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Guide · USA

Spearfishing in the USA

The USA isn't one destination but five: the cold Atlantic Northeast, the warm Southeast and the Florida Keys, the murky-but-productive Gulf of Mexico, the cold kelp-and-California-Current Pacific, and remote Alaska and tropical Hawaii. There is no single federal spearfishing law — each coastal state sets its own license, species and zones, and the differences are huge. This guide sets the essentials straight and links to the four regional guides and to a daily go / borderline / no-go forecast for every city.

Three rules hold almost coast-wide. First: you need the recreational fishing license of the state you dive in — cheap or free in most, but mandatory. Second: state waters run to 3 nautical miles on the Atlantic and to 9 in the Florida Gulf and Texas; beyond that federal waters begin, with their own rules. And third: lobster is NEVER speared in any state — it's taken by hand. Past that, everything changes by state and by coast.

Open the flagship — Key Largo →

License, waters and legal gear

Before you get wet, three decisions are state-level:

No-take zones: how to read them

The USA is a mosaic of protected-area acronyms. spearo.app flags them fail-closed — when in doubt, «protected». The essentials to recognize:

Species by coast, and safety

The quarry changes completely from coast to coast. In the Atlantic Northeast it's tautog, black sea bass and fluke; in the Southeast, sheepshead, snappers and groupers. The Gulf yields red snapper (in season), sheepshead and cobia. The Pacific gives white seabass, California halibut, yellowtail and lingcod. Alaska, halibut and lingcod; Hawaii, ulua, uhu and the invasive roi.

Where to dive, by region

Maine

Maine — cold Gulf of Maine, macro tides; tautog/cod/flounder, no striped bass or lobster by spear.

  • Kittery — Kittery sits at the mouth of the Piscataqua River — Whaleback Light ledges and the clear Isles of Shoals hold cod, pollock and tautog.
  • York — York's southern-Maine rocky reefs — the Nubble Light channel and Bald Head Cliff drop straight into cold, clear water for cod and pollock.
  • Portland — Casco Bay island ledges off Portland — Two Lights, Portland Head and Ram Island Ledge hold cod, pollock and tautog.
  • Boothbay Harbor — Boothbay Harbor's mid-coast ledges and offshore islands — Cuckolds Light and Damariscove hold tautog, cod and lobster.
  • Bar Harbor — Mount Desert's granite coast at Bar Harbor — Egg Rock ledges and Otter Cliffs drop into clear, cold water with lobster and pollock.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire — a tiny cold coast; striped bass appears legal (no ban), no lobster by spear.

  • Portsmouth — Portsmouth fronts the Piscataqua and the Isles of Shoals — clear-water ledges for cunner, pollock and tautog.
  • Rye — Rye's rocky ledges and Isles of Shoals access — the Odiorne Point and Pulpit Rock boulders hold tautog and cunner.
  • Hampton — Hampton fishes the Hampton River inlet jetties and the Great Boars Head ledges off Hampton Beach — tautog and striped bass on the rock.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts — Cape Cod and the islands; tautog/black sea bass/fluke, no striped bass (M.G.L. 130 §100B).

  • Gloucester — Cape Ann's granite reefs off Gloucester — Norman's Woe and the Poling wreck hold tautog, cod and pollock.
  • Rockport (MA) — The tip of Cape Ann at Rockport — Halibut Point, Thacher and Straitsmouth Island ledges for cod, tautog and lobster.
  • Marblehead — Marblehead's rocky reefs — Halfway Rock pinnacle and the Children's Island ledges hold tautog, cod and lobster.
  • Woods Hole — Woods Hole's current-swept passage ledges in Vineyard Sound — slack-tide tautog and black sea bass in sheltered island water.
  • Falmouth — Falmouth's Vineyard Sound reefs — the Nobska Point ledges and the Port Hunter wreck hold tautog, black sea bass and fluke.
  • Edgartown (Martha's Vineyard) — Martha's Vineyard reefs off Edgartown — the Wasque Point rip and Cape Poge ledges hold tautog, black sea bass and fluke.
  • Nantucket — Nantucket's harbor-mouth ledges and jetty — Brant Point and Jetties Beach hold flounder and tautog.
  • Nahant — Nahant dives Egg Rock and the East Point / Castle Rock ledges off Nahant Bay — tautog, cunner and black sea bass on granite.
  • Scituate — Scituate works the harbour breakwater and the wave-swept Minots Ledge — tautog, cod and pollock on the rock.
  • Plymouth — Plymouth dives Gurnet Point and the Bug Light riprap at the bay entrance — tautog, black sea bass and cod in sheltered water.
  • Provincetown — Provincetown fishes the Long Point and Wood End breakwaters at the harbour mouth — tautog, black sea bass and cunner on granite.
  • Chatham — Chatham's outer-Cape bars off the light and Harding Beach Point hold black sea bass, fluke and cod over scattered hard bottom.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island — rocky shores; tautog/black sea bass, striped bass IS spearable (explicit carve-out).

