in a series. Fishing while in possession of ANY organic bait is prohibited park-wide — including corn, cheese, dough compounds, worms, insects, live or dead minnows, amphibians, preserved or non-preserved fish eggs, and chemical scent / pheromone / liquid-scent / power-bait compounds. Snagging by pulling or jerking a hook through the water is prohibited. One line per person only.
• Harvest streams (only these waters permit keeping fish caught in the park, subject to all other NPS + Virginia rules): Piney River (Rappahannock County), Thornton River South Fork (Rappahannock County), Hughes River (Madison County), Brokenback Run (Madison County), Cedar Run (Madison County), Rose River (Madison County), Whiteoak Canyon Run (Madison County), Jeremys Run (Page County), Hawksbill Creek East (Page County), Hawksbill Creek Little (Page County), Naked Creek East (Page County), Naked Creek West (Page County), South River (Greene County), Ivy Creek (Greene County), Conway River (Madison / Greene Counties), Big Run (Rockingham County), and Doyles River (Albemarle County). All other park streams are catch-and-release only — any captured fish must be returned to the water immediately.
• Brown and rainbow trout rule: possessing brown or rainbow trout less than 7 inches anywhere in the park is prohibited. Releasing any captured brown or rainbow trout back into any park stream is also prohibited (these are introduced species the park is reducing). Brown or rainbow trout under the 7-inch minimum, or those caught in streams closed to harvest, must be disposed of in a manner and location not visible from any stream, park road, or trail.
• Fishery context: Shenandoah contains over 90 mountain streams and minor tributaries feeding three of Virginia's ten major drainages (Potomac, Rappahannock, James). Over 70 of those streams hold fish, and most contain native brook trout. The park relies entirely on natural spawning — NO stocking — and brook trout populations are documented as declining. The park's Fishery Management Plan prioritises native brook trout preservation alongside recreational fishing on streams that consistently produce adequate gamefish. Virginia maintains zero fish consumption advisories on Shenandoah park streams (verified with Virginia Department of Health), but didymo + Asian clams + New Zealand mud snails have been documented either within the park or within 100 miles — disinfect waders, boots, and gear between drainages.

Shenandoah fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Florida saltwater fishing licence is REQUIRED at age 16 and older; Florida residents over 65 are exempt. Park is almost entirely in Gulf of America waters within Monroe County, FL. Florida FWC regulations apply with park-specific federal overlays — circle hooks only, J-hooks prohibited, spearfishing and lobstering prohibited park-wide, and the Research Natural Area is closed to all fishing.

• Closed zones: the Research Natural Area is closed to ALL fishing — its boundary is marked on the water by large yellow buoys identifying the Historic Use Area extent. Fishing is permitted only outside the RNA. Garden Key (the main visitor island) is shore-fishable ONLY at four named spots: the seaplane beach east of the main dock when the seaplane is not present; the main dock when the Yankee Freedom is not present; the two westernmost finger piers when unoccupied; and either dinghy beach, provided fishing does not occur within 50 ft of the concrete wall of the historic docks and ruins previously used for loading coal. All other shore areas of Garden Key are closed to fishing. Boat fishing is permitted within the 1-mile Historic Use Area surrounding Garden Key.
• Park-specific gear rule: only CIRCLE HOOKS may be used. 'J' hooks are NOT permitted in the park. Park-wide spearfishing is prohibited — all spearfishing gear (Hawaiian slings, pole spears, spearguns including rubber-powered / pneumatic / spring-loaded, air rifles, bows and arrows, powerheads, explosive-powered guns) must be broken down and stored so they are not available for immediate use while a vessel is inside park waters. Hand-held hooks, gigs, gaffs, and snares are prohibited EXCEPT a gaff may be used to land a fish lawfully caught by hook and line.
• Bait + collection limits: bait fish may be taken by closely attended hook-and-line, dip net, or cast net, limited to 5 gallons per vessel per day. Shrimp may be taken by dip net or cast net. Only legally obtained finfish and shrimp may be reduced to harvest. Commercial fishing is prohibited except where authorised by federal statute. Digging for bait is prohibited. Bait-bucket dumping and introduction of any wildlife / fish / plant into a park ecosystem is prohibited.
• Lobster: harvesting spiny lobster within the park is PROHIBITED entirely (including during Florida's sport season). Possessing lobster within park boundaries is prohibited unless the holder took it outside park waters with proper state and federal licences and permits. Vessels carrying legally taken outside-park lobster may not have any persons overboard in park waters — the presence of lobster aboard with anyone overboard constitutes prima facie evidence of in-park harvest. Legally taken speared fish or lobster obtained outside the park must be reported BEFORE entering park waters; once inside, the reporting vessel must transit through to its final anchoring / mooring location without stopping and without allowing passengers or crew to enter the water until the mooring is reached.
• Operational requirements + general prohibitions: private boaters are REQUIRED to file a boat permit at Garden Key before fishing within the park (see the park's Boating webpage). Taking, possessing, or touching any ornamental tropical fish or marine life is prohibited. Fishing by drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity is prohibited; releasing fish carefully and immediately back to the water from which it was taken is required when the fish does not meet size / species rules or the angler chooses not to keep it; fishing from or within 200 ft of designated public floats, swim beaches, surfing areas, or public boat docks except in posted areas is prohibited. The Yankee Freedom ferry (the primary visitor transport from Key West) and the seaplane operation set most of the schedule for when Garden Key shore-fishing spots are actually available.

Dry Tortugas fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid West Virginia fishing licence is REQUIRED for everyone fishing within the park, with year-long and 3-day tourist licences sold at area sporting-goods stores and bait shops. A West Virginia trout stamp is additionally required for trout fishing on the park's stocked trout streams. WV regulations control season + bag, with park-specific federal overlay: hook and line only, with the rod or line closely attended.

• Primary fishery is the New River itself — a major warm-water fishery holding smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, striped bass, rock bass, walleye, muskellunge, crappie, bluegill, carp, flathead catfish, and channel catfish. Spring and fall are the best seasons (water-temperature transition + most-active feeding); early morning and late evening are the best times of day. Common bait includes nightcrawlers and hellgrammites (black and yellow phases); popular artificial lures include top-water crank-baits, spinner baits, minnow imitations, and crawfish patterns.
• Stocked trout streams within the park (WV DNR stocks each spring with golden, rainbow, brook, and brown trout — trout stamp required to fish for trout): Mill Creek (very limited access from Ansted or Hawk's Nest State Park via state route 5), Laurel Creek (access via Beckwith Rd from Hawk's Nest State Park or 4-H Camp Rd from Youngstown), Glade Creek at Babcock State Park (access from headquarters parking by the Grist Mill, plus seasonal access via Old Sewell Rd), Dunloup Creek (state route 25 runs alongside with multiple pullouts — the most easily accessible stream in the park), Glade Creek at New River Gorge (access from Glade Creek Campground via Glade Creek Trail running 5.5 miles), and Meadow Creek (limited parking along Claypol Rd). Additional close-by trout water outside the park: Gauley River (Summersville Dam tailwaters, Gauley Tailwaters campground; Masons Branch / Woods Ferry / Upper Swiss high-clearance), Meadow River, and Little Bluestone River.
• Catch-and-release sections: Glade Creek from the pedestrian bridge 3 miles down to its New River confluence is designated catch-and-release for trout. The New River from the I-64 bridge at Sandstone 12 miles downstream to the Grandview Sandbar is designated catch-and-release for black bass — this covers smallmouth, spotted, and largemouth bass. C&R protocol applies elsewhere too: return fish to water as soon as possible, unhook in the water, handle as little as possible, use needle-nose pliers, and revive by moving the fish back and forth through the water until it can swim away.
• Park-specific federal rule: fishing in fresh waters must be by hook and line only, with the rod or line closely attended. NPS regulations under 36 CFR §2.3 govern; WV state regulations apply where they do not conflict. The fishing regulations apply only to 'finfish' for NPS purposes — other taxa (amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans including waterdogs and crayfish) are governed by 36 CFR §2.2 (wildlife). Fishing rules apply regardless of land ownership across all lands and waters within the park that are under federal legislative jurisdiction.
• Public access points within the park: Tug Creek Beach, Brooks Falls, Hellems Beach, and Sandstone Falls via River Road at Hinton; Meadow Creek; McCreery, Grandview Sandbar, Mill Creek, and Glade Creek off Hwy. 41 near Prince; Dunglen and Stone Cliff near Thurmond; Cunard; and Fayette Station. Crossing private property to reach the New River requires landowner permission. Nearby federal / state water also good: Bluestone National Scenic River, Gauley River National Recreation Area, Meadow River, Greenbrier River, Bluestone Lake, and Summersville Lake — each governed by its own permit / licence stack.

New River Gorge fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid California fishing licence is REQUIRED. California DFW regulations control season + bag + gear, with park-specific overlays — Manzanita Lake is catch-and-release only with single barbless artificial-lure tackle and a total bait ban, no fishing in any park boat launch area, and the park has not stocked fish since the 1980s so all populations are naturally reproducing wild fish.

• Manzanita Lake special rule: catch-and-release ONLY. Tackle must be a single barbless hook on an artificial lure. NO living or non-living bait may be used. The lake is rated a blue-ribbon fly fishery by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and holds a fair population of rainbow and brown trout — pinching the barb is a regulatory requirement, not a suggestion.
• Lakes with confirmed trout populations (rainbow / brown / brook depending on water): Butte Lake, Snag Lake, Horseshoe Lake (the most popular destinations after Manzanita); Ridge Lake, Terrace Lake, Summit Lake, Crystal Lake (smaller, less-pressured backcountry waters). Juniper Lake holds NO game species — anglers should not target it. Most lakes have brush rims (willow + alder) so non-motorized boats or float-tubes substantially improve casting access; small open shoreline sections exist on most lakes.
• Creeks with confirmed fish populations: Kings Creek and Grassy Swale Creek both hold brook trout; trout populations also confirmed in North Fork Bailey Creek, North Arm Rice Creek, Hat Creek, Hot Springs Creek, and Summit Creek. Hat Creek inside the park is brushy with limited road access — most productive fishing is downstream of the park along Highway 89 between Hat Creek and Old Station, where CDFW plants fish through the season (use the CDFW Fishing Guide interactive map for plant locations).
• Park-wide prohibitions: fishing is NOT permitted in any park boat launch area — Manzanita, Butte, and Juniper Lake launches are all closed to fishing. The park has not stocked fish since the 1980s; healthy populations exist by natural reproduction alone. Releasing fish: wet hands before touching, crimp barbs (required at Manzanita), use a knotless rubber net, release any unwanted fish immediately rather than later off a stringer, and pack out all discarded fishing line.
• Aquatic-invasive prevention is mandatory and called out specifically: zebra / quagga mussels are the named ecological threat. Clean / Drain / Dry every piece of gear (boats, trailers, waders, boots, clothing, nets) between water bodies — remove all visible mud / plants / fish / animals, drain all collected water, and dry before reuse. The park treats invasive vectors as a hard rule for in-park fishing access, not a courtesy ask.

Lassen Volcanic fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Colorado fishing licence is REQUIRED. The Gunnison River inside the park is designated Colorado Gold Medal Water AND Wild Trout Water by the state wildlife commission, with strict special regulations — artificial flies or lures only, no bait, all rainbow trout catch-and-release, brown trout 4 daily / 8 possession, and a hard no-fish zone for the first 200 yards downstream of Crystal Dam.

• Gold Medal Water designation: Colorado designates streams and rivers as Gold Medal when they consistently produce outstanding angling opportunities for large trout. Of Colorado's 9,000+ miles of trout streams, only 362 miles carry the Gold Medal designation — the Gunnison Gold Medal section begins 200 yards downstream of Crystal Dam and continues to the confluence with the North Fork of the Gunnison. The special regulations are explicitly designed to maintain that quality, and they apply within both Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP AND within the adjacent Curecanti National Recreation Area at East Portal (the stretch between Crystal Dam closure and the park boundary).
• Special regulations on the Gold Medal section: (a) artificial flies or lures only, NO bait, (b) all RAINBOW trout are catch-and-release only, (c) brown trout — daily bag 4, possession 8. Fishing is PROHIBITED within 200 yards downstream of Crystal Dam (the protected dam-tailwater hatchery zone). All Colorado general fishing rules apply otherwise; the Gold Medal layer is more restrictive, not a replacement.
• River access via East Portal Road: the easiest vehicle access to the Gunnison inside the park. The road is extremely steep — 16% grade with hairpin curves — and vehicles with overall length (including trailer) greater than 22 feet are PROHIBITED. East Portal Road is CLOSED in winter. No wilderness permit is required for day-use anglers entering the park from East Portal.
• Inner-canyon access (the more secluded routes): the inner canyon is technical, rocky, brush-choked scrambling, suitable only for anglers in excellent physical condition. A wilderness permit IS required for any inner-canyon access (other than the East Portal day-use case above). Obtain the permit via the park's Inner Canyon Use webpage before the trip; routes are not maintained trails and rescue is difficult.
• Catch-and-release protocol on a heavily-managed wild trout fishery: bring fish in quickly; use barbless hooks or crimp barbs with needle-nose pliers; minimise handling and keep the fish in the water; net with knotless mesh; use a hook disgorger and cut the line above a deep hook rather than removing it; use a heavy leader to apply maximum pressure for a fast release; revive by holding the fish gently upstream until it gains equilibrium and swims off. The Gunnison's rainbow population in particular is declining and is the named reason for the all-rainbow C&R rule.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Nevada fishing licence is REQUIRED. Nevada Department of Wildlife regulations apply within the park where they do not conflict with federal NPS rules — federal rules supersede on conflict. Two Snake Range high lakes (Johnson and Baker) carry a stricter park-specific overlay: artificial lures with single barbless hooks only, no bait, no barbed hooks, no treble hooks, and catch-and-release only.

• Snake Range High Lakes special rule (Johnson and Baker Lakes): artificial lures with SINGLE BARBLESS HOOKS only; NO bait, NO barbed hooks, NO treble hooks; CATCH-AND-RELEASE ONLY — no fish may be kept. These are alpine cirque lakes the park is managing with the lowest-impact tackle stack in the Snake Range.
• Lehman Creek (primary roadside fishery): access via the Scenic Drive toward Upper Lehman Campground; large parking opposite Upper Lehman entrance and at the Lehman Creek Trailhead. A hiking trail parallels the creek connecting Upper and Lower Lehman Campgrounds. The reach holds high densities of brook and brown trout with a few rainbows scattered — upstream of Upper Lehman Campground is mostly brook trout, downstream of Lower Lehman Campground is mostly brown trout. Be respectful of campers and stay clear of occupied campsites when fishing close to camp loops.
• Baker Creek (three named access points): (1) Pole Canyon Trailhead off Baker Creek Road via Grey Cliffs Campground — parking, pit toilet, high densities of brown trout. (2) Baker Creek Campground further up Baker Creek Road — two trails (to Grey Cliffs and to Baker Creek Trailhead) parallel the creek through high-density trout reaches; brown trout dominate downstream, brook trout become dominant upstream; brush is thick along most trails and fishing can be difficult. (3) Baker Creek Trailhead — generally plenty of parking + pit toilet; upstream of the trailhead the catch is almost all brook trout.
• Snake Creek (native Bonneville cutthroat reintroduction): native Bonneville cutthroat trout were reintroduced into Snake Creek in September of 2019 as part of the park's native-fish restoration. NPS encourages catch-and-release fishing in Snake Creek to promote population growth; the reintroduction is recent enough that anglers are asked to give the fishery time to establish before targeting it for harvest.
• Regulatory references and additional resources NPS publishes: the Superintendent's Compendium controls (all NDOW non-conflicting regulations apply on top), and the NDOW e-regulations website is the canonical state document. The park also publishes a 'Summary of fishing regulations for all land management agencies associated with the Snake Range' (USFS / BLM / NPS overlap in the Snake Range is significant), and a fishing FAQ. EPA + state + tribal fish-consumption advisories may apply to specific waters — review before harvesting any fish for consumption.

Great Basin fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Utah state fishing licence is REQUIRED for everyone 12 and older. Fishing is allowed in the park's Virgin River system but NPS itself directs anglers to nearby reservoirs outside the park as the more productive sport-fishing option — the Virgin River within Zion holds native non-game fish, not a stocked sport fishery.

• The North and East Forks of the Virgin River and their tributaries inside Zion flow through the Virgin River drainage (part of the larger Colorado River Basin). The park's rivers retain their full complement of 4 native fish species in healthy populations — Virgin River Spinedace (Lepidomeda mollispinis, endemic to the Virgin River drainage), Speckled Dace (Rhinichthys osculus), Desert Sucker (Pantosteus clarkii), and Flannelmouth Sucker (Catostomus latipinnis). NPS notes that this rare condition exists only because in-park stream flow remains essentially natural — floods, sediment transport, and low-flow periods all occur as they always have, conditions to which native fish are evolutionarily adapted.
• These native fish are non-game species — anglers targeting trout / bass / panfish will find no realistic sport opportunity inside park boundaries. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources catch / size / season rules govern any fish kept under the state licence; the park does not add a separate park permit or a park-specific bag schedule.
• Water hazard: cyanobacteria blooms have been documented in Zion's waters; toxins from blue-green algae can build up in fish tissue. NPS has not reported confirmed human illness cases from eating bloom-exposed fish caught in the park, but anglers should check current alerts (the park posts active bloom advisories on its Alerts page) before harvesting and avoid drinking unfiltered park water entirely during a bloom.
• NPS publishes the regulation on the `/learn/nature/fish.htm` page rather than the standard `/planyourvisit/fishing.htm` path — that path returns the NPS 200-but-404-body page for Zion (similar pattern to Grand Teton's `/planyourvisit/fish.htm` carve-out and Glacier Bay's `/planyourvisit/glacier-bay-fishing-regulations.htm` carve-out captured in earlier sub-steps). Treat `/learn/nature/fish.htm` as the canonical Zion fishing URL.
• If a visitor wants meaningful sport fishing in the area, NPS directs anglers to nearby reservoirs OUTSIDE Zion — these waters carry their own Utah state regulations, are managed by Utah DWR for game-fish opportunity, and are reached by short drives from Zion's gateway communities. The in-park advice from NPS is essentially 'fishing is allowed, but don't expect it to be productive — go to the reservoirs.'

Zion fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Utah state fishing licence (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources) is REQUIRED. The park's only meaningful sport fishery is non-native brown trout in the Fremont River gorge UPSTREAM of Fruita — the lower Fremont through Fruita and downstream does NOT support a sport fishery. Native sucker and dace populations are non-game and are listed on the Utah Sensitive Species List.

• Sport-fishery zone: brown trout (a non-native species) are present in the Fremont River gorge UPSTREAM of Fruita. Brown trout may be kept subject to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources regulations on season / bag / size / gear — the park imposes no separate park bag schedule, but anglers must follow current UDWR rules for the water. NPS does not consider lower-Fremont (through Fruita and downstream) to be a sport-fishing destination.
• Native non-game fish present in the park (DO NOT TARGET — Utah Sensitive Species List): Bluehead Sucker (Catostomus discobolus, native to the Colorado River system, found in Fremont River + Pleasant Creek + Sulphur Creek, riffle-dwelling, 100–525 mm), Flannelmouth Sucker (Catostomus latipinnis, herbivorous, on Utah Sensitive Species List, populations reduced by flow alteration + habitat loss, average 500 mm), Mountain Sucker (Catostomus platyrhychus, probably present but unconfirmed in park, 150–200 mm), Speckled Dace (Rhinichthys osculus, common and widespread in perennial streams, average 109 mm), and Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdi, small carnivorous native species in the Fremont River).
• Water context: Capitol Reef is high-desert with ~8 inches of precipitation per year. Perennial water in the park is limited to a few sources — the Fremont River and Sulphur Creek are the named year-round flows that can sustain fish populations. Other drainages are seasonal or intermittent and do not hold targetable fish.
• Non-native concerns: NPS publishes a complete park Wildlife Checklist (downloadable from the park's fish / wildlife pages) covering both native and non-native fish. Anglers fishing the upstream Fremont gorge brown trout fishery are essentially fishing a non-native population the park does not actively suppress; targeting it does not conflict with native-species conservation objectives, but anglers must still distinguish brown trout from any native sucker / dace / sculpin they may incidentally catch and release the native fish unharmed.
• NPS publishes the regulation on the `/learn/nature/fish.htm` page rather than the standard `/planyourvisit/fishing.htm` path — that path returns the NPS 200-but-404-body page for Capitol Reef (same pattern as Zion in this sub-step). Treat `/learn/nature/fish.htm` as the canonical Capitol Reef fishing URL.

Capitol Reef fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Alaska sport fishing licence is REQUIRED of all non-residents 16 and over and most Alaska residents 16 to 59. Sport fishing is permitted in both the monument and the preserve under Alaska Department of Fish & Game regulations. A harvest record card and/or king salmon stamp may also apply depending on species and area.

• Licence purchase channels: online via ADF&G's License and Permits website, from a licence vendor (most Alaska sporting-goods stores), by phone at (907) 465-2376, or by mail to ADF&G Licensing Section, 1255 W. 8th Street, P.O. Box 115525, Juneau, AK 99811-5525. No in-monument or in-preserve licence sales exist — buy before flying in.
• Regulatory framework: sport fishing is permitted in both the monument and preserve in accordance with ADF&G regulations. NPS itself publishes no monument-specific fishing booklet — the canonical document is the ADF&G regulation summary for the relevant Alaska Peninsula management area. Subsistence harvest by local residents operates under separate federal-and-state subsistence rules and is not available to visiting non-subsistence anglers.
• Access and remoteness: Aniakchak is on the Alaska Peninsula, one of the least-visited units in the entire National Park System — annual visitation is among the lowest of any NPS unit. There are no roads, no in-park facilities, and access is by chartered float plane from King Salmon or Port Heiden. Weather frequently grounds flights for days at a time. Visiting anglers should plan multi-day weather windows and self-rescue capability.
• Headquarters: PO Box 245, King Salmon, AK 99613 — phone (907) 246-3305. Visit the King Salmon HQ for any current backcountry condition briefing before flying out; the monument's own info channels publish on a long lag relative to in-season weather, river-condition, and bear-activity reporting.
• With Aniakchak added, the catalog's Alaska NPS coverage now stands at 11 units (Aniakchak, Bering Land Bridge, Denali, Gates of the Arctic, Glacier Bay, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark, Noatak, Wrangell-St. Elias) — the full set of NPS-administered fishing-relevant national-park-system units in Alaska.

Aniakchak fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Utah state fishing licence (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources) is the controlling document for any fishing inside park boundaries — NPS imposes no separate Canyonlands permit. HOWEVER three of the four large native fish (Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, humpback chub, bonytail chub) are federally listed as endangered species and may NOT be targeted, possessed, or kept regardless of Utah state licence status — only non-native species (carp, channel catfish) are legally available, and NPS actively discourages sport fishing on conservation grounds.

• Park waters: the Green River and the Colorado River both flow through Canyonlands, meeting at The Confluence — the heart of the park. The park's four districts (Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, Horseshoe Canyon) span the broader Colorado River basin within Utah. Tributaries are mostly intermittent — perennial fishable water inside park boundaries is essentially the Green and Colorado mainstems through the canyons.
• Endangered native fish present (ESA-protected — NO take of any kind): Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius, formerly Colorado squawfish), razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), humpback chub (Gila cypha), bonytail chub (Gila elegans). NPS verbatim: 'Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, humpback and bonytail chub have all been listed as endangered species.' Federal ESA penalties apply on top of Utah state law. Anglers who incidentally hook a native sucker/chub/pikeminnow must release it unharmed without removal from water where possible.
• Non-native species that dominate current populations: carp and channel catfish — these are the only species an angler can legally target and keep under a Utah state licence. NPS notes that 'non-native fish dominate the rivers' with around 95 percent of fish at one study location being non-native. There is no established sport-fishery infrastructure (no marked fishing access, no NPS-published bag schedule, no in-park ranger anglering programs).
• Hydrology context: NPS verbatim 'Before dams were built, flows ranged from a few thousand cubic feet per second to nearly 400,000 cubic feet per second.' Upstream dams (notably Flaming Gorge on the Green and Glen Canyon downstream of the park) have flattened the natural flow regime and degraded native-fish habitat — sediment-heavy turbulent flows and calm backwater eddies that native fish evolved with no longer occur at the historical frequency, contributing to native-species decline.
• NPS publishes the regulation on `/learn/nature/fish.htm` rather than `/planyourvisit/fishing.htm` — the latter returns the NPS 200-but-404-body envelope for Canyonlands (same pattern as Zion, Capitol Reef, Grand Teton, Redwood NSP, Glacier Bay captured in earlier sub-steps). The `/learn/nature/fish.htm` page is biology / conservation-focused rather than regulation-focused: it does not explicitly state a fishing licence requirement, but the absence of any NPS-imposed permit means the Utah state licence regime governs by default. Practical effect: a Utah angling licence is required for any fishing, and ESA-protected native species cannot be targeted or kept regardless.

Canyonlands fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid South Carolina fishing licence is REQUIRED. All South Carolina Department of Natural Resources rules on licensing, size, and creel limits apply inside the park — Congaree adds no separate park bag schedule. Only recreational fishing is allowed (no commercial fishing, no nets, no trotlines); motorboats with inboard or outboard engines are prohibited; fishing is not allowed from or within 25 feet of any man-made structure.

• NPS verbatim on the licence requirement: 'Fishing is allowed within Congaree National Park with a valid South Carolina fishing license.' And on the regulatory framework: 'All South Carolina laws pertaining to licensing, size, and creel limits apply.' SCDNR is the controlling regulator; the park imposes no separate park permit, no park-specific bag schedule, and no park-specific season closures beyond SCDNR's.
• Gear restriction verbatim: 'Fish only with closely attended hook and line, fly rod, casting rod, pole and line or hand line.' This rules out unattended set lines, jugs, trotlines, gill nets, and similar passive gear. Anglers must remain in attendance of the line.
• Motorboat prohibition: 'Boats propelled by inboard/outboard motors are prohibited.' Canoes, kayaks, and small electric-motor / paddle-only craft are the practical access vehicles. The 25-foot-from-structures buffer extends to bridges, boardwalks, raised platforms, and any other man-made structure in the floodplain — fishing must be conducted from natural shorelines or watercraft outside the buffer.
• Recreational-only verbatim: 'Only recreational fishing is allowed.' Commercial fishing, fishing-for-sale, and tournament fishing for prize money are not permitted on park waters.
• Geography: Congaree NP protects the largest contiguous tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern US — fish habitat is the floodplain of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers plus the slow blackwater of Cedar Creek (the most-paddled in-park waterway). Bream / sunfish, largemouth bass, catfish, gar, and bowfin are present in floodplain backwaters — though the NPS page does not list species, SCDNR's freshwater regulations are the binding bag / size schedule for whatever an angler catches.
• Park HQ: 100 National Park Road, Hopkins, SC 29061 — phone (803) 776-4396. SCDNR freshwater regulation summary is the canonical regulation document for an in-park angler.

Congaree fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Colorado fishing licence (Colorado Parks and Wildlife) is REQUIRED. Native Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout in park waters are CATCH-AND-RELEASE ONLY. State regulations on season / bag / gear apply. Fishing is permitted in both the park and the preserve under identical Colorado state rules.

• NPS verbatim on the licence requirement: 'Visitors fishing within Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve must follow the fishing license requirements in accordance with the laws and regulations of the State of Colorado.' Colorado Parks and Wildlife is the controlling regulator; the park imposes no separate park permit.
• Park-specific catch-and-release rule: 'Rio Grande cutthroat trout are catch and release only.' Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis) is a Colorado native subspecies with significantly reduced historical range — the park's Sand Creek headwaters hold one of the more important remnant populations in the upper Rio Grande basin. The catch-and-release-only rule applies in addition to any Colorado state regulation on the species. Anglers must use proper release technique (barbless hooks recommended though not required by the park rule); revive the fish in current before release; do not lift from water for photographs.
• Named fishable waters inside park / preserve: Medano Creek (the seasonal sand-and-water creek that fronts the main dunefield from spring snowmelt through early summer), Medano Lake (high-country lake in the Medano drainage), Upper Sand Creek (the preserve's Sand Creek drainage above the dunefield), and Sand Creek Lakes (cirque lakes in the upper Sand Creek drainage). The high-country lakes and upper-drainage streams are the productive Rio Grande cutthroat habitat — the lower Medano Creek front of the dunefield is intermittent / seasonal and not a sustained sport-fishery destination.
• Gear restriction verbatim: 'Fishing shall be...by hook and line, with the rod or line being closely attended.' Live bait is restricted with exceptions per Colorado state rules; chumming, drugs, poisons, and explosives are prohibited; commercial fishing is prohibited. CPW freshwater regulations govern the specifics.
• Park vs preserve: the NPS-managed park (the dunefield itself plus immediately surrounding terrain) and the NPS-managed preserve (the higher Sangre de Cristo backcountry to the east) share identical fishing rules — there is no preserve-only exception. Hunting IS permitted in the preserve but not in the park (a separate matter from fishing).
• Access notes: high-country lake fishing requires a multi-mile hike — Medano Lake is reached via the Medano Lake trail (~3.5 mi one-way, ~2000 ft elevation gain). Sand Creek Lakes are deeper backcountry. Plan for high-elevation weather (afternoon thunderstorms typical mid-summer) and self-rescue capability — there are no in-park outfitters and trailhead-to-lake travel times are non-trivial.
• Visitor Center phone (719) 378-6395. The canonical Colorado state regulation document is the CPW fishing brochure (cpw.state.co.us/Documents/RulesRegs/Brochure/fishing.pdf).

Great Sand Dunes fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Michigan state fishing licence (Michigan Department of Natural Resources) is REQUIRED. All MDNR rules on season, bag, size, and gear apply inside park boundaries — Pictured Rocks imposes no separate park permit. Both Lake Superior nearshore waters and inland park lakes / streams are open under MDNR regulation; a Michigan trout / salmon stamp applies where required by state rules for those species.

