Special Regulations and Seasons by Species

The following bodies of water identified under Special Regulations and Seasons have special fishing seasons (R12-4-313), daily bag and possession limits, length limits or closures that differ from General Statewide Regulations or Statewide Daily Bag and Possession Limits. Only exceptions to General Statewide Regulations and General Sport Fishing Seasons are shown for each area.

TROUT

CATCH AND RELEASE artificial flies and lures only, single-pointed barbless hooks:

• Aker Lake
• Becker Lake
• Burro Creek
• Canyon Creek-OW Bridge to the Fort Apache Reservation Boundary
• Coyote Creek
• Dude Creek — May 1 through Dec. 31
• East Fork, Little Colorado River-above Colter Dam
• East Verde River-origin to the pumphouse
• Elk Tank
• Grant Creek – Pinaleno Mountains
• Grapevine Creek — May 1 through Dec. 31
• Horton Creek
• J.D. Dam
• Mamie Creek
• Middle Tank
• Oak Creek-West Fork and portion of Oak between Junipine Crossing and Call of the Canyon crossing
• Perkins Tank
• River Reservoir — Oct. 1 through April 30
• Silver Creek — Oct. 1 through March 31
• Thompson Creek
• West Fork Black RiverHayground Creek to Fort Apache Reservation Boundary
  

2 TROUT LIMIT artificial flies and lures only:

• Carnero Lake
• Chevelon Canyon Lake
• Chevelon Creek, from the Confluence with Willow Springs Creek to Chevelon Crossing
• Lees Ferry
• Lee Valley Creek
• Lee Valley Lake

2 TROUT LIMIT:

• Alamar Park Pond
• Bonsall Pond
• Council Avenue Pond
• Dave White Regional Park Pond
• Discovery Park Ponds
• Eastmark Park Pond
• Eldorado Park Pond
• Evelyn Hallman Pond
• Festival Fields Pond
• Freestone Pond
• Friendship Pond
• Frye Mesa Reservoir
• Gilbert Regional Park Pond
• Graham County Fairgrounds Pond
• Greenfield Park Pond
• Heroes Regional Park Pond
• McQueen Pond
• Pacana Pond
• Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex Ponds
• Papago Park Ponds
• Patterson Ponds
• Rio Vista Park Pond
• Roadrunner Park Pond
• Show Low Creek Meadow
• Steele Indian School Park Pond
• Water Ranch Park Lake (barbless hooks only)
• West Wetlands Pond

5 TROUT LIMIT:

• Colorado River-Separation Canyon to the California/ Nevada Boundary, including Lake Mead and Lake Mohave

10 TROUT LIMIT:

• Colorado River-California/ Nevada Boundary to the International Boundary

UNLIMITED TROUT REGULATIONS:

• Colorado River-Navajo Bridge to Separation Canyon

SEASONAL UNLIMITED TROUT REGULATIONS SEPT. 1 – MARCH 31 ANNUALLY:

• Chevelon Creek-Chevelon Crossing to the confluence with the Little Colorado River
• East Clear Creek
• Nutrioso Creek

Trout Family (includes all species of trout, brook trout, and grayling)

Rainbow Trout

Description: Olive to bluish on the back, silvery sides, a pink band on the sides from head to tail. Many small black spots on back, sides, adipose and dorsal fin. Distinct radiating rows of black spots on tail fin. Generally, no spots on pectoral, pelvic and anal fins. Length: up to 28 inches. Weight: up to 15 pounds.

Brown Trout

Description: Olive-brown with yellowish sides. Some orange or red spots on the sides, spots often encircled with light yellow or white Dark spots on back and sides. Tail fin usually unspotted or vague - ly spotted. Adipose fin usually orange or reddish. Length: up to 30 inches. Weight: up to 20 pounds.

Apache Trout

Description: The Apache trout is one of Arizona’s two native trout species and is the Arizona state fish. Body color is yellowish-gold at the top of the head and the back is a dark olive. Dorsal, anal and pelvic fins are white tipped with dark, bold spots on dorsal and tail fin. Spotting on the body is sparse and irregular and may extend below the lateral line. Two small black spots on either side of pupil give appearance of black stripe through eye. Length: up to 20 inches. Weight: up to 5 pounds.