  • Newport (RI) — Newport's Ocean Drive rocky cliffs — Castle Hill, Brenton Reef and King's Beach hold tautog, scup and striped bass.
  • Point Judith — Point Judith's breakwater and Whale Rock — three miles of tautog and scup structure at the West Passage mouth.
  • New Shoreham (Block Island) — Block Island's clear offshore reefs — the Lightburne wreck, Old Harbor breakwater and North Light rocks for tautog, scup and striped bass.
  • Jamestown — Jamestown offers Fort Wetherill's boulder cove and the Beavertail ledges on Conanicut Island — Rhode Island's best shore diving for tautog, scup and striped bass.
  • Narragansett — Narragansett fishes Black Point and Whale Rock off Ocean Road — tautog, scup and striped bass on rocky ledges.
  • Westerly — Westerly dives Watch Hill Reef and Napatree Point Ledge — boulder reefs off Watch Hill for tautog, scup and striped bass.

Connecticut

Connecticut — Marine District only; tautog/scup/black sea bass, no striped bass by spear.

  • Stonington — Stonington's Fishers Island Sound reefs — Noyes Rock, Latimer Reef and Napatree Point ledges for tautog and scup.
  • Groton — Groton's "Race" and Avery Point — high-current Long Island Sound reefs holding trophy tautog and scup.
  • Branford — Branford's Thimble Islands — granite reefs and Falkner Island for tautog, scup and sea bass in sheltered Sound water.
  • Niantic — Niantic works Bartlett Reef and the Black Point ledges in Niantic Bay — tautog, scup and black sea bass in the current.
  • Old Saybrook — Old Saybrook dives the Saybrook Breakwater jetty and Cornfield Point at the Connecticut River mouth — tautog, scup and black sea bass.

New York

New York — free registry, striped bass legal; submerged, ≥100 yards from beaches, muscle-power guns only.

  • Montauk — Montauk Point's rocky tip — Turtle Cove, Shagwong Reef and Camp Hero ledges for striped bass, tautog and black sea bass.
  • Orient Point — Orient Point's Plum Gut and the Race — swift-current Long Island Sound reefs holding trophy tautog.
  • Hampton Bays (Shinnecock Inlet) — Shinnecock Inlet off Hampton Bays — the NYSDEC artificial reef and twin jetties for blackfish, sea bass and fluke.
  • Fire Island Inlet — Fire Island Inlet's south-shore reef and jetties — barges, dredges and rock for striped bass, tautog and sea bass.
  • Long Beach (NY) — Long Beach's nearshore NY artificial reefs — Atlantic Beach and Hempstead reefs plus the Jones Inlet jetty for tautog, sea bass and striped bass.
  • Freeport — Freeport runs out through Jones Inlet to Hempstead Reef and the Point Lookout jetty — tautog, sea bass and striped bass.
  • City Island (Bronx) — City Island's western Long Island Sound reefs — Execution Rocks and Stepping Stones for tautog and scup in protected water.
  • Jones Beach — Jones Beach fishes the offshore Hempstead Reef and the Jones Inlet east jetty — tautog, black sea bass and striped bass.
  • Port Jefferson — Port Jefferson dives the Mount Sinai artificial reef and Old Field Point in Long Island Sound — tautog, black sea bass and scup.
  • Northport — Northport works Smithtown Reef and the Eatons Neck ledges in Long Island Sound — current-swept tautog, scup and black sea bass.

New Jersey

New Jersey — free registry, striped bass legal; fully submerged only, NJSP inlet zones.

  • Sandy Hook — Sandy Hook's jetties and nearshore reef — the oldest NJ reef plus "The Rip" for tautog, sheepshead and striped bass.
  • Manasquan Inlet — Manasquan Inlet's jetty and Sea Girt Reef — zone-restricted jetty diving plus offshore rubble for tautog and sea bass.
  • Point Pleasant Beach — Point Pleasant Beach's jetty and Axel Carlson Reef — a wreck-diving hub for tautog, black sea bass and sheepshead.
  • Barnegat Light — Barnegat Inlet's north jetty and offshore reef — tautog, fluke and striped bass, with NJSP diving-zone rules.
  • Atlantic City — Atlantic City's nearshore reef and Absecon Inlet jetties — tautog, black sea bass and sheepshead.
  • Cape May — Cape May's southern-tip reef and Coast Guard Jetty — tautog, black sea bass and striped bass.
  • Long Branch — Long Branch fishes the famous Shrewsbury Rocks and the Seven Presidents groins — tautog, black sea bass and striped bass on hard structure.
  • Asbury Park — Asbury Park dives the 8th Avenue jetty and the offshore Sea Girt Reef — tautog, black sea bass and striped bass.
  • Belmar — Belmar works the Shark River Inlet jetties and the Sea Girt Reef — tautog, striped bass and fluke.
  • Beach Haven — Beach Haven runs to the Garden State South and Little Egg reefs off LBI's south end — tautog, black sea bass and sheepshead.
  • Ocean City — Ocean City fishes the Ocean City and Great Egg reefs off Corson's and Great Egg inlets — tautog, black sea bass and sheepshead.
  • Wildwood — Wildwood dives the Wildwood Reef and the Hereford Inlet jetty — tautog, sheepshead, black sea bass and striped bass.

Delaware

Delaware — hook-and-line parity, striped bass legal; reef sites hook-or-spear only.

