R657-13-9. Underwater Spearfishing

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

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

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

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

  (c) Causey Reservoir (Weber County);

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

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

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

  (g) Electric Lake (Emery County);

  (h) Fish Lake (Sevier County), except underwater spearfishing for any game fish is closed from September 16 to the first Saturday in June the following year;

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

  (j) Grantsville Reservoir (Tooele County);

  (k) Ken's Lake (San Juan County);

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

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

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

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

  (ii) tiger musky year round.

  (o) Porcupine Reservoir (Cache County);

  (p) Recapture Reservoir (San Juan County);

  (q) Red Fleet Reservoir (Uintah County);

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

  (s) Sand Lake (Uintah County);

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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