Cutthroat Trout

Description: Body shape similar to rainbow trout. Back and sides are lightly spotted; Dorsal, adipose and tail fins are heavily spotted. Red or reddish-orange slash on throat. Length: up to 20 inches. Weight: up to 6 pounds.

Brook Trout

Description: Gray to olive-green on the back. Vermiculations or worm-like markings on the back and dorsal fin. Sides lighter in color with blue halos around pink or red spots. White edge on lower fins and lower tail. Length: up to 18 inches. Weight: up to 4 pounds.

Gila Trout

Description: Gila trout have iridescent gold sides that blend to a darker shade of copper on the opercles. Spots on the body of this trout are small and profuse, generally occurring above the lateral line and extending onto the head, dorsal fin and caudal fin. Dorsal, pelvic and anal fins have a white to yellowish tip that may extend along the leading edge of the pelvic fins. Parr marks are commonly retained by adults, although they may be faint or absent. Length: up to 20 inches. Weight: up to 5 pounds.

Grayling

Description: The dorsal fin is large, dark-gray, blotched with pale spots, with cross-rows of deep blue spots and edged with red or orange. The dorsal fin has 17 to 25 rays. The tail fin is forked. The body has scattered black spots on silver-gray, sometimes pink sides. Scales larger than for trout. Length: up to 14 inches. Weight: up to 1.5 pound.

Tiger Trout

Description: Tiger Trout is a sterile hybrid that is the result of crossing a female brown trout with a male brook trout. Hy - bridization can occur naturally, however it is very rare. Stocked tiger trout are pro - duced in a hatchery. Coloring, markings, and tail shape can vary but generally is a dark maze-like pattern all over a brownish, gray, or silver body. The belly varies from white to yellowish orange as does the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins. These fins also have white leading edges. The tail fin is square to slightly forked. Length: up to 25 inches. Weight: up to 5 pounds (up to 32 pounds in other states).

BASS (LARGEMOUTH AND SMALLMOUTH)

CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY:

• Crystal Gardens Water Treatment Facility (city of Avondale)
• The Pond at Town Hall (town of Gilbert)
• Water Ranch Park Lake

UNLIMITED — NO LIMIT FOR EITHER LARGEMOUTH OR SMALLMOUTH BASS:

• Bear Canyon Lake
• Beaver Creek (Wet and Dry)
• Black Canyon Lake
• CC Cragin Reservoir (Blue Ridge)
• Chevelon Canyon Lake
• Colorado River-Glen Canyon Dam to Separation Canyon
• East Verde River
• Horseshoe Lake
• Knoll Lake
• Long Tom Lake
• Oak Creek
• Upper Salt River (Roosevelt Diversion Dam upstream to the Reservation Boundary)
• Verde River and tributaries
• Virgin River
• West Clear Creek
• Willow Springs Lake
• Woods Canyon Lake

1 BASS LIMIT, MINIMUM SIZE 13 INCHES:

• Alamar Park Pond
• Bonsall Pond
• Council Avenue Pond
• Dave White Regional Park Pond
• Discovery Park Ponds
• Eastmark Park Pond
• Eldorado Park Pond
• Evelyn Hallman Pond
• Festival Fields Pond
• Freestone Pond
• Friendship Pond
• Gilbert Regional Park Pond
• Goldwater Lake
• Graham County Fairgrounds Pond
• Greenfield Pond
• Heroes Regional Park Pond
• McQueen Pond
• Pacana Park Pond
• Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex Pond
• Papago Park Ponds
• Patterson Ponds (St. Johns)
• Rio Vista Park Pond
• Roadrunner Park Pond
• Show Low Creek Meadow
• Steele Indian School Park Pond
• West Wetlands Pond

2 BASS LIMIT:

• Dead Horse Ranch State Park Lagoons

2 BASS LIMIT, MINIMUM SIZE 13 INCHES:

• Alvord Lake
• Cataract Lake
• City Reservoir
• Chaparral Park Lake
• Copper Sky Lake
• Cortez Park Lake
• Desert Breeze Park Lake
• Desert West Park Lake
• Dogtown Lake
• Encanto Park Lake
• Fain Lake
• Fortuna Lake
• Francis Short Pond
• Green Valley Park Lakes
• Kaibab Lake
• Kennedy Park Lake
• Kiwanis Park Lake
• Lakeside Lake
• Mansel Carter Oasis Lake
• Paloma Park Lake
• Pioneer Lake
• Red Mountain Park Lake
• Redondo Lake
• Riverview Park Lake
• Santa Fe Reservoir
• Silverbell Lake
• Sahuarita Park Lake
• Stone Dam
• Sundance Park Lake
• Surprise Park Lake
• Tempe Town Lake
• Veterans Oasis Park Lake
• Whitehorse Lake
• Yavapai Lakes