  • Indian River Inlet — Indian River Inlet's jetty and the DNREC reef sites just off the mouth hold tautog, sheepshead and flounder in strong tidal current.
  • Lewes — Lewes shelters behind Cape Henlopen on Delaware Bay, with the Roosevelt Inlet jetties and a nearby bay reef site for flounder, tautog and black drum.
  • Cape Henlopen — Cape Henlopen dives the Delaware Breakwater inner wall and the Harbor of Refuge outer wall — tautog, sheepshead, black sea bass and striped bass on granite.
  • Rehoboth Beach — Rehoboth runs to Delaware Reef Sites 9 and 10 offshore — tautog, sheepshead and black sea bass on reefs that explicitly allow spear.

Maryland

Maryland — spear/spear-gun legal but no striped bass; 100-yard rule around people/flags/vessels.

  • Ocean City — Ocean City's inlet jetty plus its offshore wrecks and reefs — Isle of Wight and the African Queen — hold tautog, sheepshead and sea bass.
  • Annapolis — Annapolis dives the Chesapeake Bay Bridge 'spider' pilings and nearby DNR reefs, where sheepshead graze the barnacles at slack tide.
  • Point Lookout — Point Lookout guards the Potomac–Chesapeake confluence — riprap, a DNR reef and the WWII U-1105 wreck (a protected preserve) for sheepshead and tautog.
  • Solomons — Solomons dives the Cedar Point and Little Cove Point DNR reefs at the Patuxent mouth in the mid-Chesapeake — sheepshead and black drum on low-relief structure.

Virginia

Virginia — the most spear-friendly Chesapeake state; striped bass legal, CBBT pilings legendary, no sharks.

  • Virginia Beach — Virginia Beach fishes the CBBT pilings and offshore reefs off the oceanfront — sheepshead, tautog and sea bass, with cobia in summer.
  • Cape Charles — Cape Charles works the Eastern-Shore CBBT islands and bayside VMRC reefs — Cherrystone and The Cell — for sheepshead and tautog.
  • Kiptopeke — Kiptopeke's nine scuttled WWII concrete ships form a breakwater reef right off the state-park beach, backed by the shallow Cabbage Patch reef.
  • Wachapreague — Wachapreague runs out its barrier-island inlet to the kite-shaped Wachapreague Reef and the deeper Parramore Liberty-ship reef for sea bass and flounder.
  • Norfolk — Norfolk fishes the East Ocean View and Newport News Middle Ground reefs in Hampton Roads — tautog, sheepshead and black sea bass.
  • Chincoteague — Chincoteague runs to Blackfish Bank Reef and Winter Quarter Shoal off the barrier-island coast — black sea bass, tautog and flounder.
  • Hampton — Hampton fishes the Bluefish Rock and Back River reefs in the lower Chesapeake — tautog, sheepshead, black sea bass and summer cobia.

North Carolina

North Carolina — Gulf Stream wrecks; sheepshead/cobia/black sea bass, no striped bass/red drum/sharks.

  • Nags Head — Nags Head has the shallow, shore-swimmable USS Huron preserve and the boxcar-and-barge AR-140 just off the beach.
  • Oregon Inlet — Oregon Inlet runs to the twin Liberty-ship AR-160 and the vessel-plus-aircraft AR-145 for amberjack, sheepshead and sea bass.
  • Buxton — Buxton sits on Cape Point at Diamond Shoals — the deep Empire Gem and the hull of the British Splendour are the closest Graveyard wrecks, for amberjack and sea bass.
  • Hatteras — Hatteras runs the 'Torpedo Junction' wrecks Dixie Arrow and Proteus — grouper and amberjack over famous Graveyard-of-the-Atlantic structure.
  • Morehead City — Morehead City is a wreck hub — the shark-thick U-352 U-boat, the Atlas tanker and the Aeolus reef — for amberjack, grouper and sea bass.
  • Atlantic Beach — Atlantic Beach dives the upside-down Papoose, the Indra reef and the shallow AR-315 Liberty ship for amberjack, sheepshead and sea bass.
  • Wrightsville Beach — Wrightsville Beach works the AR-370 Liberty-ship reef and the natural Ten Mile Rock live-bottom for hogfish, sheepshead and triggerfish.
  • Wilmington — Wilmington runs the Cape Fear approaches — the AR-378 reef and the deeper AR-382 dredge wreck off Kure Beach — for sheepshead and sea bass.
  • Kill Devil Hills — Kill Devil Hills has the shallow Triangle Wrecks off Avalon Pier and the AR-130 nearshore reef — sheepshead, flounder and black sea bass.
  • Ocracoke — Ocracoke runs to the deep AR-250 and AR-255 offshore reefs from the inlet — black sea bass, gag grouper and amberjack on a remote, boat-only stretch.
  • Beaufort — Beaufort fishes the Fort Macon jetty, the AR-315 nearshore reef and the iconic U-352 U-boat wreck — sheepshead, black sea bass, amberjack and grouper.
  • Emerald Isle — Emerald Isle runs the Onslow Bay AR-342 and J.
  • Swansboro — Swansboro fishes the close AR-342 and the Rotary Club AR-345 reefs off Bogue Inlet — sheepshead, black sea bass, amberjack and grouper.
  • Southport — Southport works the Oak Island AR-425 and AR-420 reefs and the far Frying Pan Tower reef — sheepshead, black sea bass, amberjack and grouper.

South Carolina

South Carolina — non-gamefish only (§50-5-1700); gamefish hook-and-line only, bang-sticks/powerheads banned.