• Fishery scope: Lake Superior nearshore (south shore from Munising to Grand Marais, ~42 miles of shoreline) plus inland lakes and streams. Sixty fish species are documented in the lakeshore's waters per NPS — the Lake Superior side delivers the headline species (lake trout, coho salmon, chinook salmon, brown trout, splake) while inland lakes hold warm/cool-water species (smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, panfish) and inland streams hold brook trout. Named inland lakes include Beaver Lake, Little Beaver Lake, Grand Sable Lake, and Kingston Lake.
• Regulation framing: NPS publishes only a biology / species-inventory page at `/learn/nature/fish.htm` (60-species list, no regulation content); the standard `/planyourvisit/fishing.htm` route is a 'Page In-Progress' placeholder for this lakeshore (text: 'This page is currently being worked on. Please check back later.'). The practical effect is that NPS publishes no Pictured Rocks-specific bag schedule or gear restriction — the MDNR statewide regulation summary is the controlling document, and anglers should consult the MDNR Inland Waters Trout & Salmon guide for the inland lakes plus the Great Lakes Trout & Salmon guide for the Lake Superior side.
• Lake Superior context: Pictured Rocks fronts the Munising–Grand Marais stretch of Lake Superior's south shore. Lake trout are the long-established native salmonid; coho and chinook salmon are managed as Lake Superior introductions sustained by tributary natural reproduction plus MDNR stocking; splake (lake-trout × brook-trout hybrid) is stocked in select Great Lakes water; brown trout occur where stocked or where Lake Superior tributaries support them. Anglers fishing Lake Superior in the lakeshore should pay attention to MDNR shoreline-zone-specific bag schedules — they differ from inland-water schedules.
• Boat-launch and access: developed launches at Munising (west end), Miners Beach, Twelvemile Beach, and Grand Marais (east end) feed the Lake Superior shoreline. Inland lakes are accessed via park roads off County Road H-58. Ice fishing is permitted on inland lakes under MDNR rules; Lake Superior ice is generally unsafe to fish from in this stretch — the open lake rarely freezes solid and the south-shore wind / wave regime makes shore-ice unstable.
• Park HQ: PO Box 40, Munising, MI 49862 — phone (906) 387-3700. For specific in-season regulation questions (slot limits, possession schedules on stocked Great Lakes salmonids, species-specific stamp requirements), MDNR's online fishing regulation portal is the authoritative source.

Pictured Rocks NL fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid California state fishing licence (California Department of Fish & Wildlife) is the controlling document by default — Pinnacles publishes no separate park permit. HOWEVER there is no sport fishery inside park boundaries: the only native fish is the three-spined stickleback (a 3-inch non-game species), and the park's streams are intermittent and dry to surface puddles through summer. Anglers searching for a sport fishery should look outside the park to Salinas River drainage waters under standard CDFW regulation.

• Native fish present (non-game, do not target): three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) — NPS verbatim 'the only native fish species in the park,' grows 'up to three inches long.' Observed at Bear Gulch Trail and South Wilderness Trail per the NPS species note. This is the entire native fish fauna for the park.
• Non-native fish present: mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) is the only currently-present non-native — NPS verbatim 'the only non-native fish species in the park.' Catfish were eradicated mid-1980s; green sunfish were removed mid-1990s. Mosquitofish are stocked for vector control historically and are not a sport target.
• Hydrology: NPS verbatim 'intermittent nature of Pinnacles' streams' and 'summer's dry conditions.' The park sits in California chaparral / oak-woodland in the Gabilan Range — Bear Gulch, Chalone Creek, Sandy Creek, and other drainages flow during winter rains and dry to scattered pools or completely dry by midsummer. There is no perennial stream of any meaningful sport-fishery depth.
• Salinas River drainage context: NPS verbatim 'Other fish species may swim upstream from the Salinas River during floods, but they typically do not survive through the summer's dry conditions.' The Salinas River system is the regional sport-fishery context — anglers wanting black bass / catfish / striped bass should target the Salinas River and its impoundments under CDFW regulation; the in-park streams are intermittent rather than productive.
• Red-legged frog conservation: NPS notes that California red-legged frogs (federally threatened) are vulnerable to non-native fish predation — part of the rationale for the mid-1980s catfish and mid-1990s green-sunfish removals. Anglers should not import bait or release fish in the park.
• Practical effect: Pinnacles is a national park where the CDFW licence regime technically applies (NPS doesn't impose a separate permit and doesn't say fishing is prohibited), but the absence of perennial water means no sport-fishery exists in practice. The entry exists in the catalog because anglers searching 'Pinnacles fishing' deserve a clear and honest answer rather than the SERP void that currently surrounds this park.

Pinnacles fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: There is NO sport fishery inside Death Valley National Park. All five native fish in the park are isolated pupfish species — the Devils Hole Pupfish is among the most endangered fish in the world (federally listed under the Endangered Species Act) and is strictly protected. Pupfish habitats (Devils Hole, Salt Creek, Cottonball Marsh, Amargosa River, Saratoga Springs) are observation-only — no harvest, no harassment, no handling. State licences (CA / NV) are not relevant in practice because no fishable species exist inside park boundaries.

• Native pupfish species, by habitat (NPS verbatim taxonomic IDs): Devils Hole Pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis, Devils Hole cavern — a detached 40-acre unit within the park), Salt Creek Pupfish (Cyprinodon salinus salinus, winding Salt Creek), Cottonball Marsh Pupfish (Cyprinodon salinus milleri, Cottonball Marsh), Amargosa River Pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis amargosae, Amargosa River system), Saratoga Springs Pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis nevadensis, Saratoga Springs). All five evolved from a single ancestral population during the Pleistocene wet period and are now genetically isolated relict populations in spring-fed micro-habitats.
• Devils Hole Pupfish — NPS verbatim 'one of the most endangered fish species in the world' and 'critically endangered.' The species was the subject of the landmark US Supreme Court case Cappaert v. United States (1976) establishing federal reserved water rights for the species. Devils Hole itself is a deep limestone aquifer outcrop in the Ash Meadows section of the park (Nye County, NV); the fish occupy a single shallow shelf at the cavern entrance and are observed from a fenced overlook only. Population is monitored by USFWS / NPS / Nevada Department of Wildlife on a coordinated schedule.
• Conservation framework: pupfish populations are protected under the Endangered Species Act (the Devils Hole Pupfish was one of the first species listed under the original 1967 list); NPS regulations under 36 CFR §2.3 prohibit harassment, take, or harm of any fish species in the park regardless of state licence framework. The page is verbatim educational ('If you're visiting the springs, keep your eyes peeled') — NPS does not acknowledge fishing as a permitted activity anywhere in the park.
• State-line context: Death Valley spans California (~95% of the park) and Nevada (the Ash Meadows / Devils Hole section). Were the park to have any fishable water, the state line would matter — but with all pupfish ESA-protected the question is moot. Visiting anglers headed to Death Valley should plan their fishing trip for outside the park (lower Owens River and Bishop-area waters in CA, Lake Mead and Pyramid Lake in NV are the nearest meaningful sport-fishery destinations).
• Practical effect: this entry exists in the catalog because anglers searching 'Death Valley fishing' deserve a clear answer — there is no sport fishing, the native pupfish are off-limits under federal ESA law, and the question is closed. The state licence regime is technically the default if any fishable water somehow existed, but in practice this is a no-fishing park.

Death Valley fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid New Mexico state fishing licence (NM Department of Game & Fish) is the controlling framework by default — Carlsbad Caverns imposes no separate park permit. HOWEVER there is no sport fishery inside park boundaries: the main cavern unit has no surface water of any consequence, and the only fish-bearing water in the park system is the Rattlesnake Springs detached unit (~30 miles south of the main caverns), where NPS is actively managing non-native species and discourages recreational fishing on conservation grounds.

• Rattlesnake Springs detached unit: a small riparian / spring-fed pond complex roughly 30 miles south of the main cavern entrance, within the Pecos River drainage. NPS verbatim documents 2 native fish — roundnose minnow and greenthroat darter — plus 3 non-natives (green sunfish, largemouth bass, western mosquitofish) which NPS is actively managing / removing because they are native only to the Pecos River mainstem and not to the spring system. Sport fishing is not advertised as a permitted activity here; the springs are managed as a riparian ecological refuge.
• Main cavern unit hydrology: the underground cave system has its own water (cave pools, drip features, the Lake of the Clouds in the Big Room area), but no fish live in any of these — caves are unfishable habitats. Surface water inside the main cavern unit's boundary is essentially absent — the Chihuahuan Desert surface drainage is ephemeral arroyo only.
• Non-native management context: NPS actively manages the introduced sunfish / bass / mosquitofish at Rattlesnake Springs because they suppress the native roundnose minnow and greenthroat darter. An angler harvesting non-natives might appear to align with the management objective, but NPS has not designated Rattlesnake Springs as an open sport fishery — recreation use of the springs is observation-oriented. Anglers seeking the same Pecos drainage species (largemouth bass, sunfish) should target Pecos River mainstem reaches under standard NM state licence rather than the spring complex.
• Pecos drainage outside-park context: anglers visiting Carlsbad Caverns who want a real fishing trip should target the lower Pecos River downstream of the park, Brantley Lake State Park (a major NM bass / catfish destination ~30 miles north of Carlsbad), and Lake Avalon. All are under standard NM Department of Game & Fish regulations.
• Practical effect: Carlsbad Caverns is a National Park where the NM state licence framework technically applies by default, but the in-park fishery is a small ecological-management situation at Rattlesnake Springs rather than a sport opportunity. The entry exists in the catalog because anglers searching 'Carlsbad Caverns fishing' deserve a clear and honest answer — there is no sport fishing here; the nearby Pecos drainage is where the actual fishery is.

Carlsbad Caverns fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: There is NO sport fishery inside White Sands National Park. The sole fish species in the park's water — the White Sands Pupfish (Cyprinodon tularosa) — is listed as a threatened species by the New Mexico State Game Commission and is protected under a 1994 Cooperative Agreement and Conservation Plan among five agencies (NM Department of Game & Fish, USFWS, White Sands Missile Range, Holloman Air Force Base, and White Sands National Park). The only in-park population lives in Lost River, which begins on Holloman AFB and terminates just inside the northeast boundary of the park.

• Sole species: White Sands Pupfish (Cyprinodon tularosa) — endemic to the Tularosa Basin of south-central New Mexico, a relict of the much larger Pleistocene Lake Otero that filled the basin during cooler, wetter climates. NPS verbatim: the species 'survived hydrologic and climatic changes over the last 12,000 years' to persist in four spring-fed micro-habitats today. No other native or non-native fish species are present in park waters.
• Four total populations across the Tularosa Basin: Malpais Spring, Mound Spring, and Salt Creek (all three on White Sands Missile Range, NOT inside the national park), plus Lost River (begins on Holloman Air Force Base, terminates just inside the northeast boundary of White Sands National Park — the ONLY in-park population, occupying a very short stream reach).
• Protected status: NPS verbatim 'listed as a threatened species by the New Mexico State Game Commission.' This is a NM state-level threatened designation (not federal ESA), but the 1994 multi-agency Cooperative Agreement and Conservation Plan creates a coordinated protection framework that effectively prohibits take or harassment regardless of state licence status. NPS regulations under 36 CFR §2.3 separately prohibit harm to fish in the park.
• Cooperative jurisdiction: NPS verbatim — 'the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, White Sands Missile Range, Holloman Air Force Base, and White Sands National Park all signed a Cooperative Agreement and Conservation Plan in 1994.' This is one of the rare cases where a sub-100-mile-scale conservation effort spans 5 federal-and-state agencies due to the species' distribution crossing multiple federal-managed military installations + NPS unit + state regulatory authority.
• Park geography: White Sands NP is the gypsum dunefield south of the San Andres Mountains and north of the Sacramento Mountains, in NM's Tularosa Basin. The dunefield itself has no surface water. The only fishable water — the short reach of Lost River that crosses the NE boundary — is closed to fishing both as a matter of the cooperative-agreement framework and because no recreational fishing is recognized in the park.
• Outside-park context: anglers visiting the White Sands region who want a real sport fishery should target Bonito Lake (Lincoln County, ~80 mi NE — trout), Elephant Butte Lake State Park (NM's largest reservoir, ~120 mi west), or Caballo Lake (south of Elephant Butte). All operate under standard NMDGF regulation. The Tularosa Basin itself supports no sport fishery — the pupfish are off-limits and no introduced sport species have established.
• Practical effect: this entry exists in the catalog because anglers searching 'White Sands fishing' deserve a clear answer — the species present is state-threatened and off-limits, the park supports no other fish, and the Tularosa Basin context is unique enough (Lake Otero relict pupfish + 5-agency cooperative jurisdiction) that it merits explicit catalog coverage.

White Sands fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: There is NO sport fishery inside Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The memorial sits on granite outcrops in the Black Hills of South Dakota with essentially no perennial fishable water inside its small (~1300 acre) boundary. A South Dakota fishing licence (SD Game, Fish & Parks) is the controlling framework by default if any in-park fishable water existed; in practice, anglers should fish elsewhere in the Black Hills — the memorial itself is a sculpture-and-visitor destination, not a fishing destination.

• Park context: Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a ~1,300-acre NPS unit in Pennington County, SD, containing the sculpted granite faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln on Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills. The memorial is land-and-monument focused — there are no developed fishable lakes, ponds, or stocked stream reaches within its boundary. Drainage flows to the Battle Creek / Grace Coolidge Creek system but the in-memorial surface water is not a sport-fishery target.
• Black Hills fishery context (OUTSIDE the memorial): the broader Black Hills region is one of the better sport-fishery destinations in South Dakota — Pactola Reservoir (rainbow + brown + lake trout, kokanee), Sheridan Lake (rainbow + bass + perch), Deerfield Reservoir (cold-water trout), Grace Coolidge Creek (stocked trout) in adjacent Custer State Park, and the entire Black Hills National Forest stream system (Spearfish Creek, Rapid Creek, Castle Creek, Box Elder Creek, Sand Creek). All operate under SD Game, Fish & Parks (SDGFP) regulation with the standard SD freshwater licence.
• Custer State Park is the most logical anchor for an angler combining Mount Rushmore sightseeing with actual fishing — it adjoins the memorial to the south and west, with multiple stocked lakes (Stockade Lake, Center Lake, Legion Lake, Sylvan Lake, Bismarck Lake, Horsethief Lake) on the SDGFP-regulated state park system (Custer State Park is SD STATE-managed, not federal, but the SD freshwater licence is the same controlling document).
• Memorial visitor logistics: parking, the Avenue of Flags, the Grandview Terrace, the Presidential Trail loop, the Sculptor's Studio, and the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center. No fishing infrastructure exists. Memorial Headquarters: 13000 SD Highway 244, Keystone, SD 57751 — (605) 574-2523.
• Practical effect: this entry exists in the catalog because anglers searching 'Mount Rushmore fishing' deserve a clear answer — no in-memorial fishery exists. SDGFP licence covers all the nearby Black Hills options. The memorial-and-fishing combination is best planned by visiting Custer State Park or Pactola Reservoir for the fishing component.

Mount Rushmore fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: There is NO sport fishery inside Gateway Arch National Park. The park is an ~91-acre urban memorial along the Mississippi River waterfront in downtown St. Louis — the Arch itself, the Old Courthouse, the Museum at the Gateway Arch, the riverfront grounds, and limited grade-separated landscaping. The Mississippi River frontage is the eastern park boundary but the river itself is regulated by Missouri Department of Conservation under the standard MO licence framework; in-park shore access for fishing is minimal-to-absent.

• Park context: Gateway Arch was redesignated from Jefferson National Expansion Memorial to Gateway Arch National Park in 2018 (NPS unit code remains `jeff`). The park's footprint is the immediate Arch grounds plus a renovated landscape connecting the Arch to the Old Courthouse, total ~91 acres. The Mississippi River fronts the eastern edge — Lewis & Clark stepped off here at the start of their 1804 expedition — but the riverside is structured for visitor circulation (the Riverfront Trail, paddleboat docks for sightseeing boats), not fishing.
• Mississippi River fishing context: the Mississippi at St. Louis is a major navigable channel managed for commercial traffic — towboats, barges, the Eads Bridge, the McKinley Bridge. Sport-fishing access from the St. Louis riverfront is concentrated north and south of the park core (Carondelet Park boat ramp, Riverview Park north of downtown, the Chain of Rocks above the I-270 bridge). Catfish (channel + flathead + blue), white bass, freshwater drum, paddlefish (snagging season — separate Missouri Department of Conservation rules), Asian carp are the warm-water species available on the St. Louis stretch.
• Missouri licence framework: Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) governs all freshwater fishing in MO including the Mississippi River. The standard MO fishing licence is required for residents 16+ and non-residents 16+; daily, annual, and 3-day non-resident options sold by MDC vendors and online. Specific snagging rules apply to paddlefish (a separate season and a separate licence framework). The MO fish-consumption advisory specifically calls out the lower Mississippi for elevated mercury and PCBs in larger predatory fish (paddlefish, larger catfish) — restrict consumption per MDC guidance.
• Outside-park sport-fishery context within easy driving distance: the Mississippi River at the Chain of Rocks (above the I-270 bridge, ~15 mi N) is the better St. Louis-area Mississippi fishing destination; the Meramec River (south of St. Louis) is the standout regional smallmouth-bass fishery; Mark Twain Lake (~100 mi NW) is the major regional reservoir for largemouth bass / crappie / walleye; Lake of the Ozarks (~150 mi W) is the larger destination reservoir. All operate under MDC regulation.
• Practical effect: this entry exists in the catalog because anglers searching 'Gateway Arch fishing' may be checking whether the park itself is a fishing destination — it is not. The park does not promote, regulate, or facilitate fishing. The Mississippi River frontage is for sightseeing and walking, not casting. Real St. Louis fishing options are 15+ miles outside the park boundary.

Gateway Arch fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: There is NO sport fishery inside Saguaro National Park. The two-district park (Rincon Mountain District east of Tucson + Tucson Mountain District west of Tucson) sits entirely in Sonoran Desert with no perennial water of any consequence — Rincon Creek, Tanque Verde Creek, and other named drainages are ephemeral arroyos that flow only during summer monsoon storms or major winter rain events. An Arizona state fishing licence (AZ Game & Fish) is the controlling framework by default but in practice no fishable water exists.

• Park context: Saguaro National Park protects the largest saguaro cactus stands in the United States across two districts — the Rincon Mountain District (east unit, ~67000 acres including the Rincon Mountain Wilderness up to 8666 ft at Mica Mountain) and the Tucson Mountain District (west unit, ~24000 acres in the Tucson Mountains). Both districts are Sonoran Desert — saguaro / paloverde / ironwood / ocotillo associations on creosote-bursage flats giving way to oak-pine woodland at the highest elevations on Rincon.
• Hydrology: there is no permanent surface water in either district. Rincon Creek, Tanque Verde Creek, Sabino Creek (just outside the east district on Coronado NF land), and Box Canyon drainage are ephemeral — flowing as flash floods during the July-August monsoon and briefly after major winter storms, dry for the rest of the year. The Rincon Mountains' upper elevations get more precipitation but no perennial fishable stream exists inside the park.
• Arizona licence framework: AZ Game & Fish issues the standard freshwater fishing licence; AZ residents and non-residents both require licences from age 10+; annual, short-term, and combo hunt/fish options. The framework applies by default to anything fishable inside Saguaro NP boundaries; there is just no fishable water for it to govern.
• Outside-park sport-fishery context: Tucson-area anglers should target Arivaca Lake (~60 mi SW), Patagonia Lake State Park (~60 mi S — largemouth bass + crappie + catfish), Pena Blanca Lake (~70 mi S), and the higher-country lakes north of Tucson — Rose Canyon Lake on Mt Lemmon (~25 mi NE — stocked rainbow trout in summer-cool elevations) and Parker Canyon Lake (~60 mi SE). All under AZ G&F regulation. Trout require an AZ trout stamp.
• Practical effect: this entry exists because anglers searching 'Saguaro National Park fishing' deserve a clear honest answer — the park is desert with no water, AZ G&F licence framework still technically applies, but there's nothing to fish for. Plan a separate trip to Rose Canyon Lake (the closest stocked-trout option) or one of the southern Arizona reservoirs.

Saguaro fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: There is NO sport fishery inside Petrified Forest National Park. The park's ~228000 acres span Painted Desert badlands and the namesake petrified-wood deposits in north-eastern Arizona — there is no perennial fishable water of any consequence. The Puerco River runs east-west through the park but is a sand-bed ephemeral stream that flows only during summer monsoons and winter storms. An Arizona state fishing licence (AZ Game & Fish) is the default framework but no fishable water exists.

• Park context: Petrified Forest NP protects one of the largest concentrations of Triassic-period petrified wood in the world, the colorful Painted Desert badlands of the Chinle Formation, Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites (Puerco Pueblo, Newspaper Rock, Agate House), and the Route 66 corridor across northern Arizona. The park straddles I-40 between Holbrook and Chambers, AZ.
• Hydrology: the Puerco River is the main drainage, flowing east through the park's central section toward the Little Colorado River. It is an arid-zone sand-bed channel with surface flow only during the July-August Arizona monsoon and after major winter storms — dry for most of the year with the channel hosting only sparse vegetation. Lithodendron Wash and several smaller arroyos are similarly ephemeral. There is no perennial pool, spring, or impoundment inside park boundaries.
• Arizona licence framework: AZ Game & Fish issues the controlling freshwater licence as for all Arizona sport fishing; the licence framework applies by default but there is no in-park water it would govern. Park rules under 36 CFR §2.3 would govern any in-park fishing if such water existed.
• Outside-park sport-fishery context: the Little Colorado River (~25 mi west — sporadic warm-water + occasional trout where flow allows) is the closest river-fishing option but is not a destination fishery; the higher-elevation reservoirs of the Mogollon Rim (~80-120 mi SW — Knoll Lake, Woods Canyon Lake, Willow Springs Lake) offer stocked rainbow trout in summer-cool waters under standard AZ G&F regulation + AZ trout stamp; Lyman Lake State Park (~50 mi SE near St. Johns) is the closest reservoir with bass + catfish + walleye + trout, on the Little Colorado River.
• Practical effect: anglers visiting Petrified Forest for the wood / Painted Desert / Route 66 historic value who want to fit fishing into the trip should plan a separate stop at one of the Mogollon Rim lakes (Woods Canyon is the most popular family destination, with cabin and store services) or Lyman Lake. The park itself offers no in-park fishery and no NPS-published fishing guidance.

Petrified Forest fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Indiana state fishing licence (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, IDNR) is REQUIRED for any fishing inside park boundaries. The park fronts ~15 miles of Lake Michigan southern shore and contains multiple inland waters (Long Lake, Trail Creek, Salt Creek, Little Calumet River, Dunes Creek). NPS publishes no Indiana Dunes-specific fishing-regulation page — the IDNR statewide regulations are the controlling document, including the Lake Michigan stamp where state rules require it.

• Lake Michigan shore context: Indiana Dunes NP fronts a 15-mile stretch of the southern Lake Michigan shore between Gary and Michigan City — including the main NPS beaches (West Beach, Porter Beach, Kemil Beach, Lake View, Mount Baldy area). Shore-casting and pier fishing at Michigan City (just east of the park) target Lake Michigan's coho + chinook salmon (spring + fall runs), steelhead (winter + spring), lake trout, yellow perch, and brown trout. The Trail Creek tributary at Michigan City is a major steelhead and salmon spawning run.
• Inland-water context: the park's inland kettle-bog lakes (Long Lake), wetland channels (Cowles Bog, Pinhook Bog), and small tributary streams (Dunes Creek, Salt Creek, Little Calumet River reaches) hold warmwater species — largemouth bass, sunfish / bluegill, channel catfish, northern pike where habitat allows, plus carp in the Calumet system. Most inland waters are managed primarily for ecological values rather than as developed sport fisheries.
• Indiana licence framework: IDNR issues the standard freshwater licence (residents 18+ and non-residents 18+ require licence; 17 and under fish under adult licence). A separate Lake Michigan trout-and-salmon stamp is required for keeping salmon / steelhead / trout from Lake Michigan tributaries within ~5 miles of the lake; IDNR publishes specific tributary-water rules (closed-season periods on certain trout-spawning streams) — confirm in the current IDNR fishing-regulation guide before fishing tributaries.
• Trail Creek (Michigan City) salmon and steelhead run: the most heavily-targeted in-park / near-park fishery. The creek's lower reach is in Michigan City just east of the park's east boundary, but anglers crossing into the park's beachfront access points fish the same Lake Michigan-mouth ecosystem. Snagging is prohibited (use legal hook-and-line). IDNR posts spawning-season closures and gear restrictions on tributary water sections — these are the regulations to read closely.
• Park context: Indiana Dunes was redesignated from Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to Indiana Dunes National Park in 2019 (NPS unit code remains `indu`). Park HQ: 1100 N Mineral Springs Rd, Porter, IN 46304 — phone (219) 395-1882. The site does not publish a fishing-specific page (`/planyourvisit/fishing.htm` returns the NPS 200-but-404-body envelope) — IDNR's online fishing guide is the authoritative regulation document for any in-park angler.

Indiana Dunes fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: There is NO sport fishery inside Bryce Canyon National Park. The park is a high-elevation pinnacle / hoodoo landscape on the Paunsaugunt Plateau (7,000–9,100 ft) with essentially no perennial fishable water — drainages are ephemeral and headwater-only. A Utah state fishing licence (Utah DWR) is the controlling framework by default but in practice no fishable water exists.

• Park context: Bryce Canyon NP protects the headwaters and pinnacle amphitheaters of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southern Utah — the namesake hoodoo formations of Bryce Amphitheater, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, Sunrise Point, Bryce Point, and the higher-elevation Rainbow Point area in the Black Birch Canyon district. Elevation runs from ~6,600 ft at the lowest park elevations to 9,100 ft at Rainbow Point. The park is high-desert / ponderosa / spruce-fir vegetation depending on elevation.
• Hydrology: park drainages (Yellow Creek, Sheep Creek, Mossy Cave's small spring) are ephemeral or seasonal. Mossy Cave has a small year-round trickle from an irrigation overflow off the East Fork of the Sevier River (the Tropic Ditch, a historic 1890s irrigation diversion), but this is a tiny channel not a fishery. The East Fork Sevier itself runs along the park's western boundary but its in-park reach is small. There is no in-park stocked lake, pond, or fishable stream.
• Outside-park sport-fishery context: the regional sport-fishery anchor is Tropic Reservoir (~10 mi SW of the park entrance on the East Fork Sevier — Utah DWR stocks rainbow + tiger trout + cutthroat; the reservoir is in Dixie National Forest on Tropic Ditch headwaters) and Panguitch Lake (~30 mi NW — rainbow + cutthroat + brown trout, one of southern Utah's premier trout destinations). The East Fork Sevier below Tropic Reservoir holds brown trout on private+public access reaches. All under Utah DWR regulation with UT fishing licence + any appropriate UT stamp.
• Practical effect: anglers visiting Bryce for the hoodoos who want to fit fishing into the trip should plan a separate stop at Tropic Reservoir or Panguitch Lake — both reachable in under an hour. The park itself offers no in-park fishery and NPS publishes no fishing guidance (both `/planyourvisit/fishing.htm` and `/learn/nature/fish.htm` return the NPS 200-but-404-body envelope).

Bryce Canyon fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: There is NO sport fishery inside Arches National Park. The park is a desert sandstone landscape with no perennial water inside its boundaries — Salt Wash and Courthouse Wash are ephemeral arroyo drainages. The Colorado River runs along the southern park boundary but the river itself is technically outside the park's mapped area in most sections. A Utah state fishing licence (Utah DWR) is the controlling framework by default for any fishable water inside, of which there is essentially none.

• Park context: Arches NP protects the world's largest concentration of natural sandstone arches (over 2,000 arches), plus iconic features like Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, the Windows section, the Devils Garden, the Fiery Furnace, and Balanced Rock. The park is ~76,000 acres of high-desert sandstone north of Moab, Utah. Elevation runs 4,000–5,653 ft.
• Hydrology: there is no perennial fishable water inside park boundaries. Salt Wash and Courthouse Wash are major in-park drainages but are ephemeral arroyo channels — flowing as flash floods after summer monsoon storms or major winter precipitation, dry for the rest of the year. There are no stocked lakes, springs, or perennial streams that hold fish. The Colorado River runs immediately south of the park (US-191 crosses the river just below the park entrance) but the river is outside the park's mapped boundary in most sections.
• Colorado River near Arches (just outside): the river through the Moab Valley reach holds the same Colorado River fish suite as Canyonlands NP downstream — non-native carp and channel catfish dominate, with native flannelmouth sucker / bluehead sucker / roundtail chub present; federally endangered Colorado pikeminnow + razorback sucker + humpback chub + bonytail chub are protected under the Endangered Species Act on this stretch as well (no take of any kind regardless of licence). Utah DWR licence applies; ESA protections apply on top.
• Outside-park sport-fishery context: the standout regional sport-fishery destinations are Ken's Lake (~10 mi south of Moab — bass + bluegill + catfish), Mill Creek above Moab (small trout fishery in the upper canyon), and Recapture Reservoir (~50 mi south near Blanding — bass + walleye + catfish). The La Sal Mountains east of Moab hold higher-elevation reservoirs (Oowah Lake, Warner Lake) with stocked trout under UT DWR regulation.
• Practical effect: anglers visiting Arches for the arches who want to fit fishing into the trip should plan a separate trip to Ken's Lake or one of the La Sal Mountain reservoirs. The park itself has nothing to offer the angler. NPS publishes no fishing page (both `/planyourvisit/fishing.htm` and `/learn/nature/fish.htm` return the NPS 200-but-404-body envelope) — consistent with the park's lack of fishable water.

Arches fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: There is NO sport fishery inside Joshua Tree National Park. The park spans ~800,000 acres at the Mojave / Colorado Desert transition with no perennial fishable surface water — the few seasonal springs and ephemeral washes (Quail Wash, Pinto Wash, Smith Water Canyon) carry water only briefly after winter storms or summer monsoon thunderstorms. A California state fishing licence (CDFW) is the controlling framework by default but no fishable water exists in the park.

• Park context: Joshua Tree NP straddles the boundary between the Mojave Desert (higher, cooler, western half — namesake Joshua trees + Wonderland of Rocks granite formations) and the Colorado Desert (lower, hotter, eastern half — cholla cactus + ocotillo + creosote scrub). Elevation runs from ~536 ft at the lowest eastern boundary to 5,814 ft at Quail Mountain. Major destinations include Hidden Valley, Barker Dam, Keys View, Cholla Cactus Garden, Cottonwood Spring, and the Jumbo Rocks / Indian Cove climbing areas.
• Hydrology: there is no perennial fishable surface water inside park boundaries. Barker Dam (the small historic cattlemen's reservoir near Hidden Valley) holds water only seasonally and is wildlife-observation-oriented, not a fishery. Smith Water Canyon, Quail Wash, Pinto Wash, and Cottonwood / 49 Palms / Lost Palms oases hold water briefly after storms or year-round at small spring sources, but none support a sport-fish community — desert pupfish historically present in some Mojave-region springs are NOT documented inside the park's perennial waters. Desert tortoises, bighorn sheep, and the namesake Joshua trees are the wildlife draw; fish are absent.
• California licence framework: CDFW issues the standard freshwater fishing licence for residents and non-residents from age 16+; annual, short-term, and reduced-fee options. The framework applies by default to any in-park fishable water; there is just no fishable water for it to govern. The park lies in CDFW's South Coast Region (Region 6) for any administrative purposes.
• Outside-park sport-fishery context: anglers visiting Joshua Tree who want to add fishing to the trip should plan a separate stop at the Salton Sea (~80 mi SE — tilapia + corvina with current advisories on heavy-metal accumulation), Lake Cahuilla (~75 mi SW near La Quinta — stocked rainbow trout in winter + warmwater bass / catfish), Lake Hemet (~90 mi W — stocked trout + bass), Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains (~100 mi NW — premier southern California trout / bass destination), or the lower Colorado River (~70 mi E near Parker AZ / Earp CA — striped bass + bluegill + sunfish). All under CDFW regulation; trout require a separate CDFW report card on some waters.
• Practical effect: this entry exists because anglers searching 'Joshua Tree fishing' deserve a clear honest answer — the park is desert with no perennial water, CDFW licence framework still technically applies, but there's nothing to fish for. Plan a separate trip to Big Bear Lake or the Salton Sea for the fishing component. NPS publishes no fishing page for the unit (both `/planyourvisit/fishing.htm` and `/learn/nature/fish.htm` return the 200-but-404-body envelope) — consistent with the park's lack of fishable water.