6 BASS LIMIT, MINIMUM SIZE 13 INCHES:

• Topock Marsh
• Colorado River-Davis Dam to the International Boundary

20 SMALLMOUTH BASS, 5 LARGEMOUTH BASS LIMIT:

• Lake Powell

Bass Family

Largemouth Bass

Description: Large mouth with upper jaw of adults extending beyond rear margin of eye. Dark olive-green on back, green sides shading to white belly. Dark horizontal band on each side. Deep notch in dorsal fin. Soft dorsal fin with 12 to 13 rays. Length: up to 25 inches. Weight: up to 15 pounds.

Smallmouth Bass

Description: Smallmouth bass most often are bronze to brownish green in color, with dark vertical bars on sides. In contrast to the largemouth bass, the upper jaw does not extend beyond rear margin of eye. Eye reddish in color. Shallow notch in dorsal fin. Soft dorsal fin has 13 to 15 rays. Length: up to 20 inches. Weight: up to 6 pounds.

Temperate Bass Family

Striped Bass

Description: Body has six to nine black horizontal stripes on silvery-white sides. Dorsal fins are distinctly separate, unlike yellow bass, which are joined at the base. Pelvic fins in large adults, white with anal fin edged in white. Lower jaw protrudes beyond upper jaw. Generally two patches of teeth on tongue. 2nd anal spine distinctly shorter than the 3rd. Tail is slightly forked. Length: up to 50 inches. Weight: up to 60 pounds.

White Bass

Description: Body silver-white, 4 to 7 dark horizontal lines; Lines below lateral line often faint and broken. Dorsal fins are distinctly separate, unlike the yellow bass, which are joined at the base. 2nd anal spine distinctly shorter than the 3rd. Lower jaw protrudes beyond upper jaw; Generally a single patch of teeth at base of tongue. Length: up to 18 inches. Weight: up to 4 pounds.

Yellow Bass

Description: Body has golden-yellow sides with 5 to 7 horizontal lines; Lines appear broken and offset about midway on the lower side. Dorsal fins are con - nected. 2nd anal spine is about as long as the 3rd anal spine. No patches of teeth on tongue. Length: up to 13 inches. Weight: up to 1.5 pounds.

CATFISH

FLATHEAD AND CHANNEL CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY:

• Crystal Gardens Water Treatment Facility (city of Avondale)
• The Pond at Town Hall (town of Gilbert)

UNLIMITED — NO LIMIT FOR EITHER FLATHEAD OR CHANNEL:

• Bear Canyon Lake
• Beaver Creek (Wet and Dry)
• Black Canyon Lake
• CC Cragin Reservoir (Blue Ridge)
• Chevelon Canyon Lake
• Colorado River-Glen Canyon Dam to Separation Canyon
• East Verde River
• Horseshoe Lake
• Knoll Lake
• Long Tom Lake
• Oak Creek
• Upper Salt River (Roosevelt Diversion Dam upstream to the Reservation Boundary)

UNLIMITED — NO LIMIT FOR EITHER FLATHEAD OR CHANNEL CONTINUED:

• Verde River upstream of Horseshoe Dam including tributaries
• Virgin River
• West Clear Creek
• Willow Springs Lake
• Woods Canyon Lake

2 CATFISH LIMIT:

• Alamar Park Pond
• Bonsall Pond
• Council Avenue Pond
• Dave White Regional Park Pond
• Discovery Park Ponds
• Eastmark Park Pond
• Eldorado Park Pond
• Evelyn Hallman Pond
• Festival Fields Pond
• Freestone Pond
• Friendship Pond
• Gilbert Regional Park Pond
• Graham County Fairgrounds Pond
• Greenfield Park Pond
• Heroes Regional Park Pond
• McQueen Pond
• Pacana Park Pond
• Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex Pond
• Papago Park Ponds
• Patterson Ponds
• Rio Vista Park Pond
• Roadrunner Park Pond
• Show Low Creek Meadow
• Steele Indian School Pond
• Water Ranch Park Lake
• West Wetlands Pond