  • Charleston — Charleston fishes the 'Charleston 60' complex plus the Capers and nearshore reefs — sheepshead, black sea bass, amberjack and grouper over built structure.
  • Murrells Inlet — Murrells Inlet runs to the close-in Paradise Reef and the deeper Ten Mile Reef — sheepshead, black sea bass and amberjack.
  • Folly Beach — Folly Beach works the Kiawah and N. Edisto nearshore reefs southwest of town — grouper, amberjack, sheepshead and black sea bass. South Carolina makes…
  • Hilton Head Island — Hilton Head dives the Hilton Head Reef and the Port Royal Sound structure — Fish America and the Gordon Wreck — for sheepshead, sea bass and grouper.
  • Myrtle Beach — Myrtle Beach runs to the Paradise and Ten Mile reefs on the Grand Strand — sheepshead, black sea bass, spadefish and amberjack.
  • Georgetown — Georgetown fishes the CCA-North Inlet and Georgetown Nearshore reefs off Winyah Bay — sheepshead, black sea bass and flounder.

Georgia

Georgia — speargun status ambiguous in state water; real hunting on federal SMZ reefs, Gray's Reef banned.

  • Tybee Island — Tybee's federal reefs — SAV, KC and the close-in BSF — sit 4–9 nm out with cages, culvert and barges for sheepshead, sea bass and grouper.
  • Brunswick — Brunswick runs to the federal F and A reefs east of Jekyll and Cumberland — rubble, reef balls and landing craft for grouper, amberjack and sheepshead.
  • St. Simons Island — St. Simons shares the F Reef field and the ALT Reef off Little St Simons — federal SMZ structure for sheepshead, grouper and sea bass. In Georgia,…
  • Jekyll Island — Jekyll Island runs to the federal F Reef and A Reef offshore — grouper, amberjack, sheepshead and black sea bass on built structure.

Florida

Florida — the most developed US regime: snappers/groupers/hogfish/sheepshead, lionfish encouraged; Upper Keys ban, 100-yard rule, powerheads banned.