Joshua Tree fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: There is NO sport fishery inside Wind Cave National Park. The park's ~33,000 acres of mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa pine forest in the southern Black Hills contain no perennial fishable water — Beaver Creek and Wind Cave Canyon Creek run small and intermittently through prairie drainages with no sport-fish community. A South Dakota fishing licence (SD Game, Fish & Parks) is the controlling framework by default but no fishable water exists in the park.

• Park context: Wind Cave NP protects one of the world's longest and most complex cave systems (Wind Cave is the seventh-longest cave system in the world, named for the strong wind blowing through the historic natural entrance due to atmospheric pressure differentials) along with ~33,000 acres of southern Black Hills mixed-grass prairie + ponderosa pine ecotone above. The above-ground park is home to American bison, pronghorn, elk, prairie dogs, and the unusual prairie-pine transitional ecology. The cave system itself is a karst limestone network with unique calcite 'boxwork' formations.
• Hydrology: Beaver Creek (the larger named drainage running south through the park's eastern section) and Wind Cave Canyon Creek are small intermittent prairie streams that carry water seasonally and during runoff events. There are no lakes, ponds, or stocked stream reaches inside park boundaries. The cave system itself contains a deep regional aquifer at lower levels (Madison aquifer surface), but cave-water is not fishable habitat and is closed to recreational use under cave management rules. The park's water resources are managed for the ecology + the cave system, not for sport fishing.
• South Dakota licence framework: SD Game, Fish & Parks (SDGFP) issues the standard SD freshwater fishing licence (residents and non-residents from age 16+; annual, short-term, family options). The framework applies by default to any in-park fishable water; there is just no fishable water for it to govern.
• Outside-park sport-fishery context (the Black Hills region is one of the better sport-fishery destinations in SD): Custer State Park's stocked lakes (Stockade / Center / Legion / Sylvan / Bismarck / Horsethief Lakes — adjacent to Wind Cave NP on the south and west, SD-state-managed, same SDGFP licence applies), Cold Brook Reservoir + Cottonwood Springs Reservoir (both just southeast of the park near Hot Springs), Sheridan Lake / Pactola Reservoir / Deerfield Reservoir (the cold-water trout reservoir trio in the central Black Hills ~40-60 mi N near Hill City), Spearfish / Rapid / Castle / Box Elder / Sand Creek for stream trout. All under SDGFP regulation with the standard SD freshwater licence.
• Practical effect: anglers visiting Wind Cave for the cave + bison + Black Hills setting who want to fit fishing into the trip should plan a separate stop at one of the Custer State Park lakes (closest, easiest, often the same day's drive) or at Cold Brook / Cottonwood Springs Reservoir near Hot Springs. The park itself offers no in-park fishery and NPS publishes no fishing page (both `/planyourvisit/fishing.htm` and `/learn/nature/fish.htm` return the 200-but-404-body envelope or an error redirect) — consistent with the park's lack of fishable water.

Wind Cave fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: There is NO sport fishery inside Mesa Verde National Park. The park's ~52,000 acres on the Mesa Verde plateau in southwestern Colorado contain no perennial fishable water — canyon drainages (Soda Canyon, Cliff Canyon, Long Canyon, Navajo Canyon) are ephemeral arroyo systems. A Colorado state fishing licence (Colorado Parks & Wildlife) is the controlling framework by default but no fishable water exists in the park.

• Park context: Mesa Verde NP protects the densest concentration of Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings in the United States — over 600 archaeological sites including Cliff Palace, Balcony House, Long House, Spruce Tree House, Square Tower House, and the Step House Pithouse. The park's ~52,000 acres sit on the Mesa Verde cuesta (a tilted tableland sloping south at ~7%) in Montezuma County, southwestern Colorado, with elevations from ~6,000 to 8,572 ft. The plateau is dissected by deeply-incised tributary canyons that drain south to the Mancos River.
• Hydrology: there is no perennial fishable surface water inside park boundaries. Soda Canyon, Cliff Canyon, Long Canyon, Navajo Canyon, Prater Canyon, and the other named in-park canyons are ephemeral arroyo systems carrying water only after summer monsoon storms and major winter snowmelt events. The Mancos River runs along the southern park boundary in a deep gorge but is outside the park's mapped area in most sections. Park water resources support the archaeological site preservation + native ecology + visitor services; no sport-fishery infrastructure exists.
• Colorado licence framework: CPW issues the standard CO freshwater fishing licence (residents 16+, non-residents 16+; annual, short-term, senior, low-income options) plus the Colorado Habitat Stamp for anglers 18+. The framework applies by default to any in-park fishable water; there is just no fishable water for it to govern.
• Outside-park sport-fishery context (Four Corners / SW Colorado region): McPhee Reservoir (~25 mi NW near Dolores — CO's second-largest reservoir, walleye + smallmouth bass + crappie + rainbow + kokanee salmon), Narraguinnep Reservoir (~20 mi N near Cortez — walleye + smallmouth + crappie + tiger muskie), Vallecito Reservoir (~50 mi NE near Durango — kokanee + rainbow + brown + lake trout + northern pike), Lemon Reservoir (~50 mi NE near Durango — rainbow + kokanee), the Dolores River below McPhee (Gold Medal trout water on the upper reaches, brown trout fishery downstream), the Mancos River outside park (small brown trout fishery), and the Animas River through Durango (urban trout fishery + downstream warmwater). All under CPW regulation with CO licence + Habitat Stamp.
• Practical effect: anglers visiting Mesa Verde for the cliff dwellings who want to fit fishing into the trip should plan a separate stop at McPhee Reservoir (closest major destination, easy detour from Mesa Verde west on US-160) or Narraguinnep Reservoir (just north of Cortez). The park itself offers no in-park fishery and NPS publishes no fishing page (both `/planyourvisit/fishing.htm` and `/learn/nature/fish.htm` return the 200-but-404-body envelope) — consistent with the park's lack of fishable water.

Mesa Verde fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Massachusetts fishing licence is required to fish inside Cape Cod National Seashore. Saltwater anglers register with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (children under 16 do not require a saltwater permit); freshwater anglers buy a MassWildlife licence (children under 15 do not require a freshwater licence). Park-specific rules layered on top of state regulations under 36 CFR §2.3 — night-fishing parking permits, designated-swimming-beach time windows, and fish-remains disposal rules.

• Park context: Cape Cod National Seashore protects ~43,600 acres along the outer Cape — 40 miles of Atlantic shoreline from Provincetown south through Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham, Orleans, Chatham, and Nauset. The shoreline encompasses some of the most heavily-fished Atlantic surf in the region; the park's six developed swimming beaches (Race Point, Herring Cove, Head of the Meadow, Coast Guard, Nauset Light, Marconi) all permit fishing outside the lifeguarded swim window. Freshwater ponds (Gull, Higgins, Long, Great, Slough, Snow, Williams) hold trout / largemouth bass / chain pickerel / yellow perch and are managed under MassWildlife regulation.
• Massachusetts licence framework: TWO separate state agencies govern fishing depending on water type. Saltwater anglers register with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (no fee for the saltwater registration in most years for residents 16+; non-residents pay an annual fee). Freshwater anglers buy a MassWildlife (Division of Fisheries & Wildlife) sport-fishing licence. Children under 16 (saltwater) and under 15 (freshwater) do not require credentials. Anglers fishing both fresh and salt water on the same trip need both credentials.
• Park-specific rules layered under 36 CFR §2.3: fishing IS authorized from designated swimming beaches throughout the year EXCEPT between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM from June 15 through Labor Day (the lifeguarded swim window). Night-fishing parking is permitted between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM at otherwise-closed lots — anglers must obtain a NIGHT FISHING PARKING PERMIT at a visitor centre in advance. Disposal of fish remains on park beaches is PROHIBITED. Standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply to chumming in fresh water, possession of live or dead minnows as freshwater bait outside designated waters, commercial fishing, and use of drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity.
• Surf-fishery anchor species: striped bass and bluefish are the marquee Cape Cod surf fishery from late spring through fall (the Race Point and Herring Cove rips are world-class). Atlantic-mackerel runs through the early summer. Tautog (blackfish), scup, black sea bass, and summer flounder (fluke) are the deeper-water targets from boat or jetty. Striped bass slot limits and bag windows are set annually by MassDMF and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Striped Bass Management Board — verify the current-year slot before keeping any striper.
• Outside-park context: the Cape Cod Canal (~30 mi west of the park core, joint US Army Corps + MassDMF jurisdiction) is the regional surf-fishery cathedral for striped bass run season; the Elizabeth Islands chain (Vineyard Sound) and Buzzards Bay support the season's high-end stripers + bluefish; freshwater ponds across the Cape are stocked by MassWildlife on a spring rotation. Park HQ: 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667 — (508) 255-3421.

Cape Cod fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Assateague Island National Seashore is a BI-STATE park spanning Maryland AND Virginia along the Atlantic barrier-island coast. A Maryland or Virginia saltwater fishing licence is required depending on which side of the state line you are casting from. Park-specific rules layered on top of state regulation: lifeguard-protected-beach exclusion, after-hours fishing parking pass (Virginia only), Over-Sand Vehicle (OSV) permits via recreation.gov, and Endangered Species Act bird-nesting closures on Toms Cove Hook and other posted areas.

• Park context: Assateague Island National Seashore protects a 37-mile barrier-island chain crossing the Maryland-Virginia state line on the Delmarva Peninsula. The Maryland district (north) is contiguous with Assateague State Park; the Virginia district (south) is co-managed with Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS). Famous for the namesake wild horses (with distinct Maryland and Virginia herds), Sika deer, and the rich Mid-Atlantic surf fishery. The bi-state nature means the controlling licence depends on which state's portion of the beach you fish from.
• Maryland vs Virginia licence frameworks: Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) issues a separate saltwater angler licence for the MD district; resident and non-resident options. Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) issues a separate saltwater licence for the VA district (the Saltwater Fishing Licence). Both states' resident/non-resident structures + age exemptions apply. Anglers must understand which state line they're casting from — the boundary crosses the island roughly at the centre of the seashore.
• Park-specific rules layered under 36 CFR §2.3: (a) fishing PROHIBITED within the boundaries of lifeguard-protected beaches — designated swim areas posted seasonally; (b) Virginia entrance hours are seasonal (5 AM-10 PM May-Sep, 6 AM-8 PM Apr+Oct, 6 AM-6 PM Nov-Mar) — anglers wishing to fish before/after the entrance window must obtain an AFTER-HOURS FISHING PASS at the Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Centre; the MD entrance does NOT require an after-hours pass; (c) Over-Sand Vehicle (OSV) access to designated zones requires a permit purchased via recreation.gov in advance — beach driving is not available without it; (d) ALL signed and fenced areas on Toms Cove Hook and posted bird-nesting zones elsewhere are CLOSED to entry — multiple species under Endangered Species Act protection; (e) beach fires permitted by Special Use Permit only (VA) or for groups ≤25 between tide lines (MD); (f) overnight sleeping permitted only in designated camping areas in MD (none in VA).
• Surf-fishery anchor species: striped bass (spring + fall runs), bluefish, summer flounder (fluke), red drum, black drum, weakfish, croaker, spot, kingfish, northern puffer, and sharks (smooth dogfish + brown sharks + occasional sandbar / dusky on heavy gear). NPS publishes a recommended bait/season/tackle table on the surf-fishing page. State size and creel limits set annually by MD DNR / VMRC + Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission for the migratory anadromous species.
• Park HQ: 7206 National Seashore Lane, Berlin, MD 21811 — (410) 641-1441. NPS fishing-page URL anomaly: the park does NOT publish a `/planyourvisit/fishing.htm` page (returns 200-but-404-body envelope) — the operative angler-facing page is `/planyourvisit/surf-fishing.htm`, and the species inventory lives at `/learn/nature/fish.htm`.

Assateague Island fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Texas fishing licence package (licence + saltwater endorsement) is required to fish inside Padre Island National Seashore — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) regulations control season / size / bag / gear. Children under 17 do not require a licence. Park-specific rules layered on top under 36 CFR §2.3 — the Malaquite Beach pavilion no-fishing exclusion, cast-net / dip-net size limits, gigging allowance for non-game species, fish-waste disposal rules, and a mercury-based fish-consumption advisory on apex predators.

• Park context: Padre Island National Seashore protects ~70 miles of the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world — North Padre Island from just south of Corpus Christi to the Mansfield Channel jetty. The Gulf of Mexico fronts the east side; the hypersaline Laguna Madre lagoon (one of only ~6 in the world) fronts the west. The park is a critical Kemp's ridley sea turtle nesting site (the world's most endangered sea turtle), and a major migratory bird flyway. The main angler-facing zones are Malaquite Beach (developed visitor area), Bird Island Basin (Laguna Madre access), and the down-island OSV-accessed Gulf beaches running south toward the Mansfield Channel.
• Texas licence framework: TPWD issues the standard Texas fishing licence + saltwater endorsement (the 'package'). Resident and non-resident options. Children under 17 do not require a licence under Texas law. Licences are NOT sold inside the seashore — buy before driving south from Corpus Christi. Possession of fish exceeding recreational limits by commercially licensed fishermen inside the park is PROHIBITED — only recreational quantities allowed.
• Park-specific rules layered under 36 CFR §2.3: (a) Gulf-waters fishing is PROHIBITED in front of the Malaquite Beach Visitor Centre Pavilion (a no-fishing zone running 100 yards north and 100 yards south of the boardwalk entry to the beach); (b) a CAST NET (not exceeding 14 feet diameter) or DIP NET (not exceeding 3 feet diameter) may be used to take non-game baitfish only (no game-species taken by net); (c) GIGGING is permitted for non-game and non-protected game fish only; (d) FISH WASTE from cleaning must be deposited in Gulf waters OR in Laguna Madre OR buried on the Gulf beach (NOT left on the sand surface or in dunes); (e) standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply (commercial fishing, drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity, digging for bait on park land except in privately-owned tracts, introduction of wildlife or plants, fishing from motor-road bridges or within 200 ft of designated swim/boat areas).
• Anchor species + outside-park context: Laguna Madre is a renowned wade-fishery for spotted seatrout, red drum (the Texas red drum slot is regulated), black drum, sheepshead, southern flounder, and gafftopsail catfish in skinny water; the Gulf surf side delivers Spanish mackerel, bluefish, jack crevalle, ladyfish, sharks (blacktip + bonnethead + bull on heavy gear), pompano, and seasonal tarpon. The Mansfield Channel jetty (south end of accessible beach) is the down-island anchor for tarpon + snook + jack crevalle. Bird Island Basin is the boat-launch access into Laguna Madre. TPWD-published mercury advisories specifically caution: adult men and women past childbearing age should limit consumption of blackfin tuna, little tunny, crevalle jack, swordfish, wahoo, and all sharks to TWO 8-oz meals per month.
• Park HQ: 20420 Park Road 22, Corpus Christi, TX 78418 — (361) 949-8068. NPS-published fishing page at `/planyourvisit/fishing.htm` is fully populated with TPWD-deferral language + park-specific carve-outs.

Padre Island fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Gulf Islands National Seashore is a BI-STATE park spanning ~150 miles of Mississippi Sound and the Florida Panhandle Gulf of Mexico. A Mississippi Saltwater Fishing Licence (MS units) OR a Florida fishing licence (FL units) is required depending on which side of the state line you are casting from. The Fort Pickens Area Fishing Pier (FL) is a state-licensed pier — anglers fishing from the pier do not need an individual licence (two-pole limit). Commercial fishing is prohibited throughout the seashore; spear-fishing using bow / arrow / spear guns / Hawaiian slings is prohibited park-wide; designated lifeguarded swim beaches are closed to fishing when lifeguards are on duty.

• Park context: Gulf Islands National Seashore protects a ~150-mile chain of barrier islands and mainland fronts straddling Mississippi and Florida — the longest national seashore in the system. The Mississippi District encompasses the Davis Bayou Area (mainland visitor centre near Ocean Springs), and the offshore federal-only barrier islands of Petit Bois, Horn, and Ship Island (Ship Island reachable only by passenger ferry from Gulfport). The park boundary extends one mile from shore around the offshore MS islands. The Florida District encompasses Perdido Key (west of Pensacola), Fort Pickens (Santa Rosa Island west end), Santa Rosa Area (mid-island), and Naval Live Oaks (mainland Gulf Breeze) — these FL boundaries extend on the north to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and on the south one mile from the low-tide line of the island (100 yards at Naval Live Oaks).
• Mississippi licence framework: anglers in the MS District must hold a Mississippi State Saltwater Fishing Licence issued by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) / Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP). Resident and non-resident options. All fishing regulations within the seashore correspond to the state fishing regulations (no separate park slot/bag/size schedule). For spear-fishing regulation, NPS specifically directs anglers to the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks website. Park-specific MS rules under 36 CFR §2.3: the Davis Bayou boat ramp finger piers and the Ship Island pier are CLOSED to fishing and netting; fishing PROHIBITED at designated swim beaches at Johnson Beach, Langdon Beach, Opal Beach, and Ship Island when lifeguards are on duty; all of the Davis Bayou Area is closed to taking shellfish.
• Florida licence framework: anglers in the FL District must hold a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recreational saltwater fishing licence — sold at all county tax collectors' offices, at many bait & tackle shops, by phone (1-888-347-4356), or online at the FWC website. Resident and non-resident options apply. CRITICAL CARVE-OUT: anglers fishing for recreational purposes from a pier that holds a valid pier saltwater fishing licence do NOT need an individual licence — the Fort Pickens Area Fishing Pier is a state-licensed pier (two-pole limit). For spear-fishing regulation, NPS directs anglers to the FWC website.
• Park-wide rules layered under 36 CFR §2.3: (a) commercial fishing — including commercial shrimping and crabbing — is PROHIBITED within seashore waters; (b) use of bow and/or arrow or spear guns or Hawaiian slings is PROHIBITED in all areas of the seashore (spear-fishing only by other gear permitted per state rules); (c) standard NPS prohibitions apply (drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity / wildlife introduction); (d) Superintendent's Compendium is the binding regulatory document — verify the current-year version at the Laws & Policies page before any trip.
• Anchor species + outside-park context: MS Sound + Mississippi District anchor — speckled trout (spotted seatrout), red drum (the GoM redfish slot is FWC/MDMR-set), white trout, sheepshead, flounder, croaker, sand seatrout, and bull-redfish in the passes (Cat Island, Ship Island Pass). Spring-fall cobia migration through Petit Bois / Horn Island gauntlet. FL Panhandle anchor — speckled trout, red drum, sheepshead, flounder, Spanish + king mackerel (Fort Pickens Pier marquee species), pompano (surf), whiting, bluefish, and seasonal tarpon along Santa Rosa Island beaches. Federal-mainstream species off shore include Gulf reef snapper + grouper under NOAA Fisheries / Gulf Council schedule. MS Headquarters: 3500 Park Road, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 — (228) 875-9057. FL Headquarters: 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 — (850) 934-2600.

Gulf Islands fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Georgia fishing licence is required for anyone 16 or older to fish inside Cumberland Island National Seashore — Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) regulations control season / size / bag / gear. Saltwater anglers must additionally attach the Saltwater Information Program Permit (SIP) to their fishing licence (the SIP carries NO additional charge for licensed anglers). The park itself sets only minimal layered rules — designated dock-fishing courtesy guidance and a fish-cleaning station at the North End of Sea Camp Dock.

• Park context: Cumberland Island National Seashore protects ~36,000 acres on Georgia's largest, southernmost, and most pristine barrier island — accessible only by passenger ferry from St Marys (no causeway). The island runs ~17 miles north-south along the Atlantic coast immediately north of the Florida state line (Amelia Island sits directly south across the St Marys Inlet). Famous for the namesake feral horses (wild herd of ~150-200), the ruins of the Carnegie family's Dungeness mansion, and primitive backcountry camping. The main angler-facing zones are the Atlantic surf along the east-side beach, the brackish marshes and tidal creeks on the Cumberland Sound (west) side, and freshwater inland lakes that hold a stream-fishery for trout, bream, and largemouth bass.
• Georgia licence framework: GADNR issues the Georgia Fishing Licence — resident and non-resident options, multiple durations. Anglers 16 or older MUST possess a Georgia Fishing Licence to fish anywhere on the seashore (saltwater, freshwater, or shellfish gathering). Anyone intending to fish in saltwater must additionally have the Saltwater Information Program Permit (SIP) attached to their fishing licence — the SIP itself is FREE for anglers already holding a Georgia fishing licence (no additional cost) but is mandatory. All licensing requirements and fishing regulations set by GADNR apply on Cumberland Island — there is no separate park slot/bag/size schedule.
• Park-specific rules layered under 36 CFR §2.3: (a) fishing is welcome within the boundaries of Cumberland Island National Seashore — including from Sea Camp, Plum Orchard, and Dungeness Docks — in a manner which DOES NOT INTERFERE with boat and pedestrian traffic; (b) lines, tackle, floats, bait buckets, and other gear must not block any docking-boat path; (c) fish may be CLEANED at the North End of Sea Camp Dock, and the remains may be DISPOSED OF in the water at the cleaning station (other dock locations have no cleaning facilities); (d) standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply (commercial fishing, drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity, wildlife introduction); (e) all backcountry camping requires advance permits via recreation.gov.
• Anchor species: Atlantic surf side delivers Georgia red drum (slot regulated by GADNR), spotted seatrout, whiting, southern flounder, sheepshead, black drum, and occasional Spanish mackerel + bluefish in season; tarpon migration July-August along the outer shoreline. Cumberland Sound + tidal-creek wade fishery for slot redfish + speckled trout + flounder. Freshwater inland lakes (a small system in the interior north of Dungeness) hold sunfish (bluegill / redear) and largemouth bass under GADNR freshwater regulations. Shrimp and crabs may be gathered from the marshes per GADNR recreational shellfish rules.
• Outside-park context: the Cumberland Sound is part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and is jointly managed with adjacent Crooked River State Park (mainland), Cumberland Island National Wildlife Refuge (federal), and the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay (no civilian access). St Marys and Fernandina Beach (FL, just south) host the regional charter fleets. Park HQ: 113 St Marys Street West, St Marys, GA 31558 — (912) 882-4336. Ferry reservations through Cumberland Island Ferry are required and book months ahead in peak season.

Cumberland Island fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Fishing inside Fire Island National Seashore is governed by New York State recreational saltwater rules — anglers 16 or older must hold a FREE New York State Recreational Marine Fishing Registry (no fee). NY State seasons, size, and possession limits apply. Commercial fishing is PROHIBITED inside seashore boundaries. Park-specific rules layered under 36 CFR §2.3 — Lighthouse Pier no-fish zone (and 300-ft buffer), prohibition on horseshoe-crab harvest, and standard NPS swim-beach / surfing-area / boat-dock exclusions.

• Park context: Fire Island National Seashore protects most of a ~32-mile barrier island on the south shore of Long Island, NY, separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Great South Bay. The seashore runs from Robert Moses State Park (west end) to Smith Point County Park (east end) but excludes the 17 private year-round residential communities scattered along the island. Most of Fire Island is accessible only by passenger ferry, water taxi, or via the two ends. Park headquarters and the main mainland operations base sit at Patchogue, with sub-units at the Fire Island Lighthouse (west), Sailors Haven (Sunken Forest), Watch Hill, and the Wilderness Visitor Centre near Smith Point. Both ocean-surf and bay-side fishing are popular year-round — best windows are spring and fall.
• New York licence framework: New York DOES NOT charge a fee for saltwater recreational fishing — anglers 16+ instead complete the FREE New York State Recreational Marine Fishing Registry administered by the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Renewal annually. The registration is required to fish in NY State marine waters (including the Atlantic surf and Great South Bay around Fire Island). Note: this is separate from the NY State freshwater fishing licence (a paid licence required for freshwater) — Fire Island fishing is essentially all saltwater so the registry alone suffices.
• Park-specific rules layered under 36 CFR §2.3: (a) fishing is ALLOWED on private vessels, on ocean beaches OUTSIDE designated lifeguarded swim areas, on the bay shoreline, and on authorised docks and piers OUTSIDE NPS marinas (specifically excluding Patchogue Headquarters, Patchogue Ferry Terminal, and Talisman Dock); (b) fishing is PROHIBITED on the Lighthouse Pier OR on a vessel within 300 feet of the Lighthouse Pier; (c) fishing is PROHIBITED from motor road bridges, from or within 200 feet of any public raft or float designated for water sports, or within designated swimming beaches, surfing areas, or public boat docks (except in designated angler-access areas); (d) Park-specific: HARVEST OF HORSESHOE CRABS is PROHIBITED within Fire Island National Seashore (NY State permits horseshoe-crab harvest under quota — the park is stricter); (e) Possession of fish traps and nets is permitted in salt water only in accordance with NY State regulations; (f) anglers must immediately return undersize / out-of-season / unwanted fish to the water — the released fish does not count toward catch or possession limit provided the angler had not already reached the limit at time of catch.
• Anchor species: striped bass (the marquee Fire Island fishery — spring + fall surf-cast runs along the entire 32-mile beach), bluefish, and summer flounder (fluke) are the three most-targeted species per NPS. Other regularly caught species include weakfish, scup (porgy), black sea bass, blackfish (tautog), winter flounder, Atlantic mackerel, and surf-zone northern kingfish. Bay-side anchor includes blue crab and clamming (per NY State shellfish rules — separate registration may apply). NYSDEC maintains TWO artificial fishing reefs in the Great South Bay and several in the Atlantic Ocean south of Fire Island — these are listed at the NYSDEC artificial-reef program page and consistently produce sea bass / blackfish / fluke for boat anglers.
• Outside-park context: Captree State Park (eastern end of Jones Beach Island, north of Fire Island Inlet) hosts the regional charter-fishing fleet — multiple party boats run daily targets for fluke (summer), striped bass + blackfish (fall), and cod offshore. Boat ramps for private vessels available at Captree, several other nearby state parks, and Smith Point County Marina. NY State fish-consumption advisories — published by the NY State Department of Health — apply across Long Island marine waters; check the NY State DOH website before keeping any fish for the table. Park HQ: 120 Laurel Street, Patchogue, NY 11772 — (631) 687-4750.

Fire Island fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid North Carolina Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL) is required for anyone 16 or older fishing recreationally in any coastal or joint waters of North Carolina inside Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The CRFL is sold by the NC Division of Marine Fisheries in 10-day / annual / lifetime durations or combinable with NCWRC freshwater licences. The Avon Fishing Pier holds a blanket pier licence — fishing from the pier is INCLUDED with admission (no individual CRFL required). NC state fishing regulations may apply. Park-specific Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) permits required to access many backcountry beach zones — purchase at NPS visitor centres or recreation.gov.

• Park context: Cape Hatteras National Seashore protects ~70 miles of barrier-island Outer Banks from southern Bodie Island through Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island. Some of the most legendary surf-fishing on the Atlantic coast — Cape Point (the convergence of Diamond Shoals warm/cold water at the Hatteras elbow), the False Point, the Ocracoke beaches, and the Bonner Bridge area at Oregon Inlet are recognised destinations. Anglers find fish from the surf, piers (Avon Fishing Pier, the Bonner Bridge Pier on the south side of Oregon Inlet — 24-hour access), freshwater ponds, and from boats in the inlets, Pamlico Sound, and offshore in the Gulf Stream. Best windows: spring and fall (spring runs Mar-May, fall runs Sep-Nov); summer best offshore in the Gulf Stream. Park HQ: 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, NC 27954 — (252) 473-2111.
• North Carolina licence framework: anglers 16+ must possess the NC Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL) issued by the NC Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) for any recreational fishing in coastal or joint waters — sold in 10-day, annual, and lifetime durations, with resident and non-resident options. The CRFL combines with various inland freshwater licences issued by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). The CRFL is INCLUDED with admission to the Avon Fishing Pier (an NCDMF-licensed pier). State season + slot + bag + size regulations from NCDMF apply throughout the seashore.
• Park-specific rules layered under 36 CFR §2.3: (a) anglers must REMOVE all trash including fishing line, bait wrappers, fish parts, and dead fish — leave no trace; (b) NPS publishes off-road vehicle (ORV) permit information separately — access to most backcountry beach zones (Cape Point, the gauntlet south of Ocracoke Village) requires a paid ORV permit purchased at park visitor centres or recreation.gov; (c) seasonal beach closures around bird-nesting habitat (piping plover, American oystercatcher) are STRICTLY enforced — closures signed in field and posted on NPS website; (d) commercial fishing permits are issued separately via the permits and reservations page; (e) standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply.
• Anchor species: Red drum (the marquee NC species — Cape Point + Avon Pier are world-famous for giant red drum / 'old drum'; the NC state-record old drum has come from these waters), striped bass (winter migration in adjacent NC waters), bluefish (spring + fall), Spanish mackerel, king mackerel (king mackerel boat fishery off Oregon Inlet is regional anchor), false albacore (fall blitz, internationally known), cobia (spring migration through Oregon Inlet), spotted seatrout, weakfish, flounder (the NC fluke fishery has had tight slots/quotas in recent years — verify current NCDMF rule), pompano, whiting, sheepshead. Offshore Gulf Stream charter targets include mahi (dolphinfish), yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, wahoo, sailfish, blue + white marlin, and bigeye tuna in summer/fall.
• Outside-park context: Oregon Inlet Fishing Center is the NPS-lessee marina at the north end of Hatteras Island — full-service: bait, ice, fuel, oil, camping supplies, fishing tackle, boating equipment, food, beverages, and printed copies of NC fishing regulations; it hosts the largest charter-boat fishing fleet on the eastern seaboard. Hatteras Village (south end of Hatteras Island) hosts another major charter fleet. Ocracoke Village (north end of Ocracoke Island) accessible only by ferry from Hatteras Village (Hatteras Inlet) or from the mainland (Swan Quarter / Cedar Island). NC state fish-consumption advisories from the NC Division of Public Health apply on certain shark / king mackerel size classes — verify before keeping for the table.

Cape Hatteras fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid North Carolina Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL) is required for anyone 16 or older fishing inside Cape Lookout National Seashore — NC state season / size / bag / gear regulations control. There are NO fishing piers in the park and NO boat slips — anglers must access the Core Banks by passenger ferry (no causeway) and either wade / surf-fish from the open beach or fish from their own vessel. Charter fleets operate from Beaufort, Morehead City, and Atlantic Beach (mainland). Spring + fall are considered some of the best fishing on the entire Atlantic Coast.