4 CATFISH LIMIT:

• Alvord Lake
• Cataract Lake
• Chaparral Park Lake
• City Reservoir
• Cluff Ranch Ponds
• Copper Sky Lake
• Cortez Park Lake
• Dankworth Pond
• Dead Horse Ranch State Park Lagoons
• Desert Breeze Park Lake
• Desert West Park Lake
• Dogtown Lake
• Encanto Park Lake
• Fain Lake Fortuna Lake
• Francis Short Pond
• Granite Basin Lake
• Green Valley Park Lakes
• Kaibab Lake
• Kennedy Park Lake
• Kiwanis Park Lake
• Lakeside Lake
• Lower Lake Mary
• Mansel Carter Oasis Lake
• Paloma Park Lake
• Parker Canyon Lake
• Pena Blanca Lake
• Pioneer Park Lake
• Yavapai Lakes
• Redondo Lake
• Red Mountain Park Lake
• Riverview Park Lake
• Roper Lake
• Sahuarita Park Lake
• Santa Fe Reservoir
• Silverbell Lake
• Stone Dam
• Sundance Park Lake
• Surprise Park Lake
• Tempe Town Lake
• Tucson waters in the city park system, but not in the CFP
• Veterans Oasis Park Lake
• Whitehorse Lake

5 CATFISH LIMIT WHEN TAKEN BY BOW AND ARROW:

• Apache Lake
• Canyon Lake
• Saguaro Lake

Catfish Family

Channel Catfish

Description: Scattered black spots on a silver or gray colored back and sides with a white belly. Few spots on large adults. Smooth, scaleless skin. 8 barbels or “whiskers.” Short base on small adipose fin. Deeply forked tail. Anal fin has 24 to 30 rays and is slightly rounded. Length: up to 35 inches. Weight: up to 30 pounds.

Flathead Catfish

Description: Back and sides mottled, dark-brown to yellow-brown; belly is yellowish-white. Head is broad and flat with small eyes. Large mouth, lower jaw projecting beyond the upper jaw. Adipose fin is large; Tail fin is flat or slightly notched. Length: up to 50 inches. Weight: up to 70 pounds.

Bullhead (black, yellow, brown)

Description: Body is yellow-olive to brown on back with yellowish sides, and yellow to white belly. Slight to no mottling. Chin barbels are always light in color, either white or pale yellow. Anal fin is moderately long with a straight profile; Tail fin is rounded. Length: up to 16 inches. Weight: up to 3 pounds

CRAPPIE (INCLUDING BLACK AND WHITE)

10 CRAPPIE:

• Lake Powell

15 CRAPPIE:

• Bartlett Lake
• Colorado River-Separation Canyon to Davis Dam, including Lake Mead and Lake Mohave
• Roosevelt Lake

25 CRAPPIE:

• Colorado River-California/Nevada border to the International Boundary, including Topock Marsh and Lake Havasu (in any combination with sunfish)

Black Crappie

Description: Head and back heavily and irregularly spotted with black blotches on a silver-olive background; Tail, dorsal and anal fins are spotted. Seven or eight spines on dorsal fin. Body is compressed. Length: up to 15 inches. Weight: up to 4 pounds.

COMMUNITY FISHING PROGRAM WATERS

“If people can’t get to the fish, we’ll bring fish to the people.” There are more than 53 park lakes and ponds participating in the program in 25 cities across the state. To ensure anglers have a good chance of catching fish, plenty of ready-to-catch fish are stocked during the fall, winter and spring seasons.

License Requirements

All Community Fishing Program waters require anglers 10 years of age or older to be licensed. Valid licenses include:

• General Fishing
• Youth Combination Hunt and Fish (ages 10-17)
• Combination Hunt and Fish (18 and over)
• Or Pioneer, Blind, Disabled Veteran, Short-term (one day) and youth group licenses

Note: Community Fishing licenses are not available starting Jan. 1, 2022. Community Fishing licenses purchased through Dec. 31, 2021, are valid for one year from date of purchase at designated Community Fishing Program waters.