  • St. Augustine — St. Augustine's offshore concrete reefs — North Nine Mile, Rinker and Andy King — hold snapper and hogfish nine miles off the inlet. Florida's Atlantic…
  • Port Canaveral — Port Canaveral runs 15–35 km to the Anglers, FSFA and Cargo Pier reefs for snapper and cobia; the nearshore here is bare sand.
  • Vero Beach — Vero Beach has shallow nearshore worm-rock — Mitigation Rocks and Bethel Shoal — and the Wabasso patch reef for hogfish and snapper.
  • Fort Pierce — Fort Pierce fishes the high-relief Civic Center and Fish America reefs and the deep Muliphen wreck for mutton, hogfish and snapper.
  • Jupiter — Jupiter is famous for its natural drift ledges plus the Zion Train wreck and the Andrew Harris nearshore rock reef — mutton, hogfish and amberjack.
  • Palm Beach — Palm Beach drifts the 'Corridor of Ships' — Ana Cecilia, Thozina and the Princess Anne — for hogfish and mutton on the Gulf-Stream edge.
  • Boynton Beach — Boynton Beach drifts wrecks and reefs beside the Gulf Stream — the iconic Castor, Becks Reef and the deep Miller Lite reef — for hogfish and mutton.
  • Pompano Beach — Pompano's Shipwreck Park — the 324-ft Lady Luck, the clear-water Okinawa and the deep Rodeo-Lowrance — holds snapper and hogfish.
  • Fort Lauderdale — Fort Lauderdale's three reef lines and wrecks — Jay Scutti, Robert Edmister and Rebel — hold hogfish, mutton and lobster at easy depths.
  • Miami — Miami's wrecks off Government Cut — Rio Miami, Ophelia Brian and Tacoma — sit north of Biscayne NP for mutton, hogfish and lobster.
  • Key Largo — Key Largo is the reef capital of the Keys — the Spiegel Grove, Duane and Bibb are three of the most famous wrecks in the world.
  • Islamorada — Islamorada's Eagle wreck and its neighbours are iconic Upper-Keys dives on the reef-and-wreck line.
  • Marathon — Marathon, south of Long Key, opens up again — the huntable Thunderbolt wreck, the Seven Mile Bridge reef and the shallow Adelaide Baker — for hogfish and grouper.
  • Big Pine Key — Big Pine Key fishes the intact Adolphus Busch wreck and the American Shoal reef line for hogfish, grouper and snapper, outside the Looe Key SPAs.
  • Key West — Key West's world-famous Vandenberg, the shallow Joe's Tug and the Cayman Salvage Master give huntable wrecks outside the sanctuary preservation zones.
  • Fernandina Beach — Amelia Island's north-Florida coast: nearshore is sand, so the fishery is county artificial reefs and a snapper tug 18-24 km offshore holding snapper and grouper.
  • Jacksonville Beach — Duval County launches out of Mayport to ledges and wrecks 16-19 km offshore - barges and module reefs in 11-21 m holding snapper and grouper.
  • Ponce Inlet — Volusia County holds the closest reefs of the north-Florida set (~6 km): shallow concrete reefs off Flagler Avenue in 8-18 m, easy freedive on calm days.
  • Cocoa Beach — Cocoa Beach nearshore is sand; the structure is Brevard Reef ~15 km out and a deeper module cluster ~31 km offshore in 22-24 m, distinct from Port Canaveral's spots.
  • Sebastian Inlet — Sebastian Inlet State Park - the jetty and inlet - is no-spear, so the picks are module reefs ~9 km offshore in 14-17 m holding snapper.
  • Stuart — A strong Martin County coast: the Texas Reef rock pile has ~10 m of relief, plus barge wrecks and grouper reefs off the St.
  • Boca Raton — Boca Raton's shallow rock ledges (Boca Step, ~4.
  • Naples — Southwest Florida's ledge-and-wreck coast: Doctor's Pass and Gordon Pass reefs and offshore limestone ledges hold hogfish, grouper and cobia in warm, usually clear Gulf water.
  • Venice (FL) — Venice sits on Florida's shark-tooth coast with mid-shelf artificial reefs (M-15, M-9) holding hogfish and grouper.
  • Sarasota — Sarasota's offshore reefs (Gary Service M-1, Bob Johnson) rise from a shallow limestone shelf with hogfish and big grouper.
  • Clearwater — Clearwater's wrecks (USCGC Blackthorn) and rock ledges off Pinellas hold hogfish and grouper in clear, warm Gulf water.
  • Tarpon Springs — Sponge-diving heritage town with shallow nearshore reefs and offshore rock ledges for grouper and hogfish.
  • Steinhatchee — Big Bend hard-bottom and scallop country: shallow limestone flats and reefs for grouper in tannic, tea-stained Gulf water that grades low on visibility.
  • Apalachicola — Offshore Gulf reefs and old-bridge rubble (St George Island) for grouper and snapper; the bay and aquatic preserve are no-spear, so hunt the open Gulf.
  • Port St. Joe — Landing-ship wreck and MBARA tower reefs off Cape San Blas for grouper and snapper; St Joseph Bay is a no-spear preserve, so dive the open Gulf.
  • Panama City Beach — The Gulf's wreck-diving capital: the Black Bart, USS Strength and dozens of reefs hold snapper, grouper and amberjack in clear panhandle water.
  • Destin — Destin's clear emerald water and steel wrecks (Miss Louise, Liberty ships) hold snapper, grouper and amberjack.
  • Pensacola — Huge wreck fields including the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany, plus shallow barges, hold snapper, grouper and amberjack in clear panhandle water.
  • Marco Island — Collier County's shallow, often turbid Gulf: 2-3 mile artificial reefs in 6-7 m with hogfish and grouper, distinct from Naples' passes.
  • Fort Myers Beach — Shallow, turbid southwest-Florida Gulf: bridge-rubble and concrete reefs 8-9 km offshore in 7-8 m holding sheepshead and hogfish.
  • Boca Grande — Gasparilla Island at Boca Grande Pass: concrete reefs with ~4 m of relief and a shallow boulder mitigation reef hold grouper and hogfish.
  • Crystal River — Nature Coast Big Bend: tannic, grassy water and low-relief limestone mean the fishery is offshore module reefs 27 km and more out (one ~46 km) holding grouper and cobia.
  • Cedar Key — Big Bend Cedar Key: tannic, grassy water over low-relief hard bottom; the reefs are Levy module fields ~13 km out and a cleaner concrete reef ~17 km west.

Alabama

Alabama — the largest US artificial-reef program (>1,100 sq mi, Shipp zone); nongame only, .gpx coords public.

  • Orange Beach — Gateway to Alabama's reef zone — the largest artificial-reef program in the US, with 1,000+ sq mi of public reefs and rigs holding snapper, grouper and amberjack.
  • Gulf Shores — Alabama's nearshore eco-reefs sit just 5-12 km out in the largest US artificial-reef program - shallow, clear and easy freedive for snapper and triggerfish.
  • Dauphin Island — Offshore Liberty-ship wrecks and reefs south of the island hold big snapper and cobia, part of Alabama's vast public reef program.
  • Fort Morgan — Baldwin County at the turbid mouth of Mobile Bay: the nearest public reefs are 18-20 km offshore - hurricane bridge rubble and limestone pyramids in 18-22 m holding snapper, distinct from Dauphin Island and Gulf Shores.

Mississippi

Mississippi — spear/gig allowed for finfish; barrier islands, 1-mile ban around the national-seashore islands.

  • Biloxi — Behind the barrier islands the Mississippi Sound runs turbid, but the FH reefs south of Ship and Horn islands clear up for snapper.
  • Gulfport — Offshore FH reefs south of the barrier islands give the cleanest Mississippi water for snapper; the inshore Sound and Cat Island reefs are turbid and sheltered.
  • Pascagoula — Jackson County fish havens: the nearest reef is ~14 km out in the turbid western Sound, but the deeper havens south of the barrier islands (17-21 m) are cleaner and hold snapper, distinct from Biloxi and Gulfport.
  • Bay St. Louis — The weakest Mississippi stop: turbid western Mississippi Sound with only shallow inshore reefs (1-2 m) - limestone and old railroad-bridge rubble - plus a cleaner reef off Cat Island ~27 km out (partly federal; verify local).

Louisiana

Louisiana — home of rig-diving (rigs-to-reef); standard spear legal, flounder by barbless spear/gig only.