• Park context: Cape Lookout National Seashore protects ~56 miles of undeveloped Core Banks barrier islands south of Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke — North Core Banks (Portsmouth Island), South Core Banks (with Cape Lookout Lighthouse), and Shackleford Banks (Shackleford has a famous wild-horse herd). NO road access — the entire chain is reached only by passenger ferry from Davis, Atlantic, Harkers Island, or Beaufort. NO commercial development, NO fishing piers, NO boat slips, NO marinas. The seashore feels remote in a way that Cape Hatteras (just to the north) no longer does. Spring and fall offer 'some of the best fishing on the Atlantic Coast' per NPS. Park HQ: 131 Charles Street, Harkers Island, NC 28531 — (252) 728-2250.
• North Carolina licence framework: identical to Cape Hatteras — anglers 16+ must possess the NC Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL) issued by the NC Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF). 10-day, annual, and lifetime options with resident / non-resident pricing. The CRFL combines with NCWRC freshwater licences for inland waters; the seashore is essentially all salt water so the CRFL alone suffices. NCDMF sets all season / slot / size / bag rules — verify the current year before keeping any fish.
• Park-specific rules layered under 36 CFR §2.3: (a) most of the beach and Back Sound waters are OPEN to fishing — verify current closures at the park's website; (b) NO fishing piers in the park — anglers fish from the surf, the open sound shoreline, or from their own vessel; (c) NO boat slips in the park — anglers must launch from one of the mainland boat ramps (NPS publishes a Boat Ramps and Launch Points list); (d) seasonal beach closures around bird-nesting habitat (piping plover, American oystercatcher) and sea-turtle nesting are STRICTLY enforced — closures signed in field and posted on NPS website; (e) over-sand vehicle (OSV) permits required for driving on Core Banks beach — purchase at park visitor centre; (f) standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply.
• Anchor species: Red drum (slot regulated by NCDMF — both schoolie reds in Back Sound and giant 'old drum' along the surf at Cape Point Shoals), spotted seatrout (Core Sound is a regional trophy-trout destination), flounder (NC fluke season + slot tightly regulated — verify before keeping), Spanish + king mackerel (boat fishery), false albacore (fall blitz around Cape Lookout Shoals — internationally known fly-rod destination from October), bluefish, cobia (spring), tarpon (summer in Pamlico / Core Sound), sheepshead around the Cape Lookout jetty rocks, pompano + whiting in the surf, weakfish, croaker, spot. Offshore Gulf Stream charter targets (run from mainland marinas) match Cape Hatteras — mahi / yellowfin / wahoo / sailfish.
• Outside-park context: Beaufort + Morehead City + Atlantic Beach (mainland) host the charter-boat fleet; Harkers Island is the closest mainland point of departure for the ferry to Core Banks. Cape Lookout Lighthouse Visitor Centre on South Core Banks is the primary in-park visitor facility. NC state fish-consumption advisories from the NC Division of Public Health apply — verify before keeping shark or large king mackerel for the table. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) clean-drain-dry mandate applies to boats moving between Core Sound and Pamlico Sound and any other watersheds.

Cape Lookout fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recreational fishing licence is required to fish inside Canaveral National Seashore — saltwater + freshwater endorsements as applicable per species and water type. The seashore wraps the Mosquito Lagoon (an arm of the Indian River Lagoon system) — internationally renowned as a fly-fishing destination for red drum and one of only TWO known locations where red drum, weakfish, spotted seatrout, black drum, and silver perch all spawn. Mosquito Lagoon is the ONLY known estuary where red drum and weakfish spend their entire life cycles. Park-specific NPS-published research-area considerations may apply around Kennedy Space Center boundary zones.

• Park context: Canaveral National Seashore protects ~58,000 acres of barrier-island shoreline + the southern end of the Mosquito Lagoon — the northernmost arm of the Indian River Lagoon system on Florida's Atlantic coast. The seashore is bounded on the south by NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) / Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and on the north by New Smyrna Beach. NPS-managed Apollo Beach (north end, Volusia County access) and Playalinda Beach (south end, Brevard County access from Titusville) are the two developed accesses; the long Klondike Beach in the middle is undeveloped and accessible only on foot. The Indian River Lagoon system is home to MORE THAN 700 FISH SPECIES and is described by NPS as 'one of the most diverse estuaries in North America' — ~50 endangered or threatened plant and animal species inhabit the system. Park HQ: 212 S Washington Avenue, Titusville, FL 32796 — (321) 267-1110.
• Florida licence framework: FWC issues separate saltwater and freshwater recreational fishing licences — Mosquito Lagoon is salt/brackish so saltwater applies. Resident and non-resident options. Sold at all county tax collectors' offices, online, and at many bait & tackle shops. Some Florida-resident exemptions apply (age 65+, military on furlough — verify current FWC categories). All FWC season / slot / bag / gear rules apply throughout the seashore — there is no separate park slot schedule.
• Park-specific rules layered under 36 CFR §2.3: (a) Apollo + Klondike + Playalinda beaches are OPEN to surf fishing — Playalinda is sometimes closed around scheduled space launches from KSC (verify launch schedule before driving south on the Playalinda road); (b) sea-turtle nesting (May-October) triggers seasonal night-time vehicle / pedestrian restrictions and gear-removal-from-beach requirements; (c) Mosquito Lagoon flats boating is permitted but anglers must be aware of seagrass scarring concerns — research has identified critical spawning and juvenile-nursery areas under study; (d) shellfish gathering (oyster + clam) per FWC rules in OPEN aquaculture lease areas only — verify current closure status from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) shellfish-area dashboard; (e) standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply.
• Anchor species: Mosquito Lagoon anchor — red drum / redfish (this is the most famous fly-fishing destination for tailing reds on the Atlantic coast; the species 'does particularly well in these waters' per NPS, likely due to high salinity of the lagoon), common snook, spotted seatrout (gator trout 30-inch+ specimens recorded), black drum, sheepshead, weakfish, silver perch, striped mullet (bait + recreational), and the bay anchovy (most abundant fish, primary forage). Ocean surf side anchor — Florida pompano (the surf-anchor target), whiting, bluefish, red drum, occasional Spanish mackerel; shark species taken from the surf include blacktip, sharpnose, blacknose, spinner, and hammerhead (verify current FWC shark regulations + size/gear restrictions before keeping any shark).
• Outside-park context: NASA Kennedy Space Center is the immediate south neighbour — the closed-to-civilian zones of Cape Canaveral AFS / KSC core form the southern boundary; certain Banana River sections immediately west of KSC are closed to all boating under a federal Security Zone (verify current US Coast Guard map). The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS) overlays the western half of the same barrier-island land — joint NPS/USFWS management of much of the lagoon's western shore. New Smyrna Beach (north neighbour) is a major Florida surf-fishing town. NPS-published fishing-page URL anomaly: `/planyourvisit/fishing.htm` returns 404 for Canaveral — the operative species-and-fishery page lives at `/learn/nature/fish.htm`, and angler-facing trip planning is folded into `/planyourvisit/things2do.htm`.

Canaveral fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid California fishing licence (CDFW) is required to fish inside Point Reyes National Seashore. Children under 16 do not require a licence. Fishing regulations follow California state law UNLESS the federal park rule is stricter (the federal rule wins). The seashore is overlaid with TWO California Marine Protected Areas — Point Reyes State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) allows recreational salmon-trolling + Dungeness crab take only; Duxbury Reef SMCA allows recreational finfish from shore + abalone (note: the California abalone fishery is CLOSED through at least 2036). Tomales Bay has a published California mercury fish-consumption advisory and an annual mussel quarantine May 1-October 31 (PSP / DAP biotoxins).

• Park context: Point Reyes National Seashore protects ~71,000 acres of the Marin County Pacific coast ~30 miles north of San Francisco — the Point Reyes peninsula juts ~10 miles into the Pacific along the San Andreas Fault and is shielded from the mainland by Tomales Bay (a long, narrow estuary along the fault). The seashore wraps Drakes Bay (between the Point and the mainland) and Bolinas Lagoon (south of Duxbury Reef). Mosaic of habitats — surf beaches (Point Reyes Beach North + South, Limantour, Drakes Beach), rocky headlands (Chimney Rock, Tomales Point), coastal lagoons (Drakes Estero, Estero de Limantour), and inland freshwater lakes/ponds. Park HQ: 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956 — (415) 464-5100.
• California licence framework: anglers 16+ must possess a CDFW sport-fishing licence — saltwater and freshwater both covered under the same base licence (separate validation stamps may apply for steelhead / inland trout / second-rod / abalone, etc.). State season / slot / bag / gear rules apply unless overridden by stricter federal NPS rule. Per 36 CFR §2.3 — fishing shall be in accordance with California law EXCEPT WHERE THE FEDERAL RULE SUPERSEDES. Standard federal prohibitions: freshwater fishing other than hook-and-line with rod-or-line closely attended; live/dead minnows or amphibians or non-preserved fish eggs/roe as freshwater bait except in designated waters; commercial fishing except where statutorily authorised; drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity; mandatory immediate-return for undersize / out-of-season / unwanted fish; no fishing within 200 ft of public rafts or floats designated for water sports, swimming beaches, surfing areas, or public boat docks except in designated areas.
• Marine Protected Area overlays — the seashore is overlapped with TWO California State Marine Protected Areas governing what may be taken in addition to NPS + CDFW rules. (a) Point Reyes State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) — extends from the end of the Point Reyes State Marine Reserve to the three-mile state line; ALLOWS recreational AND commercial take of SALMON by trolling AND of DUNGENESS CRAB by trap only — all other take prohibited. (b) Duxbury Reef SMCA (at the Duxbury Reef intertidal zone) — protects intertidal invertebrates and algae; ALLOWS recreational take of finfish FROM SHORE ONLY and abalone — NOTE: the California abalone fishery is CLOSED through at least 2036 (CDFW emergency closure since 2018; no take of any species of abalone permitted anywhere in California). Multiple State Marine Reserves (SMR) inside the seashore boundary are fully no-take — anglers must verify their position against the published CDFW MPA map before any take.
• Park-specific rules layered under 36 CFR §2.3: (a) fishing IS ALLOWED on most park beaches and on freshwater lakes and ponds; (b) fishing PROHIBITED in waters designated to protect endangered / threatened species or critical habitat — verify currently posted closures; (c) salt-water fishing with net / spear / weapon must be in accordance with California state law unless park-specific rule overrides; (d) Park Rangers + CDFW officials authorised to issue citations, confiscate fish, and impound gear.
• Anchor species + outside-park context: SURF + ROCKY HEADLAND finfish — striped bass (San Francisco Bay run + offshoots into Tomales Bay + Drakes Estero in spring), salmon (king/chinook offshore via charter from Bodega Bay or Sausalito under CDFW + Pacific Fishery Management Council annual closure schedule), rockfish (cabezon, lingcod, blue + black + olive + gopher + grass rockfish under CDFW Rockfish Conservation Area rotating closures), surfperch (barred + walleye + redtail — surf-cast classics), halibut (California halibut in Drakes Bay sand flats), white seabass (occasional), Pacific mackerel, smelt, herring. TOMALES BAY — Pacific herring spawn / sturgeon (catch-and-release under CDFW) / leopard shark (catch-and-release with sport license — local trophy) / clams + Dungeness crab (per CDFW + MPA overlay) — Tomales Bay has a CALIFORNIA MERCURY ADVISORY (Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 916-324-7572 — published Safe Eating Guidelines specifically for Tomales Bay fish & shellfish; report linked from NPS fishing page). Annual MUSSEL QUARANTINE normally in effect May 1 through October 31 (CDPH may begin early or extend) to protect against paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and domoic acid poisoning (DAP) — call CDPH 1-800-553-4133 Shellfish Information Line for current status. Bolinas Lagoon (south of Duxbury Reef) is jointly managed with Marin County Open Space District.

Point Reyes fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Michigan fishing licence is required to fish inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Children under 17 do not require a licence. Fishing regulations follow Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) state law — commercial-fishing methods allowed under MI state law are NOT authorised within the lakeshore. Lake Manitou (North Manitou Island) has park-specific stricter rule — ARTIFICIAL LURE ONLY and 18-inch minimum size for smallmouth bass. Powered ice augers require a FREE ice-auger permit and are restricted to 5 named waters only.

• Park context: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore protects ~71,000 acres along ~35 miles of Michigan's northwestern Lower Peninsula Lake Michigan shoreline (Leelanau and Benzie counties), plus the two Manitou Islands (North + South Manitou) ~7 miles offshore. The landscape spans Lake Michigan shoreline, glacial moraine, perched bluffs (the Sleeping Bear Dunes climbing to 450 ft above lake level), and a chain of small inland lakes carved by retreating glaciers. The northernmost end is just south of Leland; the southern end at the Platte River near Honor. The Manitou Islands are accessible only by ferry from Leland (Leelanau County). Park HQ: 9922 Front Street, Empire, MI 49630 — (231) 326-4700.
• Michigan licence framework: anglers 17+ must possess an MDNR fishing licence — Resident Annual, Non-Resident Annual, 1-Day, 24-Hour, and Senior options available. Inland-waters trout & salmon + Great Lakes trout & salmon ADD-ON ENDORSEMENTS may be required depending on species and water (the Lake Michigan salmon + steelhead + lake trout fishery requires Great Lakes Trout & Salmon stamp). The MDNR Inland Waters Trout & Salmon Guide and the Great Lakes Trout & Salmon Guide are the controlling regulation documents; verify per-water rules before any trip. Commercial-fishing methods allowed under MI state law are NOT authorised within the lakeshore (36 CFR §7) — commercial gear that would be legal off-park is prohibited inside park boundaries.
• Park-specific rules layered under 36 CFR §2.3 + 36 CFR §7: (a) fishing PERMITTED from the public docks on the Manitou Islands — anglers may not interfere with the safe and orderly landing of vessels or other authorised activities; (b) LAKE MANITOU on North Manitou Island has ADDITIONAL STRICTER REGULATIONS — ARTIFICIAL LURE ONLY and 18-INCH MINIMUM SIZE on smallmouth bass; (c) POWERED ICE AUGERS require a FREE ICE-AUGER PERMIT issued by the Empire visitor centre or any law enforcement park ranger; ice augers are permitted ONLY on the following 5 waters: Lake Michigan, Loon Lake, School Lake, Bass Lake (Leelanau County), and Tucker Lake (other inland lakes ice-fish with hand augers only); (d) standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply (drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity; commercial fishing except where statutorily authorised; mandatory immediate-return for undersize / out-of-season / unwanted fish).
• Anchor species — Lake Michigan offshore (boat charter from Frankfort, Leland, or Sleeping Bear Bay launches): Chinook (king) salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, lake trout, brown trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, lake whitefish (the south Manitou + Beaver Island commercial whitefish fishery is the regional standard). The Platte River (south end of the park) is a renowned coho salmon RUN destination in fall — Honor / Platte River MDNR State Fish Hatchery is the regional anchor for the Lake Michigan salmon program. INLAND LAKES — Loon Lake (off Platte River, M-22 boat launch), Otter Lake (Trail's End Road, canoe-only launch), Bass Lake + School Lake (northern end, County Rd 669 launch for School), Tucker Lake — populations include largemouth + smallmouth bass, bluegill + sunfish, yellow perch, pike, panfish. LAKE MANITOU (North Manitou Island) — 'excellent small mouth bass fishing' per NPS verbatim — artificial-lure-only + 18-inch minimum stricter rule. ICE FISHING popular winter on the 5 powered-auger-permitted waters.
• Outside-park context: M-22 scenic byway runs the lakeshore's eastern boundary; Empire (HQ) and Glen Arbor are the main towns. Fishing licences sold at Empire visitor centre + Glen Arbor convenience stores + MDNR online portal. Manitou Islands access via Manitou Island Transit ferry from Leland (Leland Harbor) — passenger only, no vehicles to North or South Manitou. MDNR Inland Waters Trout & Salmon Guide and Great Lakes Trout & Salmon Guide are the controlling regulation documents — verify current-year regulations annually.

Sleeping Bear Dunes fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Gateway National Recreation Area is a BI-STATE urban park spanning New York City (Jamaica Bay Unit + Staten Island Unit) AND coastal New Jersey (Sandy Hook Unit). SALTWATER FISHING IS THE ONLY TYPE ALLOWED inside Gateway. NO state fishing licence is required for saltwater BUT both New York State Recreational Marine Fishing Registry (NY, FREE) AND New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Registry Program (NJ, FREE) are required for their respective state-side units. Park-specific PAID Fishing Access Pass required for after-hours (9 PM - 6 AM) parking at designated lots; PAID Off-Road Vehicle Pass required for Breezy Point Tip; piping plover seasonal closures March 15 - September 15 lock out vehicle access to Breezy Point Tip.

• Park context: Gateway National Recreation Area protects ~27,000 acres across THREE physically-separate units around the entrance to New York Harbor — Jamaica Bay Unit (Brooklyn + Queens NY, including Floyd Bennett Field, Jacob Riis Park, Fort Tilden, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Breezy Point Tip), Staten Island Unit (Staten Island NY, including Great Kills Park + Miller Field + Fort Wadsworth), and Sandy Hook Unit (Monmouth County NJ, a 7-mile barrier-island peninsula at the south side of New York Harbor entrance). Gateway is among the most heavily-visited NPS units in the system (~9 million annual visits) and is the major urban-Atlantic NPS unit for the New York metro region's anglers. Park HQ: 210 New York Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305 — (718) 354-4606.
• Bi-state licence framework: SALTWATER FISHING IS THE ONLY TYPE ALLOWED at Gateway (no inland freshwater fishery within park boundaries). NO paid state licence is required for saltwater — BUT both states require FREE recreational saltwater REGISTRY enrollment for anglers 16+. New York side (Jamaica Bay + Staten Island units): New York State Recreational Marine Fishing Registry (NYSDEC, FREE, annual renewal). New Jersey side (Sandy Hook Unit): New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Registry Program (NJDEP, FREE, annual renewal). Anglers fishing on both sides need both registrations. State seasons / sizes / bag limits / gear rules from NYSDEC and NJDEP apply to their respective side.
• Park-specific Fishing Access Pass + parking rules layered under 36 CFR §2.3 + park compendium: (a) PAID Fishing Access Pass is required for AFTER-HOURS (9 PM - 6 AM) parking at designated lots in Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook, and Staten Island Units — pass valid from purchase through 3/31 of the following year (2026 passes sold out by mid-season); (b) ANGLER MUST BE ACTIVELY FISHING while using the Fishing Access Permit — passes are NOT beach parking or other-recreational-use passes; (c) PAID Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Pass required for Breezy Point Tip (Jamaica Bay Unit) for vehicle access during open season; (d) PIPING PLOVER NESTING SEASON March 15 through September 15 — NO VEHICLE ACCESS TO BREEZY POINT TIP during these months; all vehicles must park at the Sand Lot; (e) Mandatory in-vehicle inspection items for ORV holders: 7-foot (minimum) fishing pole; reel + tackle; shovel; tow chain or rope; jack; jack support board; tire pressure gauge; appropriate spare tire; trash container; portable toilet; (f) NO discounts on parking permits for any holders of special passes (access, senior, military); (g) named parking lots with permit-only fishing-access designation include: 222nd Street Fishing Lot (Breezy Point, all times), Sand Lot (Breezy Point, all times), Riis Landing (all times), 193rd Street Fishing Lot (Fort Tilden, all times), Yacht Club Lot (Fort Tilden, all times), Aviation Road Fishing Parking Lot (Floyd Bennett Field, all times), Bay 3 East Parking Lot Jacob Riis Park (after-hours-only), Fort Tilden Interior Post Area lots (March 15 - Sep 15 by permit), 169th David Road Fort Tilden (after-hours-only March 15 - Sep 15).
• Anchor species — JAMAICA BAY UNIT (NY): striped bass (the marquee spring + fall run — Breezy Point Tip is regionally famous for surf-casting from the rocks), bluefish (spring + fall), summer flounder (fluke), winter flounder, scup (porgy), black sea bass, blackfish (tautog), weakfish, blue crab and clamming (per NYSDEC shellfish rules), Atlantic mackerel (spring), false albacore (occasional fall). STATEN ISLAND UNIT: similar inshore mix — striped bass + bluefish + fluke + porgy + blackfish + sea bass; Great Kills Harbor has a small charter / boat-launch presence. SANDY HOOK UNIT (NJ): the New Jersey state-licensed surf-fishing destination at the south side of NY Harbor entrance — striped bass (spring + fall blitz on outer beaches and the rip in front of the Hook), bluefish, fluke, weakfish, false albacore (fall blitz, internationally known), tautog (winter), scup, sea bass, pollack (winter — when present), and occasional bonita / Spanish mackerel.
• Outside-park context: NY Harbor + the New York Bight system is one of the most heavily-fished marine waters in the US — Captree State Park (Long Island, north of Fire Island Inlet) and the NJ shore charter fleet (Belmar, Point Pleasant, Manasquan, Atlantic Highlands) form the regional charter base. New York State fish-consumption advisories from NY State DOH and New Jersey advisories from NJ DEP apply across NY Bight waters — striped bass + bluefish + American eel + blue crab from western Long Island Sound and lower Hudson River specifically have age- and gender-restricted consumption advice (verify state DOH / DEP page before keeping). NYSDEC artificial-reef program operates several reefs in the Atlantic south of Long Island. AIS clean-drain-dry mandate applies to all trailer-launched vessels.

Gateway fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) fishing licence is required to fish inside Buffalo National River for anglers 16+. State fishing regulations from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission govern (refer to Regulations for Flowing Waters in the Arkansas Fishing Guidebook). Per 36 CFR §7.35 special regulations, ONLY HOOK-AND-LINE FISHING with rod or line CLOSELY ATTENDED is allowed throughout the river; GIGGING, BOWFISHING, and SNAGGING are permitted. Live or dead minnows or other bait fish may NOT be possessed or used UNLESS harvested from the Buffalo River or its tributaries (or purchased from a licensed dealer).

• Park context: Buffalo National River, designated in 1972 as the first US National River, protects 135 free-flowing miles of the Buffalo River through the Ozark Plateau of north-central Arkansas (Newton, Searcy, Marion, and Baxter counties). The river runs east from headwaters in the Boston Mountains to its confluence with the White River at Buffalo City. The park spans three management units — Upper District (Ponca to Pruitt), Middle District (Pruitt to Tyler Bend), and Lower District (Tyler Bend to the White River confluence including the Buffalo Point unit). The river system hosts SEVENTY-FOUR fish species per NPS — twelve are game fish, and ten are endemic to the Ozark Plateau. Park HQ: 402 N. Walnut Street, Suite 136, Harrison, AR 72601 — (870) 439-2502.
• Arkansas licence framework: anglers 16+ require an AGFC fishing licence — Resident Annual, Non-Resident Annual, 3-Day, 7-Day, and Trout Permit stamp (required to keep trout statewide) options available. State season / slot / bag / gear rules apply unless overridden by the federal NPS rule under 36 CFR §7.35. Children under 16 do not require a licence. The Arkansas Fishing Guidebook (online + Tyler Bend Visitor Center + Buffalo Point Ranger Station) is the controlling regulation document — the REGULATIONS FOR FLOWING WATERS section (page 73 in the current Guidebook) covers Buffalo National River specifically.
• Park-specific federal rule under 36 CFR §7.35 + §2.3: (a) ONLY HOOK-AND-LINE FISHING with rod or line CLOSELY ATTENDED is allowed throughout the river — no set lines, trotlines, jugs, or unattended gear; (b) GIGGING, BOWFISHING, and SNAGGING are permitted (consistent with AR state law for nongame and seasonally for paddlefish, etc.); (c) the possession or use of LIVE OR DEAD MINNOWS OR OTHER BAIT FISH is PROHIBITED UNLESS the bait is harvested from the Buffalo River or its tributaries — preventing the introduction of non-native bait into the Ozark system; (d) bait purchased from a LICENSED DEALER (commercially produced, preserved, packaged) is permitted; (e) standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply (drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity; commercial fishing except where statutorily authorised; mandatory immediate-return for undersize / out-of-season / unwanted fish; chumming prohibited; fishing prohibited within 200 ft of public rafts / floats / swim beaches / surfing areas / boat docks except in designated areas).
• Anchor species — Buffalo River is a renowned SMALLMOUTH BASS destination, the marquee draw for Ozark anglers and visiting fly-rod travellers. Other game species per NPS habitat key: largemouth bass, OZARK BASS (Ambloplites constellatus — ENDEMIC to the Ozark Plateau, only found here and in nearby Ozark drainages), green sunfish, bluegill, longear sunfish, northern hog sucker, black + golden + river redhorse, yellow bullhead, channel catfish, flathead catfish. WHITE RIVER COLD-TAILWATER TROUT — brown trout and rainbow trout are stocked in the COLD tailwaters of the White River BELOW Bull Shoals Dam and Norfork Dam; near the Buffalo's confluence with the White River, these trout occasionally enter the lower Buffalo. ENDEMIC OZARK SPECIES (non-game but defining) include Ozark Chub, Duskystripe Shiner, Ozark Shiner, Autumn Darter, Greenside Darter, Arkansas Saddled Darter, Yoke Darter, Knobfin Sculpin — anglers should not target these. FLY-FISHING for smallmouth + sunfish + Ozark bass with poppers and crayfish patterns is a NPS-promoted experience.
• Outside-park context: Buffalo Point campground + cabin area (Lower District) is the principal angler-camping base; canoe / kayak / johnboat outfitters operate along the river corridor from Ponca to Buffalo City. The river is undammed for its entire 135-mile NPS length — making it one of the few remaining truly free-flowing rivers in the eastern half of the US, and a major Ozark Plateau ecological reference reach. AGFC licences sold at AGFC online portal + Arkansas sporting-goods dealers + Walmart locations + Tyler Bend Visitor Center general store. Tributaries reaching the river from the Boston Mountains include the Big and Little Buffalo Creeks, Bear Creek, Calf Creek, Mill Creek, Richland Creek, and Hurricane Creek.

Buffalo NR fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (and the Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River within it) is a BI-STATE park spanning the New Jersey + Pennsylvania sides of the Delaware River. A valid state licence is required for anglers 16+. RECIPROCAL RULE on the main-stem Delaware River: anglers may fish shoreline-to-shoreline on the Delaware River between PA and NJ with EITHER state's licence. Inside-park streams, ponds, and lakes on the NJ side require a NEW JERSEY DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife licence; PA side requires a PENNSYLVANIA Fish and Boat Commission licence. Park-specific bait rule under 36 CFR §7.71(g): NO live crayfish, clams, mussels, reptiles, or amphibians as bait (commercially-produced preserved non-living forms are OK). DINGMANS CREEK has special closures within George W. Childs Park and at the Dingmans Falls Visitor Center observation platforms during visitor-center hours.

• Park context: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (~70,000 acres) protects ~40 miles of the Middle Delaware River where it cuts the Delaware Water Gap through the Kittatinny Ridge between the Pocono Mountains (PA) and the Kittatinny Mountains (NJ). The park is co-administered as the Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River for its main-stem riverway, contains Worthington State Forest + Smithfield Beach + Milford Beach + Bushkill Falls + Childs Park / Dingmans Falls. It is the FOURTH bi-state NPS unit in the catalog (after Assateague MD+VA, Gulf Islands MS+FL, and Gateway NY+NJ). Park HQ: 1978 River Road, Bushkill, PA 18324 — (570) 426-2452.
• Bi-state licence framework: a valid state fishing licence is required for anglers 16+. RECIPROCAL on main-stem Delaware River: anglers may fish shoreline-to-shoreline on the Delaware River (the boundary water between PA and NJ) with EITHER state's licence — this is a long-standing PA / NJ interstate compact governing the boundary river. Inside-park streams, ponds, and lakes are NOT covered by reciprocity: NJ-side waters (Flatbrook, etc.) require a NEW JERSEY DEP DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE licence; PA-side waters (Dingmans Creek, Bushkill Creek, etc.) require a PENNSYLVANIA FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION licence. License years: NJ Jan 1 - Dec 31; PA Dec 1 - Dec 31 (PA buys current-year on Dec 1 of prior calendar year). Each state offers two FREE FISHING DAYS per year (different dates) — verify both calendars before relying on free-day cover. Stamps (trout, salmon, Lake Erie, combination) may apply on a per-state basis. Children under 16 do not require a licence.
• Park-specific federal rule under 36 CFR §2.3 + 36 CFR §7.71: state fishing regulations govern unless superseded by the Superintendent's Compendium. Per 36 CFR §7.71(g), §2.3 sub-sections (d)(1) and (d)(2) are not applicable EXCEPT — (a) taking of reptiles, amphibians, and other aquatic species NOT defined as fish is PROHIBITED; (b) taking or attempting to take any species BY HAND is PROHIBITED; (c) use of LIVE crayfish, clams, mussels, reptiles, or amphibians as fish bait is PROHIBITED unless commercially produced, preserved, and packaged (non-living); (d) introducing wildlife / fish / plants (or their reproductive bodies) into a park ecosystem is PROHIBITED — including discarding bait and bait buckets; (e) use or possession of fish / wildlife / plants for ceremonial or religious purposes is PROHIBITED except where authorised by federal law / treaty. Standard §2.3 (d)(3)-(d)(8) prohibitions also apply (chumming; commercial fishing; drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity; bait digging on park land; failing to return undersize / out-of-season fish; fishing from motor-road bridges or within 200 ft of designated rafts / floats / swim beaches / surfing areas / boat docks).
• Special fishing closures within the park: (a) Dingmans Creek WITHIN George W. Childs Park (including foot bridges and observation platforms) — NO FISHING; (b) Dingmans Creek FROM the top observation platform TO the eastern end of the Dingmans Falls Visitor Center parking lot — NO FISHING from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily WHEN the Visitor Center is in operation (typically May - October).
• Anchor species — Delaware River main-stem: AMERICAN SHAD (the marquee species — spring spawning run migrating up the Delaware from Delaware Bay April-June, target for fly + spinning anglers from below Smithfield Beach to above Milford), smallmouth bass (the Delaware is a premier eastern smallmouth river), walleye (especially in deeper riffles and lower sections), STRIPED BASS (migrating up from Delaware Bay in spring), muskellunge (occasional), brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout (in cold tributaries on both sides), channel catfish, channel + yellow bullhead, panfish + sunfish, eel (Delaware is the eastern US's major American eel migration corridor). PA / NJ TRIBUTARIES: Bushkill Creek, Toms Creek, Flatbrook, Vancampens Brook — trout and panfish.
• Outside-park context: Fish consumption advisories are issued by NJ DEP and PA Department of Environmental Protection for the Delaware corridor — mercury and PCB advisories apply to certain species + reaches. NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife licence + PA Fish and Boat Commission licence available at state websites + sporting-goods dealers + bait shops in Stroudsburg / Bushkill / Milford. Worthington State Forest (NJ) and Childs Park (PA) are popular angler-camping bases. The park's MANDATORY SAFETY POLICY for boating: children age 12 and younger MUST WEAR a life jacket when on board any vessel; life jackets must be worn in vessels less than 16 ft in length between November 1 and April 30.

