Michigan Spearfishing Regulations: 2026 Legal Guide
A practical guide to Michigan underwater spearfishing licenses, legal fish, Great Lakes zones, seasons, dive-flag rules, equipment restrictions and closures.
Last reviewed July 20, 2026 · Regulations effective through March 31, 2027
Five rules to know before you enter the water
Michigan now allows underwater spearfishing for certain game fish in defined areas of all four bordering Great Lakes. The program is freedive-only and the exact water, species, season and possession limit all matter.
Carry both licenses
Anglers age 17 and older need a Michigan all-species fishing license. Every underwater spearfisher also needs the free annual underwater spearfishing license.
Freedive only
You must be fully submerged when taking a fish. Scuba, rebreathers and other artificial breathing devices are prohibited.
Daylight only
Underwater spearfishing is closed from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.
Keep a 150-foot buffer
Stay at least 150 feet from designated swimming areas, docks, boat-access or egress sites, and power-intake tubes.
Display a dive flag
Use a proper red-and-white diver-down flag. Stay close to it and do not position it where it blocks normal navigation.
What fish can you legally spear in Michigan?
Michigan separates broadly eligible nongame and commercial species from three game-fish species that may be taken underwater only in specifically described Great Lakes waters.
Generally legal year-round in permitted waters
These species may be taken by spear in waters where spearing is otherwise open. Designated trout waters and local closures can override this list.
Great Lakes underwater game fish
Only these three game fish are included in the current underwater program, and only inside the legal Great Lakes zones:
Muskellunge are not an underwater spearfishing target. Separate winter hand-spearing rules apply to muskellunge and northern pike through the ice. Lake St. Clair also has a separate December 1–March 15 hand-spear season for yellow perch.
Where can you underwater spearfish in the Great Lakes?
The descriptions below are simplified for trip planning. They are not a substitute for the DNR’s interactive map or the controlling Fisheries Order.
Lake Michigan
- Michigan waters from the Indiana border north to the 45th parallel, excluding all of Grand Traverse Bay.
- A defined western Upper Peninsula corridor near the Ford River.
- A defined eastern Upper Peninsula corridor from Point Detour toward the Brevort River mouth.
- Only lake trout, northern pike and walleye are added as underwater game-fish targets inside the legal zones.
Lake Huron
- Michigan waters south of the southernmost pier at the Thunder Bay River.
- The zone continues south to the mouth of the St. Clair River at the Fort Gratiot Light.
- Check river, bay, port and local spawning closures before launching.
Lake Erie
- Michigan waters north of the Michigan–Ohio border.
- The northern edge is an east–west line from the southernmost point of Celeron Island in the Detroit River.
- Muskellunge may not be taken by spear in Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River or the St. Clair River.
Lake Superior
- Michigan waters from the Wisconsin border east toward the St. Marys River boundary.
- Underwater game-fish spearfishing is closed at Stannard Rock and Big Reef.
- It is also closed within a 4.5-mile radius of Isle Royale.
Lake Michigan boundary alert
Michigan’s current Fisheries Order describes the Ford River corridor as extending five miles from shore, while the 2026 digital fishing digest depicts a two-mile offshore boundary. Because the official sources conflict, do not rely on a third-party map or this summary in that corridor. Review the current DNR map and Fisheries Order and confirm the boundary with the DNR before diving.
Seasons, minimum sizes and daily limits
Limits vary by waterbody and, for lake trout, by Great Lakes management unit. County and water-specific exceptions take priority over statewide summaries.