  • Grand Isle — Louisiana's only inhabited barrier island: reefed platforms and delta reefs offshore hold cobia, snapper and sheepshead, while Barataria Bay is sheltered but silty.
  • Venice (LA) — The end of the road at the Mississippi's Birdfoot delta - famous rig and delta-reef diving for cobia, amberjack and snapper, but nearshore water is brown with river plume.
  • Port Fourchon — Rig-diving gateway: reefed platforms just offshore hold snapper and cobia, while Timbalier Bay is sheltered and silty.
  • Cocodrie — A Terrebonne bayou town on Lake Pelto - sheltered limestone reefs for drum and sheepshead in very turbid, plume-fed water.
  • Empire — A spot-poor delta town at the Mississippi's edge: inshore is turbid estuary, so the real fishery is far-offshore standing and reefed rigs (~60 km around the delta) holding snapper and cobia, plus Breton Sound rubble ~16 km NE.
  • Cameron — Southwest Louisiana at the turbid Calcasieu and Sabine outflow: inshore Lake Calcasieu rubble reefs (2-4 m) are brackish and murky, while the West Cameron 45 reef ~31 km offshore is the clear-water pick.

Texas

Texas — spear for NONGAME only (sheepshead/flounder); gamefish (red drum/seatrout) pole-and-line only, rigs-to-reef.

  • Galveston — Granite jetties and offshore reefs off Galveston hold sheepshead, flounder and snapper.
  • Surfside Beach — Freeport's jetties and offshore Liberty-ship reefs give sheepshead, flounder and snapper.
  • Port O'Connor — A Matagorda Bay town with limited spearable structure - the ship-channel jetties are the shallow option; offshore reefs are deep.
  • Rockport (TX) — A bay-locked town that borrows Port Aransas's Gulf structure ~21 km south; the nearest clear water and jetties are there.
  • Port Aransas — Mustang Island's iconic granite jetty is the Texas freedive backbone, with offshore Liberty-ship reefs deeper out.
  • Corpus Christi — Packery Channel jetties to bedrock plus reefed offshore platforms hold sheepshead and snapper.
  • South Padre Island — Brazos Santiago Pass jetties give the clearest water on the Texas coast, with the Texas Clipper wreck offshore.
  • Port Isabel — At the Brazos Santiago Pass, granite jetties and the offshore Texas Clipper wreck hold sheepshead and snapper in the clearest Texas water.
  • Matagorda — A weak Matagorda Bay town at the Colorado River mouth: the granite river-mouth jetties in 2-7 m are the only practical freedive structure, with the nearest offshore reef ~26 km out in ~18 m.
  • Port Mansfield — A Laguna Madre town whose granite East Cut jetties through Padre Island (~26 km E) offer the clearest local water and the freedive backbone; TPWD's offshore reefs here are all reefed rigs and a Liberty ship on 69-71 m bottoms - deep scuba only.

California

California — kelp and the California Current; white seabass/CA halibut/yellowtail/CA sheephead, no giant sea bass or garibaldi; MPA network (SMR closed).