Delaware Water Gap fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is a BI-STATE park spanning Tennessee + Kentucky on the Cumberland Plateau. A valid state fishing licence is required from anglers 16+. The Tennessee side defers to TENNESSEE WILDLIFE RESOURCES AGENCY (TWRA) rules; the Kentucky side defers to KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES (KDFWR) rules. PARK-SPECIFIC RECIPROCAL BOAT-FISHING AGREEMENT: on the main-stem Big South Fork from LEATHERWOOD FORD (TN Hwy 297) downstream to YAMACRAW BRIDGE (KY Hwy 92), boat-anglers with EITHER state's licence may fish — the creel limits and other regulations of the STATE WHERE THE LICENSE WAS ISSUED apply.

• Park context: Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (BISO, ~125,000 acres) protects ~125 miles of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries (Clear Fork, New River, North White Oak Creek, Station Camp Creek, Bear Creek, Rock Creek), draining a deeply-incised Cumberland Plateau gorge system that crosses the Tennessee / Kentucky state line. The Tennessee side (Scott + Fentress + Morgan + Pickett counties) includes Bandy Creek Visitor Center + Leatherwood Ford + Charit Creek Lodge area; the Kentucky side (McCreary County) includes Blue Heron historic mining community + Stearns Depot Visitor Center + Yamacraw Bridge + Blue Bend. This is the FIFTH bi-state NPS unit in the catalog (after Assateague MD+VA, Gulf Islands MS+FL, Gateway NY+NJ, and Delaware Water Gap NJ+PA). Park HQ: 4564 Leatherwood Road, Oneida, TN 37841 — (423) 286-7275.
• Bi-state licence framework: anglers 16+ require a valid state fishing licence from the STATE in which they are fishing. TENNESSEE — TWRA Resident Annual, Non-Resident Annual, 3-Day, 10-Day options; Trout Stamp required for trout statewide; Sport Fishing Licence + Type-001 covers most freshwater. KENTUCKY — KDFWR Resident / Non-Resident Annual, 1-Day, 7-Day, 15-Day options; Trout Permit required for trout statewide. Children under 16 do not require a licence in either state. STATE SEASON / SLOT / BAG / GEAR rules apply unless overridden by federal NPS rule under 36 CFR §2.3.
• Park-specific BOAT-FISHING RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT — first formal NPS interstate boat-fishing reciprocity in catalog: on the MAIN-STEM Big South Fork River FROM LEATHERWOOD FORD (TN Hwy 297) DOWNSTREAM TO YAMACRAW BRIDGE (KY Hwy 92), BOAT-ANGLERS holding EITHER a Tennessee OR Kentucky fishing licence may fish — the CREEL LIMITS and other REGULATIONS of the STATE WHERE THE LICENCE WAS ISSUED apply (i.e., a TN-licence holder follows TWRA bag limits; a KY-licence holder follows KDFWR bag limits; both inside the same reciprocal reach). The reciprocal reach is roughly the gorge below Leatherwood Ford through the deep gorge section to the take-out at Yamacraw Bridge — accessible by raft, kayak, canoe, or small power-boat in the lower reaches. SHORE / WADE / TRIBUTARY fishing does NOT receive reciprocity — state-of-presence licence required.
• Park-specific federal rule under 36 CFR §2.3: state fishing regulations govern unless overridden by the Superintendent's Compendium. Standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply (drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity; commercial fishing except where statutorily authorised; mandatory immediate-return for undersize / out-of-season / unwanted fish; chumming with foreign substances; fishing from motor-road bridges or within 200 ft of public rafts / floats / swim beaches / surfing areas / boat docks except in designated areas).
• Anchor species — main-stem Big South Fork + lower reaches: SMALLMOUTH BASS (the marquee species — the Big South Fork is a premier Cumberland Plateau smallmouth river, drawing destination anglers; the deep clear-water gorge reach holds large fish), MUSKELLUNGE (the Cumberland River system holds native musky and BISO is one of the southernmost native ranges — TWRA + KDFWR jointly manage), STRIPED BASS + WALLEYE (migrate up from Lake Cumberland on the Kentucky side via the Wolf Creek Dam tailwater system — fish move into the BISO lower reaches), spotted bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, bluegill + longear + redear sunfish, channel + flathead catfish. TROUT (rainbow + brown) in COOL TRIBUTARY streams (Clear Creek, Rock Creek, some North White Oak Creek reaches) where coldwater habitat persists. The Cumberland Plateau gorge biology hosts several Cumberlandian endemic darters and minnows (Bluemask Darter, Stripetail Darter, Cumberland Snubnose Darter, etc.) — non-game but defining.
• Outside-park context: Bandy Creek Visitor Center (TN, (423) 286-7275) and Stearns Depot Visitor Center (KY, (606) 376-5073) are the two primary park information points. TWRA licences sold online at TWRA portal + Tennessee sporting-goods dealers; KDFWR licences sold online at KDFWR portal + Kentucky sporting-goods dealers. The Big South Fork Scenic Railway (KY side) operates from Stearns to Blue Heron — a tourist line that also provides angler access to remote river reaches. Outfitters operate raft + kayak trips through the gorge, with Leatherwood Ford → Brewster Bridge (TN) and Leatherwood Ford → Yamacraw (KY) being the standard multi-day floats. Lake Cumberland tailwater (Wolf Creek Dam, KY, below the south boundary) hosts the trophy striped bass + brown trout fishery managed by KDFWR + USFWS Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery.

Big South Fork fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (~73 mi of the Upper Delaware as a Wild and Scenic River boundary between New York and Pennsylvania) is the SIXTH bi-state NPS unit in the catalog. A valid NEW YORK OR PENNSYLVANIA fishing licence is required for all anglers age 16 and older on the Delaware River between NY and PA when fishing from a boat or from either shore — NEW JERSEY licences are NOT VALID on this boundary water (a key distinction from the downstream Delaware Water Gap NRA reach where PA + NJ reciprocity governs). Park-specific tackle rules: maximum TWO LINES per angler; LIVE BAIT (live baitfish) is PROHIBITED. Pennsylvania licence holders also require a PA Trout Permit to take, kill, or possess trout.

• Park context: Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (designated under the Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1978) protects ~73 free-flowing miles of the Upper Delaware River from the confluence of the East Branch + West Branch at Hancock NY downstream to the Pennsylvania town of Mill Rift just above the New Jersey state line. Unique federal model: unlike most National Park units, the surrounding land remains in PRIVATE OWNERSHIP — the NPS administers the river corridor itself (a co-management arrangement with the Upper Delaware Council representing the NY + PA townships). The river is the boundary between New York (east bank) and Pennsylvania (west bank) for its full Upper Delaware reach. Park HQ: 274 River Road, Beach Lake, PA 18405 — (570) 685-4871.
• Bi-state licence framework: anglers 16+ require a valid NY OR PA fishing licence — both states' licences are valid SHORELINE-TO-SHORELINE on the boundary water (Delaware River main-stem between NY and PA). New Jersey licences are NOT VALID on the Upper Delaware — the NJ state line is downstream of the Upper Delaware unit (the Middle Delaware downstream is administered by Delaware Water Gap NRA where PA + NJ reciprocity governs). Pennsylvania licence holders must additionally hold a PA TROUT PERMIT to take, kill, or possess any trout (in addition to the base fishing licence). Children under 16 do not require a licence. Both states offer FISH-FOR-FREE DAYS during National Fishing Week in June — verify dates with NY DEC + PA Fish & Boat Commission.
• Park-specific federal rule under 36 CFR §2.3 and the Superintendent's Compendium: (a) maximum TWO LINES per angler at any time; (b) LIVE BAIT (live baitfish) is PROHIBITED — preserved / commercially-prepared baits are permitted; (c) standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply (drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity; commercial fishing except where statutorily authorised; chumming; bait-bucket dumping; mandatory immediate-return for undersize / out-of-season / unwanted fish; fishing from motor-road bridges or within 200 ft of designated rafts / floats / swim beaches / boat docks except in designated areas).
• Anchor species: the Upper Delaware is a PREMIER FLY-FISHING DESTINATION for the eastern US, regarded as one of the finest wild-trout rivers in the country. WILD BROWN TROUT + WILD RAINBOW TROUT reproduce naturally in the river (the cold tailwaters of the East + West Branches reservoirs sustain coldwater habitat through summer) — the Junction Pool at Hancock + the West Branch + East Branch sections are nationally recognised destination trout fly-water. BROOK TROUT (native + reintroduced) in cooler tributaries. SMALLMOUTH BASS dominates from Callicoon NY downstream as the river warms — premier smallmouth fishery with multiple guides operating drift-boat float trips. WALLEYE, channel catfish, panfish. AMERICAN SHAD spawning run in spring (April-June migrating up from Delaware Bay) — the Upper Delaware is reachable to migrating shad and is a marquee shad fly-rod destination. American eel migration corridor.
• Outside-park context: licensed commercial fishing guides operate the river extensively (NPS publishes a registered-guide list); standard launches at Hancock, Lordville, Buckingham, Skinners Falls, Narrowsburg, Lackawaxen, Pond Eddy, Matamoras. NY DEC + PA Fish & Boat Commission fish-consumption advisories apply to certain reaches and species (PCBs in larger fish). Aquatic invasive species (didymo, NZ mud snails) are clean-drain-dry concerns — boats and waders must be cleaned between trips.

Upper Delaware fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park is the FIRST FOUR-JURISDICTION NPS unit in the catalog — spanning Maryland (canal + towpath proper), the District of Columbia (Georgetown terminus + tidewater Potomac), West Virginia (upper Potomac border reach), and Virginia (lower Potomac border reach). Fishing regulations CONFORM TO THE LICENCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE RESPECTIVE STATE WHERE THE CANAL AND POTOMAC RIVER ARE LOCATED. DC requires a license for ages 16-65 (DOEE/DCDCRA); MD requires a license for 16+ (MDDNR non-tidal); VA requires a license for 16+ (Department of Wildlife Resources, formerly VDGIF); WV requires a license for ages 15-65 (WVDNR). NORTHERN SNAKEHEAD is an invasive species in the Potomac — DO NOT RELEASE ALIVE; report catches with photo to [email protected].

• Park context: Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park preserves 184.5 miles of the historic C&O Canal + towpath from CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND (Mile 184.5, where the canal terminated in the Allegheny coal country) downstream to GEORGETOWN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (Mile 0) along the Maryland bank of the Potomac River. The canal operated 1828-1924 transporting coal, lumber, and grain; the towpath now functions as a continuous multi-use trail. The park's fishery spans FOUR JURISDICTIONS — Maryland (the canal + towpath itself are on the Maryland bank); the District of Columbia (the Georgetown tidewater reach below Chain Bridge); West Virginia (the upper Potomac from Cumberland to Hancock MD is the WV/MD border — anglers casting into the river from the MD side may need WV licence depending on where the boundary line falls under state water apportionment); Virginia (the lower Potomac from Hancock MD downstream is the VA/MD border — same boundary-line consideration). Park HQ: 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740 — (301) 739-4200; canal-system contact (301) 739-4200.
• Four-jurisdiction licence framework: (a) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA — DC Department of Energy & Environment (formerly DCRA) FISHING LICENCE required for anglers AGES 16 THROUGH 65 (under 16 + 65+ exempt). Information: (202) 535-2260 (DOEE Fisheries). Applies in the tidewater Potomac reach below Chain Bridge in DC. (b) MARYLAND — MD Department of Natural Resources NON-TIDAL FISHING LICENCE required for anglers 16+ for the canal + non-tidal Potomac reaches; a separate MD Chesapeake Bay Sport Fishing Licence applies to tidal-water sections (below Little Falls Dam). Information: (410) 260-8DNR. (c) VIRGINIA — Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (formerly Department of Game and Inland Fisheries) FRESHWATER FISHING LICENCE required for anglers 16+; both VA and MD recognize a RECIPROCAL agreement on the Potomac as a boundary water — anglers with MD licence may fish from the VA bank and vice-versa for the mainstem (verify per-water rules with each state). Information: 1-866-721-6911. (d) WEST VIRGINIA — WV Division of Natural Resources FISHING LICENCE required for anglers AGES 15 THROUGH 64 (under 15 + 65+ exempt). Information: (304) 558-2758. PA + NY anglers fishing the Potomac border waters need the WV or MD state's licence depending on which side of the border line they are casting from.
• Park-specific federal rule under 36 CFR §2.3: state fishing regulations of the respective state govern unless overridden by the Superintendent's Compendium. Standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply (drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity; commercial fishing except where statutorily authorised; chumming; bait-bucket dumping; mandatory immediate-return for undersize / out-of-season / unwanted fish; fishing from motor-road bridges or within 200 ft of designated rafts / floats / swim beaches / boat docks except in designated areas). NORTHERN SNAKEHEAD (Channa argus) — INVASIVE — DO NOT RELEASE ALIVE; this exotic Asian fish has established in the Potomac and Anacostia and is destroying native fish populations; if caught, do not release; report catches (with photo) to [email protected] per MD DNR invasive-species reporting program.
• Anchor species — Potomac River mainstem (anchor sport-fishery): SMALLMOUTH BASS (the upper-mid Potomac from Cumberland to Little Falls Dam is a renowned smallmouth river — Whites Ferry, Point of Rocks, Brunswick, and Williamsport are popular access points), LARGEMOUTH BASS (canal pools + tidewater reach), CHANNEL CATFISH + flathead catfish, walleye (multiple reaches), MUSKELLUNGE (upper Potomac near Cumberland is nationally recognized for native musky), STRIPED BASS (anadromous run up the Potomac from Chesapeake Bay — spring run is a marquee tidewater event reaching Chain Bridge in late spring), AMERICAN SHAD + HICKORY SHAD spawning runs (April-May), white perch + yellow perch, blue catfish (invasive but established + sport-fished). Crappie + bluegill + pumpkinseed + redbreast sunfish in canal pools + slack-water reaches. NORTHERN SNAKEHEAD (invasive — do not release alive). FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES from MD DNR + DC DOEE + VA Department of Health apply for PCBs + mercury + Chlordane in certain species + reaches — striped bass, channel cat, snakehead, and large smallmouth all have advisories.
• Outside-park context: Great Falls of the Potomac (MD side at Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center mile 14.3, VA side at Great Falls National Park) is the upper limit of the tidewater Potomac — below Great Falls is anadromous; above Great Falls is the upper-river freshwater fishery. Whites Ferry (Mile 35.5, the last operating cable ferry across the Potomac, suspended since 2020 but reopening planned), Point of Rocks (Mile 48.2), Brunswick (Mile 54.4), Harpers Ferry NHP (Mile 60.7 — confluence of the Potomac + Shenandoah at the MD/WV/VA tri-state point), Williamsport (Mile 99.4), Hancock (Mile 124.0 — bend at the WV/MD border), Paw Paw Tunnel (Mile 155.2), Cumberland (Mile 184.5 — western terminus). The C&O Canal Trust + Friends of the C&O Canal maintain the towpath + visitor experience. Coordination with USFWS + EPA + each of the 4 state agencies + DC DOEE governs the multi-jurisdictional Potomac sport fishery.

C&O Canal NHP fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is the SEVENTH bi-state NPS unit in the catalog — protecting ~252 mi of the Saint Croix + Namekagon rivers across Minnesota (east) and Wisconsin (west). A valid Minnesota OR Wisconsin licence is required for anglers 16+. RESIDENCY-BASED RULE — UNIQUE TO ST. CROIX: Minnesota residents MUST possess a Minnesota licence to fish border waters; Wisconsin residents MUST possess a Wisconsin licence; out-of-state residents may use a Minnesota OR Wisconsin licence. Licences are valid SHORELINE-TO-SHORELINE on border waters. Anglers must follow the regulations of the STATE IN WHICH THEY ARE FISHING (not the state of licence). The Namekagon River is entirely in Wisconsin and the state boundary on the Saint Croix begins ~2.5 mi downstream of Riverside Landing (upstream of that point the Saint Croix flows in Wisconsin). Park-specific rule: USE OF LIVE CRAYFISH AS BAIT IS PROHIBITED on the Riverway.

• Park context: Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (designated 1968 as one of the original units of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System) protects ~252 river-miles — 200 mi of the Saint Croix River (including the upper headwater reach in northwestern Wisconsin and the boundary-water reach between MN and WI down to Stillwater MN), plus 100 mi of the Namekagon River (entirely in northwestern Wisconsin, joining the Saint Croix at Riverside Landing). The state boundary on the Saint Croix BEGINS approximately 2.5 MILES DOWNSTREAM OF RIVERSIDE LANDING — UPSTREAM of that point, the Saint Croix flows entirely within Wisconsin. The entire Namekagon River is in Wisconsin. The downriver lower Saint Croix is administered as a separate Wild and Scenic reach jointly by NPS, MN DNR, and WI DNR. Park HQ: 401 Hamilton Street North, St. Croix Falls, WI 54024 — (715) 483-2274.
• Bi-state RESIDENCY-BASED licence framework — UNIQUE in catalog: anglers 16+ require a valid MN or WI fishing licence per the following rule: MN residents MUST POSSESS A MN LICENCE to fish border waters; WI residents MUST POSSESS A WI LICENCE to fish border waters; OUT-OF-STATE residents may use a MN or WI licence. Both states' licences are valid SHORELINE-TO-SHORELINE on the boundary-water reach. Anglers MUST follow the regulations of the STATE IN WHICH THEY ARE FISHING (not the state of licence) — i.e., a MN-licence holder fishing from the WI bank must follow WI bag / season / slot rules. Anglers must have a COPY OF THE LICENCE in possession showing fishing endorsement + dates valid; a DRIVER'S LICENCE alone is NOT ACCEPTED. BOAT INSPECTION WARNING: when LANDING a boat, anglers will be INSPECTED FOR CATCH by the state where they are landing — choice of landing ramp matters for which state's bag limits apply to the inspection. Children under 16 do not require a licence.
• Park-specific federal rule under 36 CFR §2.3: state fishing regulations of MN + WI govern unless overridden by the Superintendent's Compendium. (a) USE OF LIVE CRAYFISH AS BAIT IS PROHIBITED on the Riverway (preventing the spread of invasive rusty crayfish + other non-native crayfish); (b) NEVER DUMP OR RELEASE LIVE BAIT into the river (standard biosecurity); (c) standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply (drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity; commercial fishing except where statutorily authorised; chumming; bait-bucket dumping; mandatory immediate-return for undersize / out-of-season / unwanted fish; fishing from motor-road bridges or within 200 ft of designated rafts / floats / swim beaches / boat docks except in designated areas). Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) CLEAN-DRAIN-DRY mandate applies to all trailer-launched vessels.
• Anchor species — NAMEKAGON RIVER (WI, upstream of Hayward WI): the cold-water Namekagon has received NATIONAL RECOGNITION for its NATURALLY-REPRODUCING WILD BROWN TROUT + BROOK TROUT fisheries (a destination wild-trout river system rivaling the Driftless region rivers). SAINT CROIX RIVER (boundary-water reach, Danbury WI downstream to Indian Head Flowage north of Saint Croix Falls WI): recognized as ONE OF THE FINEST SMALLMOUTH BASS FISHERIES IN THE COUNTRY — premier destination smallmouth water. DOWNSTREAM of TAYLORS FALLS MN (the lower Saint Croix as it widens): warm-water species — largemouth + smallmouth bass, WALLEYE + SAUGER, northern pike, muskellunge, channel + flathead catfish, suckers, LAKE STURGEON (catch-and-release strict rules under both MN DNR + WI DNR — one of the most studied recovering sturgeon populations in the upper Mississippi system), common carp + buffalo carp, panfish (bluegill, crappie, pumpkinseed, rock bass).
• Outside-park context: WI DNR Fish Consumption page issues species-and-reach-specific consumption guidance for the Saint Croix (mercury + PCBs in larger predator species). MN Pollution Control Agency promotes lead-free tackle alternatives (lead jigs / sinkers are harmful to loons + bald eagles). Licensed commercial fishing guides operate the boundary-water reach + the Namekagon — verify guide permit status with park HQ. Standard public launches at Riverside (MN/WI), Wild River SP (MN), Interstate SP at Taylors Falls / Saint Croix Falls (MN/WI), William O'Brien SP (MN), Marine on Saint Croix (MN), Stillwater (MN), Hudson WI, Afton SP MN; Namekagon launches at Hayward WI + downstream community points.

Saint Croix NSR fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Nebraska state fishing licence is required for anglers 16 and older; children under 16 must be accompanied by a licensed adult. Standard 36 CFR §2.3 prohibitions apply across the river corridor. DO NOT COLLECT Northern redbelly dace, finescale dace, blacknose shiner, or Topeka shiner as bait — all four are threatened or endangered.

• Park context: Niobrara National Scenic River protects a ~76 mi stretch of the Niobrara River across north-central Nebraska, designated under the Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1991. The river is the most diverse body of water in Nebraska species-wise — a transition zone where eastern, western, northern, and southern fish ranges overlap, supplemented by warm-water and cool-water spring inflows. Unique federal model: like Upper Delaware S&RR, the land along the Niobrara is owned by a collection of private landowners, organizations, and government entities — the NPS protects the river corridor itself; anglers wishing to fish from a private bank must obtain landowner permission. Park HQ: 214 W US Highway 20, Valentine, NE 69201 — (402) 376-1901.
• Licensing: visitors fishing within the Niobrara National Scenic River must follow the fishing-licence requirements in accordance with the laws and regulations of the State of Nebraska (administered by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission). Licences are required for all participants age 16 and older; those under 16 must be accompanied by someone with a licence. Licences are sold online via the Nebraska Game & Parks website and locally at the Valentine State Fish Hatchery, the Sinclair Gas Station in Valentine, and Wright's Bait Shop. The annual Nebraska Fishing Guide contains the bag, possession, and size limits, ideal access points along the Niobrara, and the list of prohibited fishing practices.
• Park-specific federal rule under 36 CFR §2.3: state fishing regulations of Nebraska govern unless overridden by the Superintendent's Compendium. Specifically prohibited: (a) fishing in fresh waters in any manner other than by hook and line with the rod or line closely attended; (b) possessing or using as bait in fresh waters live or dead minnows or other bait fish, amphibians, non-preserved fish eggs or fish roe (except in designated waters); (c) chumming or placing preserved or fresh fish eggs, fish roe, food, fish parts, chemicals, or other foreign substances in fresh waters; (d) commercial fishing except where specifically authorised by federal statute; (e) fishing by drugs, poisons, explosives, or electricity; (f) digging for bait except on privately owned lands; (g) failing to return immediately to the water any fish that does not meet size or species restrictions; (h) fishing from motor road bridges, within 200 ft of public rafts/floats/swim beaches/boat docks, except in designated areas; (i) introducing wildlife/fish/plants (including reproductive bodies) — covers discarding/dumping bait and bait buckets; (j) ceremonial/religious use except where statutorily authorised or by treaty right. Threatened/endangered fish must not be collected as bait: Northern redbelly dace, finescale dace, blacknose shiner, and Topeka shiner are all protected.
• Anchor species (per NPS): CHANNEL CATFISH `Ictalurus punctatus` (native, low-light slow-moving waters, will eat anything — live bait caught from the river is recommended), FLATHEAD CATFISH `Pylodictis olivaris`, BLUE CATFISH `Ictalurus furcatus`; BROWN TROUT `Salmo trutta` and RAINBOW TROUT `Oncorhynchus mykiss` (both non-native, in the cool spring-fed reaches); LARGEMOUTH BASS `Micropterus salmoides` + SMALLMOUTH BASS `Micropterus dolomieu` (catch-and-release encouraged on larger fish; LARGEMOUTH BASS HAS A NIOBRARA RIVER BASIN MERCURY CONSUMPTION ADVISORY); WHITE CRAPPIE `Pomoxis annularis` + BLACK CRAPPIE `Pomoxis nigromaculatus` (Nebraska Dept of Environmental Quality reports higher-than-average mercury levels in black crappie); plus NORTHERN PIKE, COMMON CARP, SAUGER, GRASS PICKEREL, and RIVER CARPSUCKER.
• Aquatic Invasive Species: Asian carp and round gobies threaten the Niobrara — outcompeting native fish — and zebra mussel is the most economically impactful (clogs intakes, outcompetes native clams/mussels). USGS recommends boat-hygiene CLEAN-DRAIN-DRY and not transporting water from live wells or bait buckets between water bodies. Fish consumption advisories: NPS maintains nationwide fish-consumption-advisory information; Nebraska Game & Parks issues species-specific guidance for the Niobrara (mercury in largemouth bass + black crappie). Standard public access at Cornell Bridge (entry to designated NSR reach below Fort Niobrara NWR), Berry Bridge, Brewer Bridge, Norden Bridge, and Rocky Ford; the lower 26 mi flow through Smith Falls SP and the Niobrara Valley Preserve.

Niobrara NSR fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Tennessee state fishing licence is required for anglers age 13 and older fishing in the Obed Wild & Scenic River corridor (Obed River, Clear Creek, Daddy's Creek, Emory River). Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) season, bag, and gear rules govern unless overridden by the Superintendent's Compendium. Standard 36 CFR §2.3 prohibitions apply.

• Park context: Obed Wild and Scenic River protects ~45 mi of free-flowing river — the lower Obed River + lower Clear Creek + lower Daddy's Creek + a section of the Emory River — through the Cumberland Plateau gorge of Morgan + Cumberland counties, Tennessee. Designated in 1976 under the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the river is a deeply-incised sandstone-gorge system bordered by steep cliffs — the headwater drainages remain on private and Tennessee state land while the gorge corridor is federally administered. Park HQ: P.O. Box 429, Wartburg, TN 37887 — (423) 346-6294.
• Licensing: visitors fishing within the Obed Wild & Scenic River must possess a valid TENNESSEE fishing licence under Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency rules. The park FAQ identifies authorised TN-licence sellers near the corridor including Mossy Grove Market (1705 Morgan County Highway, Wartburg), Brushy Mountain Market (10208 Petros Hwy, Oliver Springs), Tiger Food Mart (8110 Morgan County Highway, Sunbright), Morgan County Courthouse (415 Kingston Street, Wartburg), and any Walmart in Tennessee. Licences may also be purchased online via the TWRA portal. Trout in stocked tailwaters require a separate Trout Stamp under TWRA rules.
• Park-specific federal rule under 36 CFR §2.3: Tennessee state fishing regulations govern unless overridden by the Superintendent's Compendium. Standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply: (a) hook-and-line only with rod or line closely attended; (b) possessing/using as bait live or dead minnows / amphibians / non-preserved fish eggs except in designated waters; (c) chumming prohibited; (d) commercial fishing prohibited except where statutorily authorised; (e) use of drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity prohibited; (f) digging for bait prohibited except on private land; (g) immediate-return mandate for undersize / out-of-season / unwanted fish; (h) no fishing from motor-road bridges or within 200 ft of public rafts / floats / swim beaches / boat docks except in designated areas; (i) no introducing wildlife / fish / plants including reproductive bodies — covers dumping bait and bait buckets.
• Anchor species (per NPS): SMALLMOUTH BASS `Micropterus dolomieu` is the most common game fish — Clear Creek, Daddy's Creek, and the Obed River mainstem all produce successful smallmouth catches during peak season. MUSKELLUNGE `Esox masquinongy` is a marquee species: muskie regularly reaching 40+ inches are caught at the Obed each year, making it one of a small number of public Cumberland Plateau muskie destinations (Tennessee state muskie record 42 lb 8 oz from Norris Reservoir, 1983). Additional species: CARP `Cyprinus carpio` (non-native, established), AMERICAN SHAD `Alosa sapidissima` (anadromous run from downstream), FLATHEAD CATFISH `Pylodictis olivaris` (predatory; can reach 60+ inches), CHANNEL CATFISH `Ictalurus punctatus`, FRESHWATER DRUM `Aplodinotus grunniens`, BLACK CRAPPIE + WHITE CRAPPIE, BLUEGILL `Lepomis macrochirus`, and many DARTER species (perch family — Tennessee + Kentucky hold thousands of darters across most streams; some species are brightly coloured during breeding).
• Outside-park context: the upper drainages outside the W&SR corridor remain on private + TN state land — typical TWRA stream rules govern. TWRA issues TENNESSEE FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES for the Emory + Obed system focused on mercury bioaccumulation in larger predatory species (large smallmouth bass + flathead catfish). Standard access points: Nemo Bridge (Emory River/Obed confluence — major launch), Adams Bridge (Clear Creek), Devil's Breakfast Table (Daddy's Creek), Lilly Bridge (Clear Creek). Note: the Obed corridor is also a world-class WHITEWATER paddling destination — boating and fishing access points overlap, so coordinate timing with paddling groups in spring high-water windows.

Obed W&SR fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Missouri state fishing licence is required per the Missouri State Wildlife Code (administered by the Missouri Department of Conservation). Park-specific 36 CFR §2.3 override per the Superintendent's Compendium: FISHING IS PROHIBITED IN ALL SPRING POOLS + SPRING BRANCHES on federally-owned land within ONSR boundaries (Big Spring, Round Spring, Alley Spring, Pulltite, Cave Spring, Schafer Spring, et al). DIGGING FOR WORMS OR OTHER BAIT IS PROHIBITED on federally-owned land within ONSR.