| Species | Underwater season | General limit | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | July 1–March 15 | Generally 24-inch minimum; 2 daily | Local pike regulations and special waterbody limits may differ. |
| Walleye | Lower Peninsula Great Lakes are generally open all year; Upper Peninsula Great Lakes are generally May 15–March 15 | Water-specific: commonly 5 daily; 6 in Lake Erie, the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River; 8 in Saginaw Bay and the lower Saginaw River | The minimum is generally 15 inches, but Saginaw Bay and the lower Saginaw River use a 13-inch minimum. Annual and local exceptions apply. |
| Lake Trout | Varies by management unit | Generally 15-inch minimum; 2–5 daily depending on unit | Confirm the exact Lake Superior, Lake Michigan or Lake Huron management unit. |
| Burbot | Open all year where spearing is legal | 5 daily | Water-specific closures still apply. |
| Channel Catfish | Open all year where spearing is legal | 12-inch minimum; 10 daily | Check local exceptions. |
| Flathead Catfish | Open all year where spearing is legal | 15-inch minimum; 5 daily | Check local exceptions. |
| Cisco & Whitefish | Open all year where spearing is legal | Generally 10 combined in Great Lakes waters; 5 on many inland waters | Round whitefish, lake whitefish and cisco may share a combined limit. |
| Smelt | Open all year where spearing is legal | 2 gallons | Possession is measured by volume. |
“Daily limit” is not permission to take a species in a closed area. The species, water, season and method must all be legal at the same time.
Legal gear and underwater conduct
Speargun and spear rules
- Legal spear types include hand-propelled, rubber-propelled and spring-propelled devices.
- Rubber- or spring-propelled spears must be used while submerged.
- The spear must be attached to a line no longer than 20 feet.
- Unload bands and engage the safety when entering or leaving the water and while moving between fishing areas.
- No bait, scent, attractants or decoys may be used to draw fish to the diver.
- No scuba, rebreather or other artificial breathing device.
Diver-down flag basics
Michigan law specifies a red flag at least 14 by 16 inches with a white diagonal stripe at least 3.5 inches wide.
- Display the flag at or near the point of submergence.
- Keep the diver within 100 feet of the flag.
- Other vessels generally must remain at least 200 feet away unless tending the diver.
- Remove or lower the flag when diving activity ends.
Important closures and restricted waters
This is not a complete list of every local exception. It highlights restrictions most likely to affect a Michigan spearfishing trip.
- Designated trout lakes and streams: Spearing is generally prohibited unless a specific exception applies.
- National park waters: Isle Royale National Park and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore allow hook-and-line fishing only.
- Lake Superior exclusions: No underwater game-fish spearing at Stannard Rock, Big Reef or within 4.5 miles of Isle Royale.
- November port closures: Possession or use of spearing gear is prohibited November 1–30 in Muskegon Lake, White Lake and specified waters near Grand Haven.
- Spring river closures: Spearing is prohibited April 1–June 15 in the Cheboygan River, Black River and Indian River in Cheboygan County.
- Michigan–Wisconsin boundary waters: Separate boundary-water rules apply. Check the current regulations before using a spear.
- Swimming and access areas: Underwater spearfishing is prohibited within 150 feet of designated swimming areas, docks, boat-access or egress sites, and power-intake tubes.
Michigan spearfishing FAQ
Is spearfishing legal in Michigan?
Yes. Michigan allows spearing for a defined list of species in waters where spearing is open. Underwater harvest of lake trout, northern pike and walleye is allowed only in specifically described Great Lakes zones.
Do I need a special spearfishing license?
Yes. Every underwater spearfisher needs the free annual underwater spearfishing license. Anglers age 17 and older also need a valid Michigan all-species fishing license.
Can I spear walleye in Michigan?
Yes, but only underwater in the legal Great Lakes zones and only during the applicable season. The local minimum size and daily possession limit still apply.
Can I use scuba while spearfishing?
No. The underwater program is freedive-only. Scuba, rebreathers and other artificial breathing devices are prohibited.
Can I spear muskellunge underwater?
No. Muskellunge are not one of the game fish authorized for underwater spearfishing. Separate through-the-ice hand-spearing rules apply in some waters.
Is monthly harvest reporting required?
No monthly underwater-spearfishing report is required under the 2026 rules. You must still comply with any separate mandatory reporting rule that applies to a harvested species or waterbody.
How close do I need to stay to my dive flag?
Michigan’s diver-down law requires the diver to remain within 100 feet of the flag. Other vessels generally must stay at least 200 feet away unless they are tending the diver.
Official Michigan resources
Save these links before a trip. Michigan regulations can change through Fisheries Orders, emergency orders and water-specific amendments.