  • San Diego (Point Loma) — Point Loma kelp — white seabass, yellowtail and lobster over shore- and boat-access reef, well north of the Cabrillo SMR.
  • La Jolla — Famous La Jolla kelp beds — WSB, yellowtail, halibut and lobster; the Cove itself is the no-take Matlahuayl SMR.
  • Encinitas — Reef fingers and offshore kelp — calico bass, halibut and lobster around Swami's and Beacon's.
  • Oceanside — Outfall-pipe reef and harbor jetty structure — lobster, calico, sheephead and halibut.
  • Dana Point — Mile-long Salt Creek kelp and headland reef — lobster, sheephead, calico, yellowtail and WSB.
  • Laguna Beach — Rocky coves and kelp — but nearly the whole coastline is MPA; huntable water starts south of Table Rock.
  • Newport Beach — Little Corona and Crystal Cove reef/kelp — halibut and bass; conditional SMCA rules apply, verify before you take.
  • Long Beach (San Pedro) — White Point boulder reef and the mile-long LA breakwater — calico, sheephead, halibut and lobster.
  • Palos Verdes — Kelp forests and rocky reef below the PV cliffs — WSB, halibut and lobster between the Point Vicente no-take zones.
  • Redondo Beach — Redondo submarine-canyon rim and the artificial reef — halibut, bass, sheephead and lobster.
  • Malibu — Rocky points and kelp around Point Dume — calico, WSB and halibut; the point itself is the no-take Dume SMR.
  • Avalon (Catalina Island) — Clear Catalina kelp and reef — but the Avalon MPA cluster covers the classic sites; nearest huntable water is toward Two Harbors.
  • Two Harbors (Catalina Island) — Ship Rock and Eagle Reef pinnacles off the Isthmus — yellowtail and WSB passes in clear island water.
  • Ventura — Pitas Point boulder reef and the harbor jetty, with Channel Islands access — WSB, halibut and bass.
  • Santa Barbara — South-facing kelp reefs sheltered by Point Conception — WSB, halibut and lobster off Naples and Mesa Lane.
  • Morro Bay — Cold kelp and rocky reef around Morro Rock and Montaña de Oro — lingcod, rockfish, cabezon and halibut.
  • San Simeon — Rugged kelp-fringed point reefs with minimal crowds — lingcod, vermilion rockfish and visiting WSB.
  • Monterey — Monterey Bay kelp forest — lingcod, rockfish and cabezon; most of the waterfront is MPA, hunt the harbor-entrance side.
  • Carmel — Kelp and rocky reefs of Carmel Bay — lingcod and rockfish; Point Lobos and Carmel Bay carry no-take/conditional rules.
  • Santa Cruz — North Monterey Bay kelp and reef — lingcod, rockfish and halibut; Natural Bridges is a no-take SMR strip.
  • Half Moon Bay — Pillar Point jetties and reef — rockfish, lingcod and halibut, hemmed by the Montara SMR and Pillar Point SMCA.
  • Fort Bragg — Cold rocky reefs and bull-kelp around Noyo — big lingcod, rockfish and cabezon.
  • Mendocino — Rocky coves and bull-kelp — big lingcod and rockfish; Van Damme and Point Cabrillo bracket the huntable water.
  • Pacific Beach (Mission Bay) — Wreck Alley ships and the Mission Bay jetty rocks — calico and sand bass, sheephead, rockfish and lingcod, all safely south of the La Jolla SMRs.
  • Carlsbad — Terramar Point rocky reef and kelp fringe — calico and sand bass, rockfish, summer yellowtail and lobster on a mostly sandy coast.
  • San Clemente — Wheeler North artificial kelp reef and the San Onofre kelp beds — sheephead, calico and sand bass, white seabass, yellowtail and lobster, outside every MPA.
  • Huntington Beach — Two offshore artificial reefs — Bolsa Chica and the A1-A4 quarry rock — on a long sand beach; calico and sand bass, sheephead, sculpin, lingcod and lobster.
  • Oxnard (Channel Islands Harbor) — Mainland harbor jetties on a sand coast, or run the boat to Anacapa's open south-side reef — calico bass, sheephead, lobster and halibut.
  • Goleta — Goleta Pier pipeline reef and the Ellwood and Naples kelp reefs — kelp bass, sheephead, white seabass and lobster; the Campus Point SMCA is full no-take.
  • Cayucos — Productive open-coast kelp and rocky reefs off Cayucos Point and Estero Bluffs — lingcod, vermilion and other rockfish, sheephead and cabezon.
  • Pacific Grove — Monterey Peninsula kelp reefs — finfish by spear only inside the PG Marine Gardens SMCA; lingcod, cabezon and rockfish.
  • Bodega Bay — Boulder-and-bull-kelp reefs on the outer Sonoma coast north of the harbor — lingcod, cabezon and rockfish; clear of the Bodega Head and Russian River MPAs.
  • Trinidad — Sheltered rocky-reef bay behind Trinidad Head — prolific rockfish, lingcod, cabezon and greenling, the easiest shore entry on the North Coast.
  • Crescent City — Far North Coast rocky points and a harbor breakwater — the region's biggest lingcod and jumbo rockfish; the Whaler Island jetty fishes when the outer coast is blown out.

Oregon

Oregon — lingcod/rockfish/cabezon; the new Ocean Endorsement (2026) is required, no salmon/steelhead by spear.

  • Brookings — South-coast rocky reefs with Oregon's best viz — rockfish, lingcod and greenling off Chetco Point and Rainbow Rock.
  • Port Orford — Protected rocky coves and headland reef — lingcod and rockfish; Redfish Rocks is a no-take marine reserve.
  • Charleston (Coos Bay) — Sunset Bay dives when the outer coast is rough, plus the Simpson Reef complex off Cape Arago — rockfish and lingcod.
  • Newport — Yaquina Bay jetty fingers and offshore stacks — perch, lingcod and rockfish over rocky reef.
  • Depoe Bay — Current-scoured rocky reefs — rockfish and lingcod; Otter Rock is a no-take marine reserve.

Washington

Washington — lingcod/rockfish/halibut allowed; salmon and sturgeon spear-PROHIBITED, no yelloweye retention.

  • Neah Bay — Cape Flattery's clear current-swept rocky reefs — dense rockfish, lingcod and cabezon in Marine Area 4.
  • La Push — Outer-coast rock and pillar reefs at the Quillayute mouth — lingcod and rockfish; respect the Quillayute Needles NWR.
  • Port Angeles — Strait of Juan de Fuca reefs and Ediz Hook — lingcod and cabezon; Tongue Point is a no-take marine sanctuary.
  • Anacortes — Rosario-Strait rocky points around Fidalgo Head — lingcod (season) and cabezon.
  • Friday Harbor (San Juan Island) — San Juan Island rock and kelp off Lime Kiln — lingcod and cabezon; Marine Area 7 bans rockfish retention.
  • Edmonds — Puget Sound structure — resident giant lingcod and GPO; the Underwater Park is a no-take reserve, hunt the jetty and Possession Bar.
  • Port Townsend — Strait of Juan de Fuca shore dives off Fort Worden and Point Wilson — lingcod and kelp greenling on slack water; MA9 rockfish are release-only.
  • Tacoma (The Narrows) — Puget Sound Narrows walls — Day Island and Fox Island — for wolf-eel, lingcod and cabezon; slack-water only in extreme current.
  • Westport — Grays Harbor south jetty and the sheltered Half Moon Bay cove — lingcod, black rockfish, cabezon and greenling; coastal rockfish retention is allowed here.