• Park context: Ozark National Scenic Riverways protects ~134 mi of the Current River + Jacks Fork River across the Missouri Ozarks. Authorised by Public Law 88-492 in 1964, ONSR is the FIRST NATIONAL PARK AREA EVER ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT A RIVER SYSTEM — predating the federal Wild & Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. The Current + Jacks Fork are spring-fed cold-clear free-flowing rivers fed by hundreds of freshwater springs (Big Spring is one of the largest single-outlet springs in the world). Park HQ: P.O. Box 490, Van Buren, MO 63965 — (573) 323-4236. District contact stations: Big Spring Entrance Station (Van Buren MO, year-round), Alley Spring Mill & Store (Eminence MO, Memorial Day–Oct 31), Round Spring Ranger Station (Eminence MO, summer only).
• Licensing: visitors fishing within Ozark National Scenic Riverways must possess a valid MISSOURI fishing licence per the Missouri State Wildlife Code (administered by Missouri Department of Conservation, MDC). Trout fishing in any MDC trout-management waters requires a separate Trout Permit. Licences are sold online via the MDC portal and at MDC-registered vendors statewide.
• Park-specific federal rules per Superintendent's Compendium (under 36 CFR §1.5 + §2.3): (a) Fishing in spring pools and spring branches is PROHIBITED on federally-owned land within the boundaries of ONSR — including Big Spring Branch (except limited boating access from the Current River upstream to the boat dock at Big Spring Lodge), Cave Spring Branch (vehicle crossing only, for access to Hickory Landing), and Schafer Spring Branch (vehicle crossing for Suzie Nichols access). All other activities and entry into spring pools and branches on federal land are also prohibited without a written permit from the Superintendent (preserves enabling-legislation mandate to protect springs as a primary park purpose). (b) DIGGING FOR WORMS OR OTHER BAIT IS PROHIBITED on federally-owned land within ONSR. (c) Taking of frogs, turtles, and crayfish is authorised in accordance with the Missouri State Wildlife Code (no park-specific override). (d) Standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply: hook-and-line only with rod/line closely attended; chumming prohibited; no drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity; commercial fishing prohibited except where statutorily authorised; immediate-return mandate for undersize/out-of-season/unwanted fish; no fishing from motor-road bridges or within 200 ft of designated rafts / floats / swim beaches / boat docks except in designated areas; no introducing wildlife / fish / plants including reproductive bodies (no bait-bucket dumping). (e) Specimen collection (taking of plant, fish, wildlife, rocks, or minerals) requires a permit under 36 CFR §2.5(a).
• Anchor species (per MDC + NPS): SMALLMOUTH BASS `Micropterus dolomieu` — the Current + Jacks Fork are NATIONALLY RECOGNISED trophy-smallmouth destinations, with the upper Current River + Jacks Fork managed under MDC SPECIAL SMALLMOUTH MANAGEMENT AREA rules (12-inch minimum length, more restrictive bag limit, gear restrictions in some reaches — check the current-year MDC trout-and-bass-area regulations summary). ROCK BASS (goggle-eye) `Ambloplites rupestris` is a locally important sport fish in the cool spring-fed reaches. RAINBOW TROUT + BROWN TROUT (stocked) in MDC-designated trout-management waters near major spring outlets — TROUT PERMIT REQUIRED on top of base licence. Other species: LARGEMOUTH BASS, WALLEYE `Sander vitreus` (in deeper downstream pools), CHANNEL CATFISH, FLATHEAD CATFISH, BLUEGILL + LONGEAR SUNFISH `Lepomis megalotis` + GREEN SUNFISH `Lepomis cyanellus`, and SUCKER species (gigging is a regulated Missouri tradition under MDC Wildlife Code).
• Outside-park context: MDC issues species-specific Missouri Fish Consumption Advisories applicable across the Current + Jacks Fork (mercury bioaccumulation in larger predators). Standard access at Akers Ferry, Pulltite, Round Spring, Two Rivers, Alley Spring, Eminence, Powder Mill, Owls Bend, Van Buren, Big Spring, Gooseneck, and Cataract. Closed campground notice: Pin Oak Campground + Loops 600 and 700 of Big Spring Campground remain closed (April 2017 flood damage). Pin Oak River Access: limited to commercial use only on weekends Memorial Day–Labor Day. Cave + cave-spring access: most caves within park boundaries are closed (white-nose syndrome bat protection) — only Round Spring Cave (tours only) and Cave Spring near Devils Well remain open to visitors. ALCOHOL: state + federal alcohol laws apply; open containers prohibited at Alley Mill, Alley Store, Storys Creek School, and any park-owned/leased buildings, vehicles, or vessels.

Ozark NSR fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Amistad NRA is the FIRST INTERNATIONAL-BORDER NPS UNIT IN THIS CATALOG — Lake Amistad is a US/Mexico joint reservoir on the Rio Grande managed under the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) treaty. The international border runs along the main channel of the Rio Grande between numbered buoys RG1 → RG28. On the US side, a Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) freshwater fishing licence is required for anglers age 17 and older. When in Mexican waters, you must adhere to Mexico's fishing regulations (separate Mexican fishing permit + Mexican size/catch limits, which differ from Texas).

• Park context: Amistad National Recreation Area protects ~58,500 acres centred on Lake Amistad — a 64-mile-long US/Mexico joint reservoir formed by Amistad Dam (1969) at the confluence of the Rio Grande, Pecos River, and Devils River, ~12 mi northwest of Del Rio, Texas. The dam + reservoir were built as a joint project under the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) treaty between the US and Mexico — the international border runs along the historical main channel of the Rio Grande. The reservoir straddles the Rio Grande / Río Bravo and is a trophy bass destination (Lake Amistad has produced multiple TPWD Texas Sharelunker entries — bass over 13 lb). Park HQ: 10477 Highway 90 West, Del Rio, TX 78840 — (830) 775-7491.
• Licensing — US side: Texas fishing licence + Freshwater Fishing Endorsement are required when fishing on the United States side of Amistad Reservoir under TPWD rules. Texas residents 17+ require the licence; non-residents 17+ require the non-resident package. Children under 17 do not require a licence. Licences are sold online via the TPWD portal + at TPWD-registered vendors in Del Rio. Licensing — Mexican side: when crossing the international border (via boat, past numbered buoys RG1 → RG28 along the main channel) and fishing in Mexican waters, anglers MUST adhere to Mexico's fishing regulations — a separate Mexican fishing permit + Mexican size/catch limits apply. Mexican-permit information is available via the Mexican Sport Fishing programme (call (619) 233-4324) or locally from: Amistad Marine, 7348 US Highway 90 W (across from Spur 454), Del Rio TX — (830) 775-0878; and Three Rivers RV Park, 9670 US Highway 90 W — (830) 778-2241.
• Park-specific federal rules under 36 CFR §2.3 + §7 (US side only): (a) Texas state regulations govern via 36 CFR §2.3 unless overridden by the Superintendent's Compendium; (b) fishing AUTHORIZED from shore anywhere outside of harbours and designated swim areas — fishing PROHIBITED in harbours and swim areas (hooks/line/swimmer-safety); (c) courtesy fishing dock at Rough Canyon camping area (boat-access only); (d) standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply (no chumming, no drugs/poisons/explosives/electricity, no commercial fishing except statutorily authorized, immediate-return mandate, no introducing wildlife/fish/plants); (e) DO NOT put fish remains into the lake — cold fresh water does not decompose remains easily, lake can become polluted; DO NOT place fish remains in trash cans — attracts wildlife, leads to human-animal conflict; fish CLEANING STATIONS provided at Diablo East, Pecos, and Rough Canyon — use them; (f) tournaments require permit from NPS Fishing Tournament Policy (register ≥ 2 weeks in advance); (g) fishing guides require Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) from the park.
• Anchor species (per NPS): LARGEMOUTH BASS `Micropterus salmoides` — Lake Amistad has produced multiple TPWD Texas Sharelunker entries (largemouth >13 lb) and is one of the consistent top-ten US trophy-bass reservoirs (clear, deep impoundment with abundant cover); WHITE BASS `Morone chrysops` (large schools in upper-tributary arms during spring runs); STRIPED BASS `Morone saxatilis` (introduced); CHANNEL CATFISH `Ictalurus punctatus`; BLUE CATFISH `Ictalurus furcatus` (Amistad has produced trophy blues). Additional species include smallmouth bass, alligator gar (lower Rio Grande/Pecos arms), drum, sunfish, and crappie. TPWD maintains a dedicated Amistad Reservoir fishing page with current conditions + lake-record entries + weekly fishing report.
• Outside-park context: water levels fluctuate sharply with US/Mexico water-rights releases under the IBWC treaty + Texas drought cycles — when reservoir levels drop low enough to require closing low-water boat ramps, NPS posts updates in the per-page Alerts banner + the Boat Ramp Status page. Major US-side boat launches at Diablo East, Pecos, Rough Canyon, Box Canyon, and 277 South. Watch for international-border-buoy lines (RG-numbered) when running the main channel — drift across the line is the single most-common compliance failure for US anglers; carry both a Texas licence and the Mexican permit if you intend to fish both sides on the same trip.

Amistad NRA fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Oklahoma fishing licence is required per Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) rules. Per 36 CFR §7.50, Oklahoma state fishing regulations apply unless overridden by the Superintendent's Compendium. Park-specific overrides: (a) FISHING IS PROHIBITED in Travertine Creek and other bodies of water east of US-177 (including all waters east of the Travertine Nature Center) — protects swimmers from lost line/hooks; (b) on Veterans Lake + creeks + all small watershed lakes <100 acres, only HAND-LINE or ROD-AND-REEL is permitted — trotlines, yo-yos, sail lines, jug lines, and nets are PROHIBITED EXCEPT at Lake of the Arbuckles.

• Park context: Chickasaw National Recreation Area protects ~9,888 acres in south-central Oklahoma around the town of Sulphur. The park has an unusual lineage — originally created as the Sulphur Springs Reservation in 1902 to protect freshwater + mineral springs (the Chickasaw Nation transferred the land to the federal government), redesignated as Platt National Park (1906-1976) — at the time the smallest unit in the National Park System and the only NP named for a sitting Senator (Orville Platt of Connecticut) — then merged with the surrounding Arbuckle Recreation Area in 1976 to form the current NRA. The park encompasses Lake of the Arbuckles (~2,350 acres) + Veterans Lake + Rock Creek + Travertine Creek + Buckhorn Creek. Park HQ: 901 W First Street, Sulphur, OK 73086 — (580) 622-7234.
• Licensing: visitors fishing within Chickasaw National Recreation Area must follow the fishing-licence requirements of the State of Oklahoma per the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC). Resident annual + non-resident annual + 1-day/14-day non-resident options apply; children under the ODWC age threshold are exempt. ODWC also requires species-specific stamps (paddlefish permit, etc.) — verify before fishing.
• Park-specific federal rules under 36 CFR §7.50: except as otherwise designated, fishing is governed by Oklahoma state laws and regulations; the regulations apply to all `finfish` — other taxa (amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans — e.g. waterdogs, crayfish) are not considered fish and are governed by 36 CFR §2.2 (wildlife). Park-specific overrides per the Superintendent's Compendium: (a) FISHING IS PROHIBITED IN TRAVERTINE CREEK + ALL BODIES OF WATER EAST OF US-177 — including all waters east of the Travertine Nature Center (this restriction prevents swimmers in the popular Travertine Nature Area from encountering lost fishing line + hooks); (b) On Veterans Lake, creeks, and ALL small watershed lakes <100 acres: ONLY HAND-LINE OR ROD-AND-REEL permitted — trotlines, yo-yos, sail lines, jug lines, nets, and other passive/unattended methods are PROHIBITED EXCEPT at Lake of the Arbuckles (prevents unattended gear from interfering with other water recreation); (c) consistent with ODWC, the NPS considers all waters at or below 885.3 ft above sea level to be lake waters for fishing-reg purposes (defines the Lake of the Arbuckles boundary against tributary creek-rules); (d) standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply (no introducing wildlife/fish/plants — covers bait-bucket dumping; no ceremonial/religious take except statutorily authorized).
• Anchor species (per NPS): WHITE BASS `Morone chrysops`, LARGEMOUTH BASS `Micropterus salmoides`, CRAPPIE (white + black), SMALLMOUTH BASS `Micropterus dolomieu`, SPOTTED BASS `Micropterus punctulatus`, PANFISH (bluegill + redear sunfish), and CATFISH (channel + blue + flathead). The Lake of the Arbuckles is the primary deep-water fishery; Veterans Lake is a smaller stocked impoundment; Rock Creek and Buckhorn Creek hold smallmouth + spotted bass + panfish. ADA-accessible fishing docks: Veterans Lake + Lake of the Arbuckles at the boat launches at Guy Sandy, Buckhorn, and The Point.
• Outside-park context: Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality Fish Consumption Advisory in effect for Lake of the Arbuckles (mercury bioaccumulation in larger predatory species — most species and most park waters drain into Lake of the Arbuckles, so cautious anglers may wish to heed the same advisory for fish caught in other park waters). NPS-wide context on Fish Consumption Advisories + Mercury and Toxins in Nature is published on the NPS Fish + Fishing site. Aquatic Invasive Species: Asian carp, zebra mussel, and others — CLEAN-DRAIN-DRY mandate applies to trailer-launched vessels. Standard ODWC paddlefish-snagging stamp is required if pursuing paddlefish under separate ODWC stamp rules.

Chickasaw NRA fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Texas fishing licence + Freshwater Fishing Endorsement (TPWD) are required for anglers age 17 and older. Texas Freshwater Bag and Length Limits Apply (per Texas Parks & Wildlife Department); see TPWD Exceptions to Freshwater Harvest Regulations for any Lake Meredith-specific exceptions in effect for the current licence year.

• Park context: Lake Meredith National Recreation Area protects ~44,978 acres centred on Lake Meredith — a TX-panhandle reservoir formed by Sanford Dam (completed 1965) on the Canadian River, near Fritch TX (~35 mi NE of Amarillo). The lake is operated by the Bureau of Reclamation (BoR) for municipal water supply to the Texas panhandle (Canadian River Municipal Water Authority — Amarillo + Lubbock + 9 other cities) and NPS administers the surface lands + reservoir surface for recreation. The reservoir's surface area varies sharply with regional drought + irrigation draws — historic high ~21,640 acres (1973), historic low ~2,500 acres (2013). The lake is bordered by white-rock canyons + Alibates Flint Quarries NM to the SE (the only NM in Texas, formed from a Plains Village-era flint-quarrying complex). Park HQ: P.O. Box 1460, Fritch, TX 79036 — (806) 857-3151.
• Licensing: visitors fishing within Lake Meredith National Recreation Area must possess a valid Texas fishing licence + Freshwater Fishing Endorsement under TPWD rules. Resident + non-resident licence packages apply; children under 17 are exempt. Licences are sold online via TPWD + at TPWD-registered vendors in Fritch / Amarillo / Borger.
• Fishing regulations: Texas freshwater bag and length limits apply per TPWD statewide regulations. Check TPWD Exceptions to Freshwater Harvest Regulations for Lake Meredith in the current-year TPWD fishing-regulations guide for any species-specific Lake Meredith overrides (Lake Meredith historically has had walleye + smallmouth bass + striped bass overrides at various times). Standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply on top of TPWD rules (no chumming except as TPWD permits, no drugs/poisons/explosives/electricity, no commercial fishing except statutorily authorized, immediate-return mandate, no introducing wildlife/fish/plants — covers bait-bucket dumping).
• Anchor species (per NPS + TPWD): SMALLMOUTH BASS `Micropterus dolomieu` — Lake Meredith is widely cited as the source of the Texas state-record smallmouth bass (a long-standing record from the Canadian River impoundment that established the lake's national-tier smallmouth reputation in the 1980s-90s); WALLEYE `Sander vitreus` (Lake Meredith is one of the southernmost TPWD walleye fisheries — TPWD-stocked); LARGEMOUTH BASS `Micropterus salmoides`; WHITE BASS `Morone chrysops` (school in tributary arms during spring spawning runs); CRAPPIE (white + black); CHANNEL CATFISH `Ictalurus punctatus`; BLUE CATFISH `Ictalurus furcatus`; STRIPED BASS `Morone saxatilis` (historic stocking — verify current TPWD plan).
• Outside-park context: shoreline access at Sanford-Yake (primary boat-ramp / docks, fish-cleaning station), Spring Canyon (boat-ramp + dock — wheelchair-accessible fishing), Harbor Bay, Cedar Canyon, Chimney Hollow, and Bugbee Canyon. Reservoir levels fluctuate sharply — low-water ramp closures posted via NPS Alerts banner. AIS Clean-Drain-Dry mandate applies to all trailer-launched vessels. TPWD weekly fishing reports cover Lake Meredith and the Canadian River system. Alibates Flint Quarries NM (the only NPS NM in Texas) sits on the SE shoreline of the Sanford Dam pool — visitors mixing fishing with cultural-site touring should coordinate ranger-led Alibates tour timing (advance reservation required) with their boating/fishing day.

Lake Meredith NRA fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid California fishing licence (CDFW) is required for anglers age 16 and older. Standard 36 CFR §2.3 prohibitions apply. CRITICAL ESA OVERLAY: lower Clear Creek BELOW WHISKEYTOWN DAM is spawning habitat for two federally-listed ESA-Threatened anadromous fish — SPRING-RUN CHINOOK SALMON `Oncorhynchus tshawytscha` and CENTRAL VALLEY STEELHEAD TROUT `Oncorhynchus mykiss` (Evolutionary Significant Unit) — both closely monitored by US Fish & Wildlife Service; verify CDFW Central Valley anadromous regulations for current Clear Creek closures, gear restrictions, and tribal-and-federal closure windows before fishing the tailwater.

• Park context: Whiskeytown National Recreation Area protects ~42,500 acres in northern California's Klamath Mountains foothills (Shasta County), ~8 mi west of Redding CA. Centred on Whiskeytown Lake (~3,200 surface acres) — formed by Whiskeytown Dam (completed 1963 as part of the Central Valley Project, US Bureau of Reclamation). The reservoir feeds the Spring Creek Tunnel that delivers Trinity River water to the Sacramento River system. The unit is one of three units of the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area complex (the Shasta + Trinity units are administered by the US Forest Service; the Whiskeytown unit alone is administered by NPS). Park HQ: P.O. Box 188, Whiskeytown, CA 96095 — (530) 242-3400.
• Licensing: visitors fishing within Whiskeytown National Recreation Area must possess a valid California fishing licence per California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) rules (residents + non-residents 16+; CDFW also requires species-specific report cards for steelhead and other special species). Standard CDFW annual + short-term + lifetime + reduced-fee options apply.
• Park-specific federal rules under 36 CFR §2.3: California state fishing regulations govern unless overridden. CDFW regularly stocks RAINBOW TROUT + BROOK TROUT in the lake and in some perennial streams during spring and summer to maintain recreational fishing opportunity. Historic stocking of BROWN TROUT and KOKANEE SALMON has left self-sustaining populations of both in the lake. Standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply (no chumming except where state-permitted, no drugs/poisons/explosives/electricity, no commercial fishing except statutorily authorized, immediate-return mandate, no fishing from motor-road bridges or within 200 ft of public rafts/floats/swim beaches/boat docks, no introducing wildlife/fish/plants).
• ESA OVERLAY — Clear Creek anadromous fishery (CRITICAL): lower Clear Creek DOWNSTREAM of Whiskeytown Dam is spawning habitat for two federally-listed ESA-Threatened anadromous fish species — SPRING-RUN CHINOOK SALMON `Oncorhynchus tshawytscha` and CENTRAL VALLEY STEELHEAD TROUT `Oncorhynchus mykiss` (Evolutionary Significant Unit) — both closely monitored by US Fish & Wildlife Service to ensure protection and survival. Verify the current CDFW Central Valley anadromous-fishery regulations (annual booklet + in-season emergency-order shifts) before fishing the Clear Creek tailwater — there are recurring closures, gear restrictions (no take of spring-run chinook), reach-specific season windows, and federal/state coordination on flow releases from Whiskeytown Dam that affect access and spawning windows. DO NOT harvest spring-run chinook or any Central Valley steelhead from Clear Creek without verifying current-year CDFW regulations.
• Anchor species — IN-LAKE: stocked RAINBOW TROUT `Oncorhynchus mykiss` + BROOK TROUT `Salvelinus fontinalis` (CDFW seasonal stocking); naturalized BROWN TROUT `Salmo trutta` + KOKANEE SALMON `Oncorhynchus nerka` (landlocked sockeye, leftover from historic stocking); non-native warmwater introductions GREEN SUNFISH `Lepomis cyanellus`, BLUEGILL `Lepomis macrochirus`, SMALLMOUTH BASS `Micropterus dolomieu`, SPOTTED BASS `Micropterus punctulatus`, LARGEMOUTH BASS `Micropterus salmoides`, BLACK CRAPPIE `Pomoxis nigromaculatus`, BROWN BULLHEAD `Ameiurus nebulosus`, CHANNEL CATFISH `Ictalurus punctatus`. Native non-game species in tributaries: Sacramento sucker, California roach, hardhead, Sacramento pikeminnow, Pacific lamprey, riffle sculpin. Major access via Brandy Creek Beach + Oak Bottom Marina + Whiskey Creek Group Picnic Area.

Whiskeytown NRA fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Washington State freshwater fishing licence is required for anglers age 15 and older. TRIBAL CO-MANAGEMENT OVERLAY (FIRST DUAL-TRIBE NPS RESERVOIR IN CATALOG): anyone fishing from waters adjacent to or from the reservation shoreline should contact the tribes to determine whether an additional tribal permit is required — Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation: (509) 634-2110 + Spokane Tribe of Indians: (509) 625-3511. AIS overlay: mussel-free self-certification form is required for all trailer-launched vessels.

• Park context: Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area protects ~100,390 acres along the 150-mile-long Lake Roosevelt — the reservoir formed by Grand Coulee Dam (completed 1942, Bureau of Reclamation) on the Columbia River in north-central Washington. The lake floods the Columbia River canyon from Grand Coulee Dam upstream to the US/Canada border, plus the lower Spokane River arm. Reservation co-management: the lake's western shoreline borders the Colville Indian Reservation (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation), and the lake's southern Spokane Arm borders the Spokane Indian Reservation (Spokane Tribe of Indians) — tribal jurisdiction applies on / from reservation shoreline waters. The reservoir is operated by the Bureau of Reclamation + Bonneville Power Administration for hydroelectric generation, irrigation, flood control, and recreation; NPS administers surface lands + reservoir surface for recreation. Park HQ: 1008 Crest Drive, Coulee Dam, WA 99116 — (509) 754-7800.
• Licensing: visitors fishing within Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area must follow Washington State (WDFW) freshwater regulations and licensing — anyone age 15 and older must have a personal-use recreational licence valid for freshwater in their possession while fishing. TRIBAL OVERLAY: anyone fishing from waters adjacent to or from the reservation shoreline should contact the tribes to determine whether an additional tribal permit is required — Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation at (509) 634-2110 + Spokane Tribe of Indians at (509) 625-3511. WDFW + the two tribes jointly manage the Lake Roosevelt fishery through a coordinated framework; tribal permits, when applicable, are issued separately by each tribe.
• Park-specific federal rules under 36 CFR §2.3: Washington state fishing regulations govern unless overridden. Bank fishing AUTHORIZED from shore anywhere outside of harbours and designated swim areas — fishing PROHIBITED in harbours and designated swim areas (hooks and fishing line cause injury or drowning). Do NOT put fish remains back into the lake — they take a long time to decompose, resulting in a littered and polluted lake. AIS clean-drain-dry + mussel-free self-certification form required for trailer-launched vessels; quagga + zebra mussels are not yet established in Lake Roosevelt and the certification programme is the primary line of defence. Standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply.
• Anchor species (per NPS — more than 30 species in the reservoir): RAINBOW TROUT `Oncorhynchus mykiss` (acrobatic fighter when hooked; average weight 1-5 lb) — the primary sport-fishing target; WHITE STURGEON `Acipenser transmontanus` — North America's biggest freshwater fish + landlocked behind Grand Coulee Dam since 1942, can grow to 1,800 lb (average weight 100-300 lb); YELLOW PERCH `Perca flavescens` (average 0.3-0.5 lb, transplanted from eastern US, willing biter); LAKE WHITEFISH `Coregonus clupeaformis` (abundant, not generally pursued, caught most often incidentally by trout/kokanee anglers, average 2-3 lb); KOKANEE `Oncorhynchus nerka` (landlocked sockeye salmon, tributary streams provide important spawning grounds, average 1.3 lb); BURBOT `Lota lota` — native freshwater lingcod, has become popular among anglers (average 3-7 lb). Other species: CUTTHROAT TROUT, smallmouth + largemouth BASS, SUNFISH, CARP, NORTHERN PIKE (invasive, removal-encouraged), and BULLHEAD CATFISH.
• Outside-park context: Washington Department of Public Health Fish Consumption Advisory is in effect for Lake Roosevelt (mercury + PCBs + heavy metals from upstream mining legacy and downstream smelter contamination — verify current-year DOH advisory by species + reach before consuming caught fish). NPS-authorized fishing-charter services operate at Lake Roosevelt — verify Commercial Use Authorization status. Major boat launches: Spring Canyon (Grand Coulee end), Kettle Falls (mid-reservoir), Fort Spokane (Spokane Arm confluence), Hawk Creek, Hunters, Gifford. Northern Pike Suppression Programme — WDFW + tribes are actively suppressing the invasive northern pike population in the upper reservoir; pike caught should NOT be released (verify current WDFW guidance on disposal).

Lake Roosevelt NRA fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Colorado fishing licence is required for anglers age 16 and older (children under 16 take full bag + possession limits without a licence). PARK-SPECIFIC §2.3 OVERRIDES per the Superintendent's Compendium include: special LAKE TROUT slot rule on Blue Mesa Reservoir (no bag limit on fish ≤ 32 inches; only 1 fish > 32 inches per day — promotes harvest of small-to-mid LT to protect kokanee population); kokanee snag windows by reservoir (Blue Mesa Nov 1 - Dec 31, Morrow Point + Crystal Sept 1 - Dec 31); kokanee taking PROHIBITED in the Gunnison River east of Lake City Bridge Aug 1 - Oct 31; named no-fish dam tailwater zones; Gunnison River from 200 yd downstream of Crystal Dam through Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP to the North Fork is Colorado GOLD MEDAL + WILD TROUT WATER with artificial-single-hook-only + bait-and-worms-prohibited + all rainbow trout catch-and-release.

• Park context: Curecanti National Recreation Area protects ~43,000 acres along three Bureau of Reclamation reservoirs on the Gunnison River in west-central Colorado — Blue Mesa Reservoir (~9,180 acres, the largest body of water in Colorado), Morrow Point Reservoir, and Crystal Reservoir. The three reservoirs sit immediately UPSTREAM of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park; the Crystal Dam tailwater feeds directly into the Black Canyon NP gorge. Curecanti is jointly identified with Black Canyon NP through the East Portal Road, the Gold Medal Wild Trout Water designation that spans both units, and shared Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) regulations. Blue Mesa Reservoir is the primary kokanee-egg-source water for Colorado state hatcheries — CPW supplies a large number of the kokanee eggs needed to sustain stocked populations in lakes statewide. Park HQ: 102 Elk Creek, Gunnison, CO 81230 — (970) 641-2337 x205.
• Licensing: visitors fishing within Curecanti National Recreation Area must possess a valid Colorado fishing licence per CPW rules. A licence is required for people 16 and older; children under 16 do not need a licence and can take full bag and possession limits. Resident + non-resident + senior + youth + 1-day + 5-day + annual options apply. All fish not kept as part of bag limit must be returned to the water IMMEDIATELY.
• Park-specific overrides — possession limits + season windows per the Curecanti compendium + CPW: (a) BLUE MESA RESERVOIR: LAKE TROUT `Salvelinus namaycush` — no bag limit on fish ≤ 32 inches (81.3 cm); only 1 fish longer than 32 inches per day (PROMOTES harvest of small-to-mid lake trout to protect kokanee population — research indicates the large lake trout population in Blue Mesa is decreasing kokanee salmon fishing and egg production); KOKANEE — 5 daily / 10 possession; CUTTHROAT + BROOK + BROWN + RAINBOW TROUT — 4 daily / 8 possession. (b) EAST PORTAL (Crystal Dam tailwater, accessed via East Portal Road from Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP): BROWN TROUT — 4 daily / 8 possession; RAINBOW TROUT — CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY. (c) KOKANEE SNAG WINDOWS (the only legal snagging windows): Blue Mesa Reservoir Nov 1 - Dec 31; Morrow Point Reservoir Sep 1 - Dec 31; Crystal Reservoir Sep 1 - Dec 31. (d) KOKANEE TAKING PROHIBITED in the Gunnison River east of the Lake City Bridge from Aug 1 - Oct 31 (protects pre-spawn kokanee staging).
• Park-specific overrides — closed waters + Gold Medal reach per the Curecanti compendium: CLOSED WATERS — no fishing in the following dam-tailwater safety zones: from Blue Mesa Dam downstream 225 yards; from Morrow Point Dam downstream 130 yards; from Crystal Dam downstream 200 yards. GOLD MEDAL + WILD TROUT WATER REACH: the Gunnison River from 200 yards downstream of Crystal Dam all the way through Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park to the North Fork is designated Colorado Gold Medal + Wild Trout Water by CPW (the highest CPW designation for trophy-trout-potential waters). Special regulations on the Gold Medal reach: only artificial flies or lures with ONE HOOK (a common-shank single, double, or treble) may be used; the use of lead sinkers and other lead fishing materials is strongly discouraged; BAIT OR WORMS ARE PROHIBITED; ALL RAINBOW TROUT ARE CATCH-AND-RELEASE ONLY; other species can be retained at the possession limit; a Colorado fishing licence is required. (This Gold Medal designation is the same one referenced in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP entry — Curecanti + BLCA are the same Gold Medal reach, jointly managed.)
• Anchor species — IN-RESERVOIR: BROWN, BROOK, LAKE (MACKINAW), and RAINBOW TROUT are plentiful in Blue Mesa Reservoir; KOKANEE SALMON `Oncorhynchus nerka` (CPW state-hatchery egg-source — Blue Mesa is THE source water for Colorado's kokanee egg supply); YELLOW PERCH `Perca flavescens`; SCULPIN; DACE; STICKLEBACKS. Fishing success varies seasonally — early summer ice-out drives strong trout + kokanee bite; late summer + fall drives trophy lake trout deep-jig bite; fall snag windows for spawning kokanee are the marquee event. Boating: each of the three reservoirs has different character + boating opportunities — Blue Mesa is open and wide (best for deep-trolling lake trout + kokanee), Morrow Point + Crystal are narrow steep-walled canyons (best for boat-in bank fishing + scenic float). Special restrictions or closures may be in effect during the rainbow trout spawn — verify the CPW current-year regulations brochure before fishing.

Curecanti NRA fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Mississippi NRRA is the ONLY URBAN-RIVER NPS UNIT IN THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM — a 72-mile Mississippi River corridor through the Twin Cities metropolitan area (Anoka County downstream past Saint Paul to the Dakota County line). It is a PARTNERSHIP PARK — lands inside the NPS-authorized boundary are predominantly owned and managed by Minnesota DNR, regional + city park districts (Three Rivers Park District, Saint Paul Parks, Minneapolis Parks), and private landowners; the NPS itself owns very little of the land. A valid Minnesota DNR fishing licence is required for anglers age 16 through 89 (under 16 + over 90 are exempt) — there is no separate NPS permit and no park-specific Compendium override. All Minnesota DNR open seasons, bag limits, possession limits, gear restrictions, and special-water-body rules apply.

• Park context: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area protects ~54,000 acres along the 72-mile Mississippi River corridor through the Twin Cities metropolitan area (from the north park boundary in Anoka County downstream past Minneapolis + Saint Paul to the Dakota / Washington County line). It is the only NPS unit in the country focused exclusively on a major-city stretch of major river — the urban-river analog to the inland-riverway NPS units (Buffalo NR, Niobrara NSR, Ozark NSR, etc.). The river corridor includes the Saint Anthony Falls historic lock-and-dam district + Pike Island + the confluence with the Minnesota River + the Lower Saint Anthony Falls / Lock & Dam #1 system + nine Mississippi River locks-and-dams operated by USACE. Park HQ: 111 E. Kellogg Blvd., Suite 105, Saint Paul, MN 55101 — (651) 293-0200.
• Partnership-park structure: most lands inside the NPS-authorized boundary are NOT owned by NPS — they are owned + managed by Minnesota DNR (state parks + Wildlife Management Areas + state forests), the Three Rivers Park District (Hennepin County regional parks — Coon Rapids Dam, Fort Snelling, Hidden Falls, etc.), Saint Paul Parks & Recreation, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, and private landowners. NPS coordinates the corridor + provides interpretive programming but defers to the underlying landowner's regulations. Practical implication: state + local park rules apply to the property you stand on; there is no Mississippi NRRA-specific fishing-regulation overlay independent of the underlying jurisdiction.
• Licensing: visitors fishing inside Mississippi NRRA must possess a valid Minnesota DNR licence per state statute. A licence is required age 16 through 89 (under 16 + 90 and over fish without a licence); resident + non-resident + 1-day + 3-day + 7-day + annual + lifetime options apply. Saint Paul resident discount applies for Saint Paul park district waters when policy is in effect — verify Minnesota DNR + Saint Paul Parks & Recreation current rules. Trout stamp + walleye stamp + sturgeon tag (lake sturgeon catch-and-release permit) apply per Minnesota DNR statewide rules.
• Saint Anthony Falls as a fish-migration barrier: Saint Anthony Falls (the original natural waterfall + the modern Saint Anthony Falls Lock & Dam) is the historic upstream limit of fish migration on the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico — many fish species native to the lower river do not occur naturally above the falls. The fish diversity of the river through Minneapolis + Saint Paul + downstream (below the falls) reflects the full lower-Mississippi assemblage; above the falls the fish community is more limited.
• Anchor species (per NPS Fish of the Mississippi River + Minnesota DNR statewide rules): SMALLMOUTH BASS `Micropterus dolomieu`; WHITE BASS `Morone chrysops`; BLUEGILL `Lepomis macrochirus`; BLACK + WHITE CRAPPIE `Pomoxis spp.`; CHANNEL CATFISH `Ictalurus punctatus`; FLATHEAD CATFISH `Pylodictis olivaris`; WALLEYE `Sander vitreus`; SAUGER `Sander canadensis`; NORTHERN PIKE `Esox lucius`; MUSKELLUNGE `Esox masquinongy`; FRESHWATER DRUM (SHEEPSHEAD) `Aplodinotus grunniens`; LONGNOSE GAR `Lepisosteus osseus`; SHOVELNOSE STURGEON `Scaphirhynchus platorynchus` (regulated harvest with tag); LAKE STURGEON `Acipenser fulvescens` — Minnesota DNR catch-and-release programme + return-to-water-immediately + permit required for limited tagged-harvest seasons (verify current-year DNR sturgeon rules before targeting); PADDLEFISH `Polyodon spathula` (rare in this reach, catch-and-release only); SKIPJACK HERRING `Alosa chrysochloris`; AMERICAN EEL `Anguilla rostrata` (returning population). The reach below Saint Anthony Falls hosts 120+ documented fish species — one of the most diverse stretches of the Mississippi River in Minnesota.
• INVASIVE CARP — critical regulatory context: invasive Silver Carp `Hypophthalmichthys molitrix` + Bighead Carp `Hypophthalmichthys nobilis` + Black Carp `Mylopharyngodon piceus` + Grass Carp `Ctenopharyngodon idella` are present (or under monitoring) in the lower reaches of the Mississippi River and represent a major management priority. Minnesota DNR maintains a Mississippi River Invasive Carp Action Plan with Lock & Dam #1 + Lock & Dam #2 as functional upstream-migration barriers. All invasive carp caught must NOT be released — verify Minnesota DNR current-year invasive carp disposal rules + reporting requirements (DNR encourages reporting unusual catches by photo + GPS). AIS Clean-Drain-Dry mandate applies to all trailer-launched vessels site-wide; zebra mussels + Eurasian watermilfoil are established in much of the corridor.
• Public-access reaches with fishing piers + bank access (representative — many more inside the corridor): Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park (Three Rivers Park District), Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, North Mississippi Regional Park (Minneapolis), Boom Island Park (Minneapolis), Hidden Falls Regional Park (Saint Paul), Crosby Farm Regional Park (Saint Paul), Fort Snelling State Park (Minnesota DNR — confluence of Mississippi + Minnesota Rivers), Pike Island, Lilydale Regional Park, Harriet Island, Indian Mounds Regional Park, and downstream into Dakota County. Most public-access reaches are managed by the underlying local + state landowner; visiting anglers should check posted rules at each access for use-fees, parking permits, and any reach-specific overlays (e.g. Fort Snelling State Park reach + Minnesota DNR special-regs reaches).

Mississippi NRRA fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Fishing is allowed anywhere along Little River inside the Preserve with a valid Alabama or Non-Resident Alabama fishing licence. Children under 16 + adults over 65 are exempt from the licence requirement (per Alabama law). PARK-SPECIFIC §2.3 OVERRIDES per the Little River Canyon Compendium: (a) SEINE FISHING + FISHING WITH NETS PROHIBITED site-wide; (b) MOTORIZED BOATS — INCLUDING TROLLING MOTORS — ARE NOT ALLOWED within Little River Canyon National Preserve (the motorized-vessel ban is in part to protect the federally ESA-listed BLUE SHINER `Cyprinella caerulea` endemic minnow population in the canyon).

• Park context: Little River Canyon National Preserve protects ~15,288 acres on Lookout Mountain (the southern terminus of the Sand Mountain / Lookout Mountain plateau of the southern Appalachians) in northeast Alabama (DeKalb + Cherokee counties), centred on Little River — one of the longest mountaintop rivers in the United States (the river forms + flows almost entirely on top of a mountain rather than between mountains). The river drops ~600 ft through Little River Canyon (one of the deepest canyon systems east of the Mississippi River) before joining the Coosa River drainage. The Preserve was authorized 1992 + transferred from US Forest Service / state management to NPS administration. Park HQ: 4322 Little River Trail NE, Suite 100, Fort Payne, AL 35967 — (256) 845-9605.
• Licensing: visitors fishing within Little River Canyon National Preserve must possess a valid Alabama freshwater fishing licence per the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR / WFF — Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division). Resident + non-resident + 7-day non-resident + annual + lifetime + senior + reduced-fee options apply. Children under 16 + adults 65 and over are exempt from the licence requirement under Alabama law (residents only for the over-65 exemption). The Alabama Saltwater Fishing Licence is NOT required (Little River is entirely freshwater, well above any tidal influence).
• Park-specific overrides per the Little River Canyon Preserve Compendium: (a) SEINE FISHING OR FISHING WITH NETS IS NOT PERMITTED anywhere inside the Preserve (overrides Alabama statewide bait-collection rules that may otherwise permit minnow seining); (b) MOTORIZED BOATS — INCLUDING TROLLING MOTORS ON BOATS — ARE NOT ALLOWED within Little River Canyon National Preserve. The motorized-vessel prohibition is partly to protect the federally ESA-listed BLUE SHINER `Cyprinella caerulea` — a small endemic minnow with a distinctive blue stripe along the length of its body, occurring in this drainage; the prohibition reduces disturbance, sedimentation, and propeller-injury risk to the species' habitat. The motorized-vessel prohibition applies even where Alabama statewide regulations would otherwise allow motors. Practical implication: paddle craft (kayak, canoe, packraft, raft) + wading are the only legal in-canyon angler approaches.
• Anchor species: the popular target inside the Preserve is REDEYE BASS `Micropterus coosae` — a southern-Appalachian black-bass species native to the Coosa River drainage that reaches up to ~17 inches in length, distinguished by its red eye and a small tooth patch on the tongue (the latter is a diagnostic identifier separating Redeye Bass from similar-looking Spotted Bass and Largemouth). CANYON MOUTH PARK is widely cited as the best fly-fishing reach inside the Preserve (the clear water + accessible bank make it the primary fly destination). Other species present in the river system: spotted bass + largemouth bass (lower / impounded reaches), bluegill + redbreast sunfish + longear sunfish (Lookout Mountain panfish), channel catfish, gar (longnose), and the ESA-listed BLUE SHINER `Cyprinella caerulea` + several other native cyprinid minnows + darters endemic to the Coosa River drainage. Targeting the Blue Shiner is prohibited under the federal Endangered Species Act.
• Access reaches inside the Preserve: Canyon Mouth Park (south end — primary fly-fishing reach + day-use); Little River Falls (the marquee 45-ft waterfall at the head of the canyon — overlooks + plunge-pool reach); Eberhart Point / Wolf Creek Overlook (rim-trail access); Hawks Glide / Mushroom Rock / Crow Point rim overlooks (no fishing — overlook-only); + numerous unmarked rim + canyon-floor approaches. The Preserve abuts DeSoto State Park (Alabama State Parks — administered by Alabama State Parks Division, separate fishing fees + park-day-use fee may apply) at the head of the canyon. The full Little River drainage flows out of the Preserve at its south end and continues into the Coosa River system via Weiss Lake (the Cherokee-County impoundment on the Coosa River below the canyon — Weiss Lake is NOT inside the Preserve and follows Alabama-statewide reservoir rules, including outboard motors allowed).

Little River Canyon NPRES fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: All persons fishing in Gauley River National Recreation Area are required to have a valid West Virginia DNR fishing licence. Year-long + 3-day non-resident tourist licences are sold at WV-licensed sporting-goods stores + bait shops + WV DNR online. Standard West Virginia statewide season + bag + size + gear rules apply (no NPS-specific Compendium override). Much of the land within the NPS-authorized boundary remains PRIVATE PROPERTY — anglers must respect landowner rights and seek permission for any access that crosses private parcels.

• Park context: Gauley River National Recreation Area protects ~11,500 acres along ~25 miles of the Gauley River + the lower 5.5 miles of the Meadow River below Summersville Dam in southern West Virginia (Nicholas + Fayette counties). The unit was authorized 1988 (alongside the New River Gorge designation). The Gauley River downstream of Summersville Dam — operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers (Huntington District) — is one of the most internationally renowned whitewater-rafting reaches in North America during the annual GAULEY SEASON drawdown (the controlled-release period each fall when USACE lowers Summersville Lake — generating the legendary Class IV-V Upper + Lower Gauley whitewater). Outside of the controlled-release window, the river runs as a tailwater. Park HQ: P.O. Box 246, Glen Jean, WV 25846-0246 — (304) 465-0508.
• Land-ownership context — much of the land within the NPS-authorized boundary remains private property: the NPS-authorized boundary of Gauley River NRA encompasses substantial acreage that is not federally owned. NPS administers river-access points + public corridors, but stream banks + ridge land + adjoining parcels are frequently in private title. Anglers MUST seek permission before crossing private property to access the river. Public-access reaches are limited (see access list below) — outside those public reaches, expect private land.
• Licensing: visitors fishing within Gauley River National Recreation Area must possess a valid West Virginia fishing licence per WV Division of Natural Resources (WV DNR) rules. Resident + non-resident + 1-day + 3-day non-resident tourist + annual + senior + reduced-fee + lifetime options apply. Children under 15 fish without a licence. Trout stamp (state + national-forest stamp) required for trout-water fishing per WV DNR rules. Licences are sold at WV-DNR-licensed sporting-goods stores + bait shops + online via WV DNR Go Wild! licensing system.
• Anchor species (per NPS): TROUT (rainbow + brown + native brook in tributaries; WV DNR stocks rainbow + brown trout in the cold-water tailwater released from Summersville Dam — see WV DNR stocking schedule for current-year reach + dates); SMALLMOUTH BASS `Micropterus dolomieu` (the primary warm-water target in mid-river + lower reaches once water warms); WALLEYE `Sander vitreus`; MUSKELLUNGE `Esox masquinongy` (the Gauley + nearby Greenbrier River system is part of West Virginia's notable musky fishery). Spring + fall are the best seasonal windows — water temperatures transition between winter cold and summer warm, and species are more aggressively feeding in cool water. Early morning + late evening are the best times of day to fish; some species feed at night, providing additional night-fishing opportunity.
• Public river-access points inside the NRA (per NPS): GAULEY TAILWATERS (the take-out immediately downstream of Summersville Dam — primary trout reach during cold-water release); MASONS BRANCH (mid-river access — primary whitewater take-out + bank reach); WOODS FERRY (lower-river access — whitewater put-in for the Lower Gauley + lower-river smallmouth reach). Outside these named public access points, river access typically crosses private property — secure landowner permission first. Nearby NPS-affiliated fishing waters: NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK & PRESERVE (immediately south), BLUESTONE NATIONAL SCENIC RIVER (the next NPS river south), MEADOW RIVER (a Gauley tributary partially inside the NRA), GREENBRIER RIVER (the storied smallmouth + musky river), BLUESTONE LAKE + SUMMERSVILLE LAKE (USACE reservoirs — Summersville Lake immediately upstream of the NRA, Bluestone Lake further south on the New River drainage).
• Fish-consumption advisories — WV DNR + WV DHHR: for health + safety, anglers should adhere to West Virginia published fish-consumption advisories. Advisories are published annually in the WV DNR fishing-regulations summary and separately by the West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources (WV DHHR). Verify current-year species + reach-specific mercury / PCB advisories on the WV DNR + WV DHHR public web pages before consuming caught fish.
• Whitewater + fishing-season interaction: during the annual GAULEY SEASON controlled-release window each fall (typically 6 weekends Sept-Oct, dates set annually by USACE Huntington District), the river runs at high flow that is NOT compatible with fishing on the Upper + Lower Gauley reaches — anglers should plan around the controlled-release calendar (published annually by USACE) and target the river outside the release window OR target the cold-water tailwater immediately below Summersville Dam where flow is generation-driven year-round. Safety: ALWAYS WEAR A LIFE JACKET around the river; never drink alcohol while fishing; remain seated while in a boat; never fish alone; do not wade in water above your knees; fish at least 100 feet away from any boat launch.

Gauley River NRA fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Texas fishing licence is required to fish in the Preserve, except for children under 17 (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department licence framework applies). PARK-SPECIFIC §2.3 ENABLER per the Big Thicket Compendium: the possession or use of LIVE or DEAD MINNOWS or other BAITFISH + non-preserved FISH EGGS or ROE is PERMITTED in all freshwater areas of the preserve (in accordance with the provisions of Texas state law — justification: Big Thicket waterways already contain baitfish species typically offered locally so continued use wouldn't significantly impact the resource). Fishing is allowed in all of Big Thicket's waterways, lakes, and ponds; recommended waterways are the Neches River, Village Creek, Turkey Creek, and Pine Island Bayou.

• Park context: Big Thicket National Preserve protects ~113,000+ acres of biological-crossroads habitat in southeast Texas (Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Orange, Polk, and Tyler counties — north of Beaumont, TX). The Preserve was authorized 1974 as the first National Preserve in the National Park System — a new NPS designation explicitly enabling continued hunting + fishing + traditional consumptive use alongside conservation. Big Thicket protects the convergence of southern Appalachian + Central Plains + Eastern hardwood + southeastern coastal-plain ecosystems — one of the most biodiverse non-tropical regions in North America. Park HQ: 6044 FM 420, Kountze, TX 77625 — (409) 951-6700.
• Licensing: visitors fishing within Big Thicket National Preserve must possess a valid Texas freshwater fishing licence per Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) rules. Children under 17 do not require a licence; resident + non-resident + 1-day + annual + senior + lifetime + disabled-veteran options apply. The Texas Freshwater Fishing Endorsement (combined with the base licence) is the standard package for Big Thicket waters. Saltwater licence + Saltwater Endorsement is NOT required — Big Thicket waterways are inland-freshwater (the Neches River below the Preserve is tidal but tidal reaches begin well downstream of the Preserve boundary).
• Park-specific §2.3 enabler per the Big Thicket Compendium: the possession or use of LIVE OR DEAD MINNOWS OR OTHER BAITFISH, AND non-preserved FISH EGGS OR ROE, IS PERMITTED in all freshwater areas of the preserve (in accordance with the provisions of State law). NPS justification: Big Thicket waterways already contain baitfish species typically offered locally so continued use wouldn't significantly impact the resource. This is a documented §2.3 enabler — many NPS units default to a baitfish prohibition unless the compendium opens it; Big Thicket has explicitly opened it. All other NPS fishing regulations are deferred to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department state law (`36 CFR 2.3(a)` — state regulations apply unless a federal regulation supersedes — Big Thicket has no federal-supersession beyond the baitfish enabler).
• FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES — Texas DSHS + TPWD — REACH-SPECIFIC: Big Thicket waters carry mercury + dioxin advisories that anglers must verify before consuming caught fish. (a) Neches River (within the Preserve) — DUE TO PRESENCE OF DIOXINS + UNHEALTHY LEVELS OF MERCURY — DO NOT EAT for women of childbearing age + children under 12 (all species listed); limited consumption (1-2 eight-ounce servings/month) for women past childbearing age + adult men: Blue catfish > 30 inches (2 servings/mo), Flathead catfish (1 serving/mo), Gar (all species) (1 serving/mo), Largemouth bass > 16 inches (2 servings/mo), Smallmouth buffalo (DO NOT EAT — both demographics), Spotted bass > 16 inches (2 servings/mo). (b) Village Creek (within the Preserve) — DUE TO UNHEALTHY LEVELS OF MERCURY — DO NOT EAT for women who are nursing, pregnant, or may become pregnant + children under 12; limited consumption (2 four-ounce servings/month + 2 eight-ounce servings/month for adults respectively) for Crappie, Gar (all species), Largemouth bass. Verify current-year advisories with TPWD + Texas Department of State Health Services.
• Anchor species + recommended waterways: the four marquee Big Thicket fishing waters are the NECHES RIVER (main north-south corridor — large blue + flathead catfish, largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, gar, white bass, freshwater drum); VILLAGE CREEK (clear-water blackwater tributary — popular with kayak + canoe anglers — crappie + bass + bream + gar); TURKEY CREEK (smaller tributary — bream + bass); PINE ISLAND BAYOU (slow-water bayou — bream + bass + gar + crappie). Boat launches + day-use areas in the Beaumont Unit are the recommended fishing-access concentration. Wider species assemblage includes channel catfish, redear sunfish (shellcracker), bluegill, longear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, bowfin (grinnel), bowfin spotted gar, longnose gar, alligator gar (regulated trophy species under TPWD), and the alligator-coexistence consideration (American alligators native + abundant in Big Thicket sloughs + bayous — exercise standard alligator-coexistence caution).
• Aquatic invasive species + Clean-Drain-Dry: Big Thicket NPS calls out Zebra mussel, common salvinia, giant salvinia, alligator weed, water hyacinth, crested floating-heart as the priority invasive watch-list. Clean-Drain-Dry your boat after use — applies to kayaks + canoes + powered boats. Drain all retained water. Verify TPWD exotic-aquatic-species rules before transporting bait or moving between waterways.

Big Thicket NPRES fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A valid Florida freshwater (or saltwater, in the brackish tidal southern reaches) fishing licence is required to fish in Big Cypress National Preserve per Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rules. Big Cypress is a NATIONAL PRESERVE — a designation that explicitly preserves continued sport + traditional consumptive use (hunting, fishing, ORV access, oil-and-gas inholdings, Miccosukee + Seminole tribal traditional use) alongside conservation. The NPS has not published a separate fishing-regulation compendium beyond the FWC state framework — anglers default to Florida statewide rules. Note: Big Cypress is home to 66 documented species of fresh and saltwater fish including the well-known Florida Gar + Bowfin + Eastern Mosquitofish + the invasive Orinoco Sailfin Catfish.

• Park context: Big Cypress National Preserve protects ~729,000 acres of freshwater swamp + cypress dome + wet prairie + slough habitat in south Florida (Collier, Miami-Dade, Monroe counties) — IMMEDIATELY NORTH of Everglades National Park and forming the critical Big Cypress / Everglades hydrologic + ecological continuum. Authorized 1974 (same year + same enabling legislation as Big Thicket NPRES — both the first National Preserves in the National Park System, explicitly authorizing continued hunting + fishing + traditional consumptive use). Big Cypress straddles Tamiami Trail (US-41) east of Naples + south of I-75 (Alligator Alley). Park HQ: 33100 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, FL 34141 — (239) 695-2000.
• Licensing: visitors fishing within Big Cypress National Preserve must possess a valid Florida fishing licence per FWC rules. The applicable licence depends on water type: FRESHWATER in the interior swamp + slough + cypress dome system (most of the Preserve); SALTWATER (or freshwater-saltwater combination) in the tidal southern reaches near the Ten Thousand Islands / Gulf Coast boundary. Resident + non-resident + 3-day + 7-day + annual + lifetime + senior + military + disabled options apply. Children under 16 + adults 65+ (FL residents only) are exempt under Florida law from the licence requirement (verify FWC current-year exemption list before fishing without a licence).
• Species inventory (NPS Big Cypress fish-page documents): FLORIDA GAR `Lepisosteus platyrhincus` — 1.1-2.8 feet long, olive-brown with dark irregular spots, females grow larger than males; common across lakes/streams/canals with muddy or sandy bottoms + underwater vegetation. BOWFIN `Amia calva` — primitive air-breathing fish, 1.5-2.5 feet, mottled olive with pale underbelly, adult males have a black-spot-rimmed-with-orange at base of tail; thrives in poorly oxygenated swamp water near vegetation. EASTERN MOSQUITOFISH `Gambusia holbrooki` — the most common freshwater fish in Florida, ~2-3 inches, silver-to-forest-green with pale belly + cross-hatched-look from dark scale outlining + distinctly upturned mouth; live-bearers (40-60 offspring per pregnancy). ORINOCO SAILFIN CATFISH `Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus` — INVASIVE, native to South America, likely introduced via aquarium-trade escapes or releases; >1.6 ft, gold with dark irregular spots + large sail-like dorsal fin + suction-cup mouth on underside of head; feeds on detritus + algae from surfaces. Wider Big Cypress fish assemblage (66 species documented) includes additional freshwater + saltwater species across the swamp + brackish-southern-tidal gradient.
• NATIONAL PRESERVE designation context: Big Cypress + Big Thicket were the FIRST two National Preserves in the NPS system (both authorized 1974). The Preserve designation explicitly authorizes continued HUNTING + SPORT FISHING + ORV access + private inholdings + oil-and-gas leases + tribal traditional use alongside the conservation mandate — a hybrid framework distinct from the strict-conservation National Park. For anglers, the practical effect is that Big Cypress is open to the FWC Florida statewide sport-fishery framework with limited NPS-superseding rules — quite distinct from the more restrictive Everglades National Park immediately to the south (Everglades NP has additional NPS-specific overrides on saltwater + freshwater fishing that do NOT apply at Big Cypress).
• Tribal-traditional-use overlay: portions of Big Cypress are within or immediately adjacent to lands of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida + the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Tribal traditional use (hunting, fishing, ceremonial harvest) is reserved under the Big Cypress enabling legislation + the Miccosukee + Seminole Indian Land Settlement Acts. Visiting anglers should respect tribal land boundaries + acquire tribal permits separately where access crosses Miccosukee or Seminole reservation land. Verify current Miccosukee + Seminole tribal fishing-permit requirements before fishing tribal-jurisdiction waters.
• Practical fishing approach: most Big Cypress fishing is bank + canoe + kayak based in the slough + cypress-dome interior — the Tamiami Trail canal corridor is the highest-traffic fishing reach, with bank access from US-41 turnouts + designated access points. The Loop Road (Loop Road Scenic Byway, FL 94) provides a slower-paced canal-side access reach. Alligators are abundant + native to all interior swamp + canal water — exercise standard alligator-coexistence caution (do not feed; keep children + pets out of water margins; do not clean fish or leave fish remains at water's edge). Sun + insect protection are critical (mosquitoes + biting flies abundant in the warm months).

Big Cypress NPRES fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: Sport AND subsistence fishing are both PERMITTED in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. Anglers must follow STATE (Alaska Department of Fish & Game) AND FEDERAL fishing regulations. A valid Alaska sport-fishing licence is required for sport fishing under ADF&G rules; federally-qualified rural Alaska residents may fish under federal subsistence rules per the Federal Subsistence Board Yukon-Charley framework. FLOAT PLAN STRONGLY RECOMMENDED — file a voluntary float plan with the Preserve + a friend or family member before trips on the Yukon or its tributaries (remote, no road or cell coverage across most of the unit).

• Park context: Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve protects ~2.5 million acres along 115 miles of the Yukon River + 88 miles of the Charley River in interior east-central Alaska (Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, near the US/Canada Yukon Territory border). Authorized 1980 by ANILCA (Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act). Centered on the historic Eagle, AK / Fortymile mining district + the Charley River drainage (one of Alaska's premier wild rivers — a Wild and Scenic River-eligible system fully protected within the Preserve). Park HQ: 101 Dunkel St., Suite 110, Fairbanks, AK 99701 — (907) 459-3730. Fully fly-in / boat-in unit — no road access into the Preserve itself; access from the village of EAGLE, AK on the Taylor Highway (the Yukon River put-in) or by float plane.
• National Preserve + ANILCA designation context: Yukon-Charley Rivers is a National PRESERVE (not National PARK) — the ANILCA Preserve designation explicitly authorizes continued SPORT HUNTING + SPORT FISHING + SUBSISTENCE HARVEST + airboat/snowmobile/motorized-vehicle access for traditional + customary use alongside conservation. Practical implication: anglers fish under the Alaska state ADF&G sport-fishing framework + federally-qualified subsistence users fish under the federal Subsistence Board framework — both are reserved under ANILCA. Subsistence rules differ from sport rules on bag/size/season/gear — verify Federal Subsistence Board + ADF&G current rules before fishing.
• Licensing: sport anglers must possess a valid Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) sport-fishing licence — resident + non-resident + 1-day + 3-day + 7-day + 14-day + annual + senior (60+ AK resident, free) + military + disabled options apply. King Salmon Stamp + the new ADF&G additional stamps may be required by species + reach. Sport-fishing licences may be purchased at a local licence vendor in Eagle, AK (the gateway community to the Preserve), by mail from ADF&G (P.O. Box 25525, Juneau, AK 99802-5525), or online via ADF&G Online Licensing. For federally-qualified subsistence harvest, the Federal Subsistence Board rules apply — these are typically reserved to rural-Alaska residents per the ANILCA framework.
• Anchor species (per NPS): commonly caught species — ARCTIC GRAYLING `Thymallus arcticus` (the marquee subarctic sport fish, clear tributary specialist with iconic sail dorsal fin), NORTHERN PIKE `Esox lucius` (slow-water side-channels + sloughs), SHEEFISH (INCONNU) `Stenodus leucichthys` (the 'tarpon of the north' — large anadromous whitefish-relative running into Yukon tributaries), BURBOT `Lota lota` (native freshwater cod, target species, winter through-ice and summer trotline), WHITEFISH spp. (broad whitefish, humpback whitefish, round whitefish). Other species present but rarely caught: arctic lamprey, least cisco, arctic cisco, Dolly Varden char, lake chub, longnose suckers, slimy sculpin.
• Yukon River silt-laden mainstem vs. clear tributary strategy: the Yukon River mainstem is a BROWN, SILT-LADEN RIVER in summer (glacial flour + sediment carried from upstream Wrangell + Saint Elias glaciers + erosion) — sport-fish success on the silty mainstem is generally low. Anglers find the best fishing at MOUTHS of, or UP, clear-flowing TRIBUTARIES of the Yukon. The main fishable tributaries inside the Preserve are the TATONDUK RIVER, NATION RIVER, KANDIK RIVER, and CHARLEY RIVER (the Preserve's namesake tributary). Each tributary is clear-water year-round (silt-free) and supports the marquee grayling + pike + sheefish + burbot sport assemblage.
• Float plan strongly recommended: for visitor safety in this remote, no-cell, no-road, no-road-rescue Preserve, NPS strongly recommends filing a voluntary FLOAT PLAN with the Preserve + a friend or family member before any river trip on the Yukon or its tributaries. Standard backcountry-Alaska considerations apply: bear-aware food storage, fish-cleaning + fish-remains-disposal protocols away from camp, SAT communicator + emergency-beacon recommended (no cell coverage), self-rescue capacity required (no road-based rescue resources within ~100 miles of most reaches). Charter pilots from Fairbanks + Eagle support fly-in / fly-out trips on the Charley + Kandik + Nation Rivers.

Yukon-Charley Rivers NPRES fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: NO Washington state fishing licence is required to fish inside Mount Rainier — but a Washington State catch record card IS required to fish for salmon or steelhead. Park-specific stream and lake regulations apply on top of the no-licence baseline.

• Streams: all native fish (bull trout, cutthroat, native rainbow) are catch-and-release with single barbless hooks; all non-native fish (eastern brook trout, kokanee salmon outside lakes) must be retained — anglers are explicitly asked to remove non-natives to restore native populations. There are no daily creel limits on non-native fish.
• Closed-to-fishing streams (water-supply protection): Klickitat Creek above Sunrise Road, Ipsut Creek above the campground intake, Laughingwater Creek above the Ohanapecosh intake, Edith Creek above Paradise. Closed to protect federally-listed bull trout: Fryingpan Creek above the confluence with the White River.
• Lakes: open year-round with NO daily or annual catch limits, except Tipsoo / Shadow / Reflection (riparian protection) and Frozen / Ghost (water supply) are closed entirely. Eastern brook trout is the most common species in park lakes.
• Read the Mount Rainier National Park Fish Regulations Pamphlet before fishing — it carries the full per-stream + per-lake retention table and the closed-water map.

Mount Rainier fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: NO Oregon state fishing licence is required to fish inside Crater Lake National Park. The park has no native fish in Crater Lake itself — only the stocked rainbow trout and kokanee salmon — so anglers are actively encouraged to keep their catch with no possession limit on those two species.

• Crater Lake itself: kokanee salmon and rainbow trout (both introduced) — no possession limit, no minimum size, retain anything you catch.
• Park streams: native bull trout is federally threatened — bull trout caught in any stream MUST be released immediately; only brook trout and brown trout may be retained from streams.
• Gear restriction: only non-organic artificial lures may be used (no bait, no chum, no scented soft-plastic) — designed to prevent introduction of non-native organisms into the lake and streams.
• Lake access: Cleetwood Cove Trail is the ONLY legal access to the lake itself — 1.1 miles each way with 700+ feet of elevation change; carry-in/carry-out only. Trail is closed seasonally (typically mid-October through mid-June).

Crater Lake fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: NO Michigan fishing licence is required to fish Isle Royale's interior lakes. A Michigan fishing licence IS required for Lake Superior waters of the park. Park-specific NPS bait, gear, and species rules override Michigan rules in both zones.

• Two-zone licensing: interior lakes need no state licence (NPS rule covers all of it); Lake Superior portion of the park (including all park bays and harbors) requires a Michigan state fishing licence with the appropriate species endorsements.
• Coaster brook trout are CATCH-AND-RELEASE ONLY in every water of the park — Lake Superior and interior — overriding any Michigan creel allowance. The coaster brook trout population is the marquee Isle Royale conservation fishery and is being actively rebuilt; treat any brook trout caught in park waters as a release-only fish.
• Aquatic invasive species (AIS) controls: clean and dry all gear and change line spools when moving between Lake Superior and interior lakes — Isle Royale's interior lakes remain one of the few intact native-fish systems in the Great Lakes basin and the park asks anglers to treat each system as a separate watershed.
• Fish-consumption advisories apply to certain park-caught fish; consult the NPS Transport & Consumption guidance before retaining fish for the mainland. Live-bait restrictions apply on interior lakes — confirm current park rules before leaving the dock.

Isle Royale fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: NO Texas state fishing licence is required inside Big Bend National Park — but a free NPS fishing permit (issued at any open visitor center during normal business hours) IS required. A Texas state licence IS required on the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River stretches outside the park boundary.