Alaska

Alaska — spear is legal gear; halibut/lingcod/rockfish, but cold, Cook Inlet hyper-tides and low viz make it expert-level.

  • Kodiak — Cold clear kelp and rocky coast — black rockfish, kelp greenling and lingcod on the pinnacles.
  • Homer — Kachemak Bay rocky points and kelp — lingcod and rockfish; inner bay is glacial-turbid, cross to the clearer far side.
  • Seward — Resurrection Bay boulder walls and rock faces — rockfish and octopus; lingcod is closed year-round in the bay.
  • Sitka — Sitka Sound rock and kelp — lingcod and black/yellowtail rockfish; SE Alaska lingcod closes Dec 1.
  • Ketchikan — Rocky walls and current-swept reefs — lingcod, rockfish, greenling and wolf eels; dive Clover Pass at slack.
  • Juneau — Channel rock-and-kelp walls off Douglas Island and Auke Bay — rockfish and greenling in big-tide water.
  • Valdez — Prince William Sound fjord — Allison Point from the road or the Valdez Narrows by boat; rockfish, lingcod and halibut in cold, glacial-silt water.

Hawaii

Hawaii — no licence for residents; ulua/uhu/palu, removing invasive roi/ta'ape encouraged; MLCDs are no-take, scuba-spear banned in West Hawai'i.

  • Honolulu — South-shore reefs off Kaka'ako and Maunalua Bay — uku, goatfish and papio; stay clear of the Waikiki MLCD.
  • Haleiwa (North Shore) — North Shore reef points and flats — ulua, uku and goatfish; diveable only in the summer flat spell.
  • Waianae — The clearest leeward Oahu water — Makaha caverns and NW-tip reefs for ulua, uku and kumu.
  • Hawaii Kai — SE Oahu walls and outer reef — China Walls ledges, eagle rays, uku and omilu; Hanauma Bay is a no-take MLCD.
  • Lahaina — West Maui reefs at Olowalu and Mala Wharf — uku, omilu and goatfish; Honolua Bay is a no-take MLCD.
  • Kihei — South Maui lava ledges and caves at Makena and Wailea — uku, goatfish and omilu; Molokini is a no-take MLCD.
  • Kailua-Kona — Kona's clear reefs and lava drop-offs — uku, ono and pelagics; West Hawai'i FMA: freedive spear OK, SCUBA spear banned.
  • Captain Cook (Kealakekua Bay) — Deep clear Kona reefs at Ke'ei and Two Step — uku and reef fish; the namesake Kealakekua Bay is a no-take MLCD.
  • Hilo — East Hawai'i lava reefs and arches at Richardson's and Leleiwi — kole, uhu, uku and papio; dive calm days only.
  • Poipu — South Kauai reefs and coral bommies — uku, papio and goatfish off Mahā'ulepu and Koloa Landing.
  • Kaneohe — Windward Oahu's barrier reef — the outer slope off Kapapa has the best viz; uku, ulua, papio, kumu and roi.
  • Kahului — North-central Maui fringing reefs — Waihee, Kanaha and Paukukalo; uku, uhu, kumu, weke and roi.
  • Hana — Remote East Maui — sheltered Hana Bay plus the 'Alau and Waianapanapa lava reefs on calm days; uhu, kumu, weke, ulua and roi.
  • Lihue (Nawiliwili) — Southeast Kauai reefs around Nawiliwili — Ninini Point, Nukolii and remote Mahaulepu; uhu, weke, ta'ape, papio and uku, all outside the harbor FMAs.
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Frequently asked questions

Rules current as of 2026 — spearfishing law is STATE-by-state in the US. License, which species you may spear (e.g. striped bass is legal in RI/NY/NJ/DE/VA but banned in ME/MA/CT/MD/NC/SC), powerhead rules and beach/pier buffers all vary; federal sanctuaries (Gray's Reef, FL Keys, Flower Garden Banks) ban spearfishing. Always confirm with the state fish & wildlife agency and local ordinances before you go.

Is spearfishing legal in the USA?

Yes, in the salt water of almost every coastal state, with that state's recreational license. But species, gear and area rules vary a lot: Texas only allows spearing «nongame» fish, Georgia is ambiguous in state waters, and there are many no-take zones. Check your coast's regional guide.

What license do I need?

The recreational saltwater fishing license of the state you dive in. There is no separate «spearfishing» license. Florida is $17 (resident) / $47 (non-resident); New York and New Jersey use a free registry; Hawaii is free for residents and needs the NRMFL for non-residents. Carry it in the water.

Can I spear lobster?

No, on no US coast. Lobster (spiny or American) is taken by hand ONLY, with a dedicated diver permit in several states. Spearing one or carrying a pierced lobster is a violation. The rule is coast-wide: no exception.

Can I spearfish on scuba?

It depends on the state. Florida and California allow it for finfish; Alabama requires being «completely submerged» (scuba OK). But Hawaii bans SCUBA spearfishing in West Hawai'i and the MLCDs, and many reserves close any method. Check the state and the zone first.

Where and when is visibility best?

The Florida Keys and Hawaii give 15–40 m almost year-round. North Carolina (Gulf Stream wrecks) and Southern California shine in summer–fall. The Northeast and North Pacific are cold and variable: short windows on flat days. Pick the day with each city's forecast.