• Open waters are the Rio Grande only; certain ponds and springs reserved for endangered desert fish are CLOSED — no take or release of any fish in those waters. Season is open year-round on the Rio Grande inside the park.
• Daily and possession limit is 25 fish per person per day inside Big Bend National Park (bait minnows excluded from the limit); Texas state limits apply on the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River reaches outside the park.
• Legal methods are pole-and-line, rod-reel-and-line, throw (hand) line, and trot line (max 50 hooks, set ≥ 3 ft below the surface, gear tag with name/address/date required, checked at least every 24 hours). Jug lines, traps, spears, nets, chumming, and any unlisted method are PROHIBITED in the park — jug lines are legal only on the Wild & Scenic River outside park boundaries.
• Bait restriction: terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates (worms, larval insects, other non-fish life forms) are PROTECTED in the park and may not be collected. Live bait is prohibited except for minnows obtained from the Rio Grande within the park or within the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River — bring no outside bait.

Big Bend fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: NO Kentucky state fishing licence or permit is required within the boundary of Mammoth Cave National Park. Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife size and possession limits DO apply to all fish caught in the park.

• Primary fishery is the Green River — destination water for smallmouth bass, muskellunge, catfish, and panfish; the river also holds more species of native freshwater mussels than any other river in North America (seven are federally endangered — DO NOT touch, collect, or possess live mussels or shells anywhere in the park).
• Live bait rules vary by water: in Sloans Crossing Pond, Green Pond, Doyle Pond, and First Creek Lake only worms may be used as live bait; in all other park waters live minnows and worms are both permitted — practice Leave No Trace and pack out excess bait.
• Seining for bait minnows and crawfish is allowed only in 12 named small creeks (Bylew, First, Second, Pine, Cub Run, Buffalo, Ugly, Mill Branch, Floating Mill Branch, Dry Branch, Big Hollow, Blowing Spring) with seines ≤ 4×6 ft and mesh ≤ ¼ inch. Trotlines allowed but limited to two per person, 50 hooks max, hooks ≥ 30 in apart, set ≥ 3 ft below the surface, checked every 24 hours; jugging and limb-line (set-line) fishing are PROHIBITED parkwide.
• All Kentucky waters are under a statewide mercury fish-consumption advisory — consult KDFW for per-species and per-water consumption guidelines, particularly for larger predator fish from the Green River. Check the Green River gauge at NWS Louisville / Ohio River Forecast Center before a trip; the river can rise rapidly after upstream rain.

Mammoth Cave fishing license page →·Official source: nps.gov

Rule: A Crow Tribe fishing permit is REQUIRED to fish reservation waters. A Montana state licence is NOT honored on tribal water.

• Permits are issued by the Crow Tribe Fish & Game Department in Crow Agency, MT.
• Bighorn Lake (Bighorn Canyon NRA) crosses the reservation boundary — the controlling licence depends on which side of the line you are casting from.
• Tribal permit fees, durations, and limits are set by the tribe and may change year to year. Always confirm before traveling.

Crow fishing license page →·Official source: crow-nsn.gov

Rule: A Wind River Tribal fishing permit (Shoshone & Arapaho Joint Tribal Fish & Game) is REQUIRED. A Wyoming state licence is NOT honored on tribal water.

• Permits are issued by the Joint Tribal Fish & Game Department in Fort Washakie, WY.
• Reservation includes most of the upper Wind River drainage and the southern slope of the Wind River Range — including several high-country trout lakes that draw destination anglers.
• Some streams cross in and out of reservation boundaries; verify the line before fishing.

Wind River fishing license page →·Official source: windriverfishandgame.com

Rule: A Navajo Nation fishing permit (issued by Navajo Nation Department of Fish & Wildlife) is REQUIRED. State licences (AZ, NM, UT) are NOT valid on Navajo Nation lakes.

• Permitted waters include Wheatfields Lake, Tsaile Lake, Pine Lake, Lake Many Farms, and others across the reservation in three states.
• Permit durations include 1-day, multi-day, and annual options sold by Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation outlets and online.
• Camping permits and reservation entry permits are issued separately from the fishing permit.

Navajo Nation fishing license page →·Official source: nndfw.org

Rule: A White Mountain Apache tribal fishing permit is REQUIRED. An Arizona state licence is NOT honored on the reservation.

• Permitted waters include Hawley Lake, Sunrise Lake, Christmas Tree Lake (special trophy rules), and several stream miles of the White and Black Rivers.
• Permits sold by the WMAT Game & Fish Department in Whiteriver, AZ and at licensed outdoor outfitters around the reservation.
• Some waters (Christmas Tree Lake, etc.) have additional special-use permits and reservation requirements on top of the base permit.

White Mountain Apache fishing license page →·Official source: wmatoutdoor.org

Rule: Non-tribal-member anglers must purchase a Yakama Nation fishing permit to fish open reservation waters. Washington state licence is NOT valid on the reservation.

• A portion of the reservation is closed to non-tribal-member fishing entirely; only specifically opened waters may be fished by non-members under permit.
• Permits are issued through the Yakama Nation Fisheries Resource Management Program.
• Off-reservation treaty fishing rights for Yakama members are coordinated with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC).

Yakama fishing license page →·Official source: yakamafish-nsn.gov

Rule: On National Forest land, the licence of the state in which the water sits is the controlling document — there is no Forest Service fishing permit.

• All National Forest waters defer to the state agency's fishing regulations: state season windows, state bag limits, state stamps.
• Site-specific use fees (boat launch, day-use parking) may apply at developed recreation sites — these are use fees, not fishing permits.
• Wilderness areas inside a National Forest may have additional restrictions on motorized boats, bait, or stocking — check the local Ranger District before a trip.

National Forests fishing license page →·Official source: fs.usda.gov

Rule: Fishing in Pisgah National Forest runs on a North Carolina fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission sets the trout seasons and the Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, and Catch-and-Release stream classifications inside the forest.

• The Davidson River is one of the Southeast's best-known wild and stocked trout streams; sections carry Catch-and-Release, Artificial-Lures-Only special regulations set by North Carolina.
• Trout-water classifications (Hatchery Supported, Wild, Delayed Harvest) change the season and tackle rules stream-by-stream — read the NC trout regulations for the exact reach before you fish.
• A North Carolina fishing licence with the inland trout privilege is required on classified trout waters; there is no separate Forest Service fishing fee.

Pisgah NF fishing license page →·Official source: ncwildlife.org

Rule: Fishing in Nantahala National Forest runs on a North Carolina fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission sets the seasons, limits, and trout-water classifications inside the forest.

• The Nantahala River below the powerhouse holds a popular Delayed Harvest trout section with seasonal Catch-and-Release, Artificial-Only rules set by North Carolina.
• Standing Indian and the upper Nantahala drainage hold wild trout; Lake Nantahala and Lake Santeetlah add reservoir bass, walleye, and panfish under the standard NC licence.
• The inland trout privilege is required on classified trout waters; confirm the current classification for your exact stream reach in the NC trout regulations.

Nantahala NF fishing license page →·Official source: ncwildlife.org

Rule: Fishing in the White Mountain National Forest runs on the host state's licence — New Hampshire on the NH side, Maine on the small Maine portion — because the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit.

• Most of the forest is in New Hampshire; the Maine portion (around the Wild River and Evans Notch) is fished on a Maine licence — check which side of the state line your water sits on.
• The Swift, Saco, Pemigewasset, and Ammonoosuc rivers hold stocked and wild brook, brown, and rainbow trout; New Hampshire sets the seasons and limits.
• Remote backcountry ponds in the forest can carry special fly-fishing-only or reduced-limit rules — read the host state's regulations for the specific water.

White Mountain NF fishing license page →·Official source: wildlife.state.nh.us

Rule: Fishing in the Green Mountain National Forest runs on a Vermont fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. Vermont Fish & Wildlife sets the seasons, limits, and any special-regulation reaches inside the forest.

• The White River and its tributaries hold wild brook, brown, and rainbow trout; the Battenkill headwaters near the forest are a storied wild-trout fishery.
• Vermont's general trout season and a handful of special-regulation (artificial-only / catch-and-release) reaches apply — read the current Vermont regulations for your stream.
• High-elevation ponds reachable from forest trails can hold stocked brook trout and are covered by the standard Vermont licence.

Green Mountain NF fishing license page →·Official source: vtfishandwildlife.com

Rule: Fishing in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest runs on a Georgia fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. Georgia's Wildlife Resources Division sets the trout seasons, limits, and special-regulation streams inside the forest.

• The headwaters of the Chattahoochee River and the Chattooga Wild & Scenic River hold wild and stocked trout; Dukes Creek is a well-known artificial-lure, catch-and-release trophy stream.
• A Georgia trout licence (in addition to the base fishing licence) is required to fish for or possess trout; some streams are seasonal.
• Mountain lakes such as Lake Winfield Scott and Lake Conasauga add stocked trout and panfish under the standard Georgia licence.

Chattahoochee NF fishing license page →·Official source: georgiawildlife.com

Rule: Fishing in the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests runs on the host state's licence — Virginia on the Virginia side, West Virginia on the West Virginia side — because the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit.

• The forests hold extensive native brook-trout headwaters; Virginia and West Virginia each set their own wild-trout and special-regulation (catch-and-release, single-hook artificial) stream rules.
• A trout licence or stamp is required in addition to the base fishing licence on most stocked and designated trout waters — check the host state's regulations.
• Larger rivers bordering the forests (the James, Jackson, and South Fork Shenandoah) add smallmouth bass under the standard state licence.

GW-Jefferson NF fishing license page →·Official source: dwr.virginia.gov

Rule: Fishing in the Tongass National Forest — the largest national forest in the United States — runs on an Alaska fishing licence. The US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit; the Alaska Department of Fish & Game sets the seasons, bag limits, and any emergency in-season orders.

• Southeast Alaska's Tongass holds all five Pacific salmon, steelhead, cutthroat and Dolly Varden, plus saltwater access to halibut and rockfish; ADF&G manages each by area and run.
• King salmon and steelhead are tightly regulated and subject to emergency closures — always check the current ADF&G area regulations and emergency orders before fishing.
• Many famous streams are reached only by floatplane or boat; a nonresident Alaska licence (and king-salmon stamp where required) is needed on top of any lodge or guide arrangement.

Tongass NF fishing license page →·Official source: adfg.alaska.gov

Rule: Fishing in the Coconino National Forest runs on an Arizona fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. The Arizona Game & Fish Department sets the seasons, limits, and stocking schedule for the forest's streams and lakes.

• Oak Creek and its West Fork hold wild and stocked trout in a deep red-rock canyon; AZGFD stocks rainbow trout seasonally.
• High-country lakes near Flagstaff — Upper and Lower Lake Mary, Ashurst Lake, and Mormon Lake — add stocked trout, northern pike, and warmwater species under the standard Arizona licence.
• Some waters are AZGFD-stocked seasonal fisheries with their own rules; check the current Arizona regulations for the specific water before you fish.

Coconino NF fishing license page →·Official source: azgfd.com

Rule: Fishing in the Angeles National Forest runs on a California fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. The California Department of Fish & Wildlife sets the seasons, limits, and special-regulation reaches inside the forest.

• The West Fork of the San Gabriel River above Cogswell Dam is a designated Wild Trout water with catch-and-release, barbless artificial-only rules set by CDFW.
• Lower-elevation reaches and Crystal Lake are stocked with rainbow trout and fished under the general California licence and statewide trout rules.
• A National Forest Adventure Pass may be required to park at developed trailheads — that is a parking fee, not a fishing permit.

Angeles NF fishing license page →·Official source: wildlife.ca.gov

Rule: Fishing in the Superior National Forest — home to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — runs on a Minnesota fishing licence. The US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit; the Minnesota DNR sets the seasons, limits, and any lake-specific special regulations.

• The Boundary Waters' thousands of lakes hold walleye, lake trout, smallmouth bass, and northern pike; the Minnesota DNR sets statewide and some lake-specific limits.
• A BWCAW overnight or day-use permit (reserved separately through recreation.gov) is required to enter the wilderness — it is an access permit, not a fishing licence.
• Some border-water lakes shared with Ontario carry special licence and limit rules; check both the Minnesota regulations and any Canadian-water requirements before crossing.

Superior NF fishing license page →·Official source: dnr.state.mn.us

Rule: Fishing in the Allegheny National Forest runs on a Pennsylvania fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission sets the seasons, limits, and trout-stocking schedule inside the forest.

• The Allegheny Reservoir (Kinzua) holds walleye, muskellunge, smallmouth bass, and panfish; the Allegheny River and Tionesta Creek add trout and smallmouth.
• A Pennsylvania trout permit is required in addition to the fishing licence to fish for or keep trout on stocked and Class A waters.
• The upper reservoir extends into New York; a New York licence is required on the New York portion — check the line before fishing the upper pool.

Allegheny NF fishing license page →·Official source: fishandboat.com

Rule: Fishing in the Bridger-Teton National Forest runs on a Wyoming fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. The Wyoming Game & Fish Department sets the seasons, limits, and any river-specific special regulations inside the forest.

• The Snake River through Jackson Hole holds the prized Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat; the Greys, Hoback, and Salt rivers add native cutthroat and whitefish.
• Some reaches carry catch-and-release or artificial-only rules to protect native cutthroat — read the current Wyoming regulations for the specific river.
• High alpine lakes in the Wind River and Gros Ventre ranges hold golden, brook, and cutthroat trout, reached on foot and fished under the standard Wyoming licence.

Bridger-Teton NF fishing license page →·Official source: wgfd.wyo.gov

Rule: On BLM-managed public lands, the licence of the state in which the water sits is the controlling document — there is no BLM fishing permit.

• BLM lands sprawl across the western US: state fishing rules govern season, bag, possession, gear, and stamp requirements.
• Some BLM Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) and Wild & Scenic River corridors carry additional motorized-access or gear restrictions — check the local BLM Field Office.
• Camping and OHV permits are separate from fishing and follow BLM's own rules.

BLM lands fishing license page →·Official source: blm.gov

Rule: Fishing in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area runs on a Colorado fishing licence — the Bureau of Land Management administers the canyon but does not sell a fishing permit. Colorado Parks & Wildlife sets the regulations, including the Gold Medal Water rules on this stretch of the Gunnison River.

• The Gunnison River below the Black Canyon is Gold Medal Wild Trout Water — Colorado restricts it to artificial flies and lures with strict trout limits; read the current CPW regulations before keeping any fish.
• Access is walk-in down steep trails or by raft; the BLM manages the trails, campsites, and a day-use/overnight fee that is separate from the fishing licence.
• Rainbow and brown trout dominate; spring runoff and upstream dam releases drive flows, so check conditions before committing to the hike or float.

Gunnison Gorge NCA fishing license page →·Official source: cpw.state.co.us

Rule: Fishing the Owyhee River and Owyhee Reservoir runs on an Oregon fishing licence — the Bureau of Land Management administers the surrounding canyon lands but does not sell a fishing permit. The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife sets the seasons and limits.

• The Owyhee tailwater below the dam is a nationally known trophy brown-trout fishery; ODFW sets the trout regulations for the reach.
• Owyhee Reservoir adds smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish, and largemouth under the standard Oregon licence.
• The canyon is remote BLM land with primitive access; there is no federal fishing fee, only the Oregon licence.

Owyhee River fishing license page →·Official source: myodfw.com

Rule: Fishing the Lower Deschutes Wild & Scenic River runs on an Oregon fishing licence — the Bureau of Land Management administers much of the lower river corridor but does not sell a fishing permit. The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife sets the seasons and limits.

• The lower Deschutes is famous for native redband trout and summer steelhead; ODFW sets the gear, season, and wild-versus-hatchery retention rules.
• A Deschutes River Boater Pass is required to float the river — that is an access pass, not a fishing licence.
• Steelhead seasons and retention can change in-season; confirm the current ODFW regulations and any emergency closures before a trip.

Lower Deschutes fishing license page →·Official source: myodfw.com

Rule: Fishing the John Day Wild & Scenic River runs on an Oregon fishing licence — the Bureau of Land Management administers long stretches of the river corridor but does not sell a fishing permit. The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife sets the seasons and limits.

• The John Day is one of the West's premier smallmouth-bass float fisheries and also holds summer steelhead; ODFW sets the limits.
• It is one of the longest free-flowing rivers in the country — multi-day floats cross BLM and private land, so respect posted access boundaries.
• Steelhead are wild-stock and tightly regulated; check current ODFW retention rules before keeping any fish.

John Day River fishing license page →·Official source: myodfw.com

Rule: Fishing in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument runs on a New Mexico fishing licence — the Bureau of Land Management administers the monument but does not sell a fishing permit. The New Mexico Department of Game & Fish sets the seasons and limits.

• The Rio Grande Gorge ('The Box') and the Wild & Scenic Red River hold brown and rainbow trout plus northern pike; New Mexico sets the regulations.
• Access is by steep trails into the gorge; the BLM manages trails, campgrounds, and a day-use fee separate from the fishing licence.
• Special trout regulations apply on some reaches — read the current New Mexico rules for the section you plan to fish.

Rio Grande del Norte fishing license page →·Official source: wildlife.state.nm.us

Rule: Fishing the Gulkana Wild & Scenic River runs on an Alaska fishing licence — the Bureau of Land Management administers the river corridor but does not sell a fishing permit. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game sets the seasons, bag limits, and emergency orders.

• The Gulkana is a popular king and sockeye salmon, Arctic grayling, and rainbow-trout river accessed off the Richardson Highway and by float.
• King-salmon fishing is tightly managed and subject to emergency closures — always check the current ADF&G area regulations and emergency orders before fishing.
• The BLM manages launch sites and campgrounds along the corridor; those fees are separate from the Alaska fishing licence.

Gulkana River fishing license page →·Official source: adfg.alaska.gov

Rule: Fishing in the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument runs on a Montana fishing licence — the Bureau of Land Management administers the monument and the Wild & Scenic Missouri River through it, but does not sell a fishing permit. Montana FWP sets the seasons and limits.

• This stretch of the Wild & Scenic Missouri holds channel catfish, sauger, walleye, smallmouth bass, and the prehistoric paddlefish; Montana FWP sets all limits.
• Paddlefish are snag-only under a separate Montana paddlefish tag — check the current FWP rules and harvest-reporting requirements.
• Access is by boat or remote BLM launch; multi-day floats cross BLM and private land, and there is no federal fishing fee.

Missouri Breaks fishing license page →·Official source: fwp.mt.gov

Rule: Fishing the Lower Dolores River below McPhee Dam runs on a Colorado fishing licence — the Bureau of Land Management administers much of the river corridor but does not sell a fishing permit. Colorado Parks & Wildlife sets the seasons and limits.

• The tailwater below McPhee Dam is a coldwater trout fishery, but it is highly flow-dependent — releases vary year to year and the trout fishing rises and falls with them.
• Downstream warmwater reaches hold smallmouth bass and native fish; some native species are catch-and-release under Colorado rules.
• Check current McPhee Dam release flows and the CPW regulations before planning a trip; low-water years can leave the upper tailwater marginal.

Dolores River fishing license page →·Official source: cpw.state.co.us

Rule: On Corps reservoirs, the licence of the state where the reservoir sits governs fishing — there is no Corps fishing permit, but day-use, boat-launch, and camping fees may apply at developed sites.

• Corps reservoirs (Lake Texoma, Truman, Wappapello, Tenkiller, Sardis, J. Percy Priest, etc.) follow the host state's fishing rules.
• Multi-state Corps reservoirs that span a state line (Lake Texoma OK/TX is the classic example) have their own joint-licence arrangement issued by both states — check before crossing the line.
• Federal day-use and boat-launch fees may be discounted with the Interagency America the Beautiful pass.

Army Corps reservoirs fishing license page →·Official source: usace.army.mil

Rule: Lake Texoma is governed by the host states' fishing rules, but it has its own twist: a regular Oklahoma or Texas licence covers only that state's portion. To fish the entire lake on one credential you need the Lake Texoma fishing licence, sold by both Oklahoma and Texas. There is no Corps fishing permit.

• The Lake Texoma Licence is valid lake-wide on both Oklahoma and Texas water; it is sold by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and Texas Parks & Wildlife and through their online licence vendors.
• Striped bass are the signature fishery — Texoma is one of very few inland reservoirs with self-sustaining natural striper reproduction. Bag and length limits are set by the states; verify the current year before keeping fish.
• The US Army Corps of Engineers (Tulsa District) operates Denison Dam, the shoreline, and recreation areas. Day-use, boat-launch, and camping fees are separate from the fishing licence.
• Age exemptions, short-term-licence options, and boundary details change year to year — confirm with both state agencies before a trip.

Lake Texoma fishing license page →·Official source: wildlifedepartment.com

Rule: Lake Cumberland runs on a Kentucky fishing licence — there is no US Army Corps of Engineers fishing permit. The Corps (Nashville District) operates Wolf Creek Dam and the recreation areas; the fishing rules are set by the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.

• Lake Cumberland is one of the South's premier striped-bass fisheries; Kentucky sets the striper, black-bass, and trout limits.
• The Cumberland River tailwater below Wolf Creek Dam is a stocked trout fishery with its own special regulations — check the Kentucky regs for the exact section you plan to fish.
• Corps day-use, launch, and camping fees apply at developed recreation areas and are separate from the fishing licence.

Lake Cumberland fishing license page →·Official source: fw.ky.gov

Rule: Truman Lake runs on a Missouri fishing licence — the US Army Corps of Engineers (Kansas City District) operates Truman Dam and the recreation areas but does not sell a fishing permit. The fishing rules are set by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

• Truman is one of Missouri's top crappie and white-bass fisheries, with extensive flooded standing timber; Missouri sets all seasons, length, and daily limits.
• The reservoir sits immediately above Lake of the Ozarks on the Osage River; the two are managed separately, but both fish on the Missouri licence.
• Corps day-use and boat-launch fees apply at developed sites and are separate from the fishing licence.

Truman Lake fishing license page →·Official source: mdc.mo.gov

Rule: Table Rock Lake runs on a Missouri or Arkansas fishing licence — there is no Corps fishing permit. The lake lies mostly in Missouri with arms reaching into Arkansas, and the two states maintain a reciprocal agreement on their shared White River boundary waters.

• Table Rock is a nationally known black-bass fishery (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass) on the White River system; bass limits are set by the host states.
• Missouri and Arkansas honour each other's licences on the lake's boundary waters under a long-standing reciprocal agreement — confirm the exact covered area and current terms with both agencies before fishing across the state line.
• The US Army Corps of Engineers (Little Rock District) operates Table Rock Dam and the recreation areas; day-use and launch fees are separate from the fishing licence.

Table Rock Lake fishing license page →·Official source: mdc.mo.gov

Rule: Bull Shoals Lake runs on an Arkansas or Missouri fishing licence — there is no Corps fishing permit. The reservoir straddles the Arkansas–Missouri line on the White River, and the two states maintain a reciprocal agreement on their shared boundary waters.

• Bull Shoals is a trophy bass and walleye fishery; the Bull Shoals tailwater of the White River below the dam is a world-class stocked trout fishery with its own special Arkansas regulations.
• Arkansas and Missouri honour each other's licences on the lake's boundary waters under a reciprocal agreement — verify the current terms and covered area with both agencies before crossing the state line.
• The US Army Corps of Engineers (Little Rock District) operates Bull Shoals Dam and the recreation areas; site fees are separate from the fishing licence.

Bull Shoals Lake fishing license page →·Official source: agfc.com

Rule: Beaver Lake in northwest Arkansas runs on an Arkansas fishing licence — there is no Corps fishing permit. The US Army Corps of Engineers (Little Rock District) operates Beaver Dam and the recreation areas; the fishing rules are set by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

• Beaver Lake is the uppermost impoundment on the White River and a strong striped-bass, black-bass, and crappie fishery; Arkansas sets all limits.
• The lake is a drinking-water source for much of northwest Arkansas, so some shoreline areas carry access restrictions — check on-site signage and the Corps lake page.
• Corps day-use, launch, and camping fees apply at developed recreation areas and are separate from the fishing licence.

Beaver Lake fishing license page →·Official source: agfc.com

Rule: Greers Ferry Lake runs on an Arkansas fishing licence — there is no Corps fishing permit. The US Army Corps of Engineers (Little Rock District) operates the dam and recreation areas; the fishing rules are set by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

• Greers Ferry is known for walleye and hybrid striped bass; the Little Red River tailwater below the dam produced a former world-record brown trout and carries its own special trout regulations.
• Arkansas sets all reservoir and tailwater limits — verify the current-year rules, which differ between the lake and the trout tailwater.
• Corps day-use and launch fees apply at developed sites and are separate from the fishing licence.

Greers Ferry Lake fishing license page →·Official source: agfc.com

Rule: Sam Rayburn Reservoir runs on a Texas fishing licence — there is no Corps fishing permit. The US Army Corps of Engineers (Fort Worth District) operates the dam and recreation areas; the fishing rules are set by Texas Parks & Wildlife.

• 'Big Sam' is the largest reservoir wholly within Texas and a premier largemouth-bass tournament fishery; Texas sets the bass length and bag limits.
• A Texas freshwater fishing licence (with the freshwater package) is the controlling document; verify current limits and any ShareLunker-program handling rules before keeping a trophy bass.
• Corps day-use and boat-launch fees apply at developed recreation areas and are separate from the fishing licence.

Sam Rayburn fishing license page →·Official source: tpwd.texas.gov

Rule: Lake Lanier runs on a Georgia fishing licence — there is no Corps fishing permit. The US Army Corps of Engineers (Mobile District) operates Buford Dam and the recreation areas; the fishing rules are set by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

• Lanier, on the Chattahoochee River north of Atlanta, is a top spotted-bass and striped-bass fishery; Georgia sets all limits.
• It is one of the most heavily used recreation lakes in the country — boating-traffic and access rules at Corps day-use areas are separate from the fishing licence.
• Verify the current Georgia black-bass and striper regulations before a trip; limits can differ from other Georgia reservoirs.

Lake Lanier fishing license page →·Official source: georgiawildlife.com

Rule: J. Percy Priest Lake runs on a Tennessee fishing licence — there is no Corps fishing permit. The US Army Corps of Engineers (Nashville District) operates the dam and recreation areas; the fishing rules are set by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

• Percy Priest, on the Stones River just east of Nashville, is a popular largemouth, crappie, and white-bass fishery; Tennessee sets all limits.
• Several Corps recreation areas and a wildlife management area border the lake — day-use and launch fees are separate from the fishing licence.
• Verify the current Tennessee statewide and reservoir-specific limits before a trip.

Percy Priest fishing license page →·Official source: tn.gov

Rule: Lake Barkley runs on a Kentucky or Tennessee fishing licence — there is no Corps fishing permit. The reservoir spans the Kentucky–Tennessee line on the Cumberland River, and the two states maintain a reciprocal-licence agreement on Barkley and adjacent Kentucky Lake.

• Barkley and neighbouring Kentucky Lake (linked by a canal) form one of the South's biggest crappie and largemouth-bass fisheries; the host states set the limits.
• Kentucky and Tennessee honour each other's fishing licences on Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake under a long-standing reciprocal agreement — verify the current boundary terms before crossing the state line.
• The US Army Corps of Engineers (Nashville District) operates Barkley Dam; day-use and launch fees are separate from the fishing licence.

Lake Barkley fishing license page →·Official source: fw.ky.gov

Rule: Sardis Lake runs on a Mississippi fishing licence — there is no Corps fishing permit. The US Army Corps of Engineers (Vicksburg District) operates Sardis Dam and the recreation areas; the fishing rules are set by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks.

• Sardis, on the Little Tallahatchie River, is a major north-Mississippi crappie and catfish fishery; the state sets all limits.
• It is one of four large Corps flood-control reservoirs in north Mississippi (with Enid, Grenada, and Arkabutla) that share the host-state licence.
• Corps day-use and launch fees apply at developed sites and are separate from the fishing licence.

Sardis Lake fishing license page →·Official source: mdwfp.com

Rule: Grenada Lake runs on a Mississippi fishing licence — there is no Corps fishing permit. The US Army Corps of Engineers (Vicksburg District) operates Grenada Dam and the recreation areas; the fishing rules are set by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks.

• Grenada is widely regarded as one of the best trophy-crappie lakes in the country, producing exceptional 'slab' white and black crappie; Mississippi sets the crappie length and creel limits.
• Verify the current-year crappie minimum-length and daily limits before a trip — they can differ from statewide rules on this lake.
• Corps day-use, launch, and camping fees apply at developed recreation areas and are separate from the fishing licence.

Grenada Lake fishing license page →·Official source: mdwfp.com

Rule: Carlyle Lake runs on an Illinois fishing licence — there is no Corps fishing permit. The US Army Corps of Engineers (St. Louis District) operates the dam and recreation areas; the fishing rules are set by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

• Carlyle, on the Kaskaskia River, is the largest man-made lake within Illinois and a strong white-bass, crappie, and catfish fishery; the state sets all limits.
• It is a major sailing and boating lake — Corps day-use and launch fees apply at developed areas and are separate from the fishing licence.
• Verify the current Illinois statewide and lake-specific limits before a trip.

Carlyle Lake fishing license page →·Official source: dnr.illinois.gov

Rule: Lake Sakakawea runs on a North Dakota fishing licence — there is no Corps fishing permit. The US Army Corps of Engineers (Omaha District) operates Garrison Dam on the Missouri River; the fishing rules are set by the North Dakota Game & Fish Department.

• Sakakawea is the largest lake in North Dakota and a premier walleye and chinook-salmon fishery; the state sets all seasons and limits.
• The Garrison Dam tailrace and the national fish hatchery below the dam are popular spots with their own access rules — check on-site signage.
• Corps day-use and boat-launch fees apply at developed recreation areas and are separate from the fishing licence.

Lake Sakakawea fishing license page →·Official source: gf.nd.gov

Rule: Lake Oahe runs on a South Dakota or North Dakota fishing licence — there is no Corps fishing permit. The reservoir straddles the South Dakota–North Dakota line on the Missouri River behind Oahe Dam (Omaha District).

• Oahe is one of the country's great walleye and chinook-salmon fisheries; each state sets the seasons and limits for its own portion.
• Because the lake crosses the state line, confirm each state's boundary-water licence rules before fishing across it — the side you launch from and the side you fish may require different credentials.
• Corps day-use and boat-launch fees apply at developed recreation areas and are separate from the fishing licence.

Lake Oahe fishing license page →·Official source: gfp.sd.gov

Rule: Fort Peck Lake runs on a Montana fishing licence — there is no Corps fishing permit. The US Army Corps of Engineers (Omaha District) operates Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River; the fishing rules are set by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

• Fort Peck is the largest lake in Montana and an exceptional walleye, chinook-salmon, lake-trout, and northern-pike fishery; it also holds a limited paddlefish snagging season with its own tags and rules.
• The surrounding Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge governs land access around much of the shoreline — fishing still runs on the Montana licence, but check the refuge's access rules.
• Corps day-use and boat-launch fees apply at developed recreation areas and are separate from the fishing licence.

Fort Peck Lake fishing license page →·Official source: fwp.mt.gov