Community Lakes and Ponds

Each of the waters in the managed Community Fishing Program is designated as either a Lake or a Pond and has been named accordingly. Community Lakes are larger bodies of water, generally over 3 acres, and have higher daily bag limits (see table below). Community Ponds have daily bag limits that are only half that of Lakes. Limits are reduced at the smaller bodies of water to avoid overcrowding and overfishing, while still providing a quality fishing experience. Once your daily limit is reached, you must stop fishing for that species.

Community Fishing Details

The Community Fishing webpage is your source of information for everything you need to know about the program: www. azgfd.gov/community

Fish Species	Daily Bag Limits		Minimum Size Limit
	Lakes	Ponds
Catfish	4	2	None
Trout	4	2	None
Bass	2	1	13 inches or more
Sunfish: various species including bluegill, redear, green and hybrid	10	5	None
White amur (grass carp)	1	1	30 inches or more

Sunfish Family (all pictured are in the genus Lepomis)

Bluegill

Description: The bluegill has blue coloring on the chin, a solid black opercle flap, a small mouth and a dark spot at the rear of the dorsal fin. The body is very compressed or flat and has from five to nine dark vertical bars on the sides. Length: up to 12 inches. Weight: up to 3 pounds.

Redear Sunfish

Description: The “Red-ear” sunfish has a black opercle flap which is bordered with a reddish or orange color on the rear of the flap. Sides of head have olive-brown speckling. Body is compressed or flat with an olive-green cast, light speckling on sides. Pectoral fin long and pointed, usually extends far past eye when bent forward. Length: up to 14 inches. Weight: up to 5 pounds.

Green Sunfish

Description: Large mouth with blue-green striations on the cheeks. Opercle flap is black with reddish or orange border. Body olive-green in color, dark vertical bars on sides. Pectoral fin short and rounded. Caudal fin and lower fin margins are white or yellowish with dusky spots at rear of dorsal and anal fins. Length: up to 10 inches. Weight: up to 1.5 pounds.

Pike and Perch Family

Walleye

Description: Back is yellow-olive with a brassy cast. Sides brassy-yellow with dark mottling. Belly is white. Dark spot at rear of spiny dorsal fin. Anal fin and lower lobe of tail fin are white. Eyes are opaque-silver in color. Length: up to 28 inches. Weight: up to 14 pounds.

Northern Pike

Description: Back and sides, dusky olive-green with rows of light oval spots. Dorsal, anal and tail fin have round to oblong darkened spots. Dorsal fin located far back on an elongated body. Large canine-like teeth. Cheeks completely scaled, only upper half of the gill cover is scaled. Length: up to 45 inches. Weight: up to 30 pounds.

Yellow Perch

Description: Back olive-green; sides brassy-yellow with 6 to 9 dark vertical bars; Belly is white. Anal fin, pectoral and pelvic fins are amber-orange tinted. Small teeth, not canine-like. Soft (rear) dorsal fin has 12 to 13 rays. Length: up to 12 inches. Weight: up to 1 pound.

Minnow Family

Common Carp

Description: Back olive-yellow with yellowish gold sides. Scales on back and upper sides are dark-edged, with a dark spot at the base. The dorsal fin has 17 to 22 rays. One saw-toothed spine at front of long dorsal and anal fin. Two barbels at each corner of the mouth on the upper jaw. Large adults have reddish-orange anal and tail fin. Length: up to 40 inches. Weight: up to 40 pounds.

Roundtail Chub (native)

Description: Body is thick and streamlined, dark olive-gray above with silver sides. Mouth extends to front of eye. Dorsal fin and anal fin usually have 8 to 10 rays. Large forked tail fin. Breeding males develop red or orange coloration on lower half of cheek and bases of paired fins. Length: up to 18 inches. Weight: up to 3 pounds. NEW: Catch-and-release only, statewide.

White Amur or grass carp

Similar to common carp only in general color (brassy yellow) and large scales. Notable differences include no barbels on bony mouth, no spine on a short dorsal fin or anal fin, more elongated body, less yellow in color, tail darker and more deeply forked. These fish are highly effective weed eaters and are stocked to control nuisance weeds and algae. Length: up to 42 inches. Weight: up to 40 pounds. NEW: 1 fish, 30 inch minimum statewide.

Protected Native Fish:

The four fish illustrated here are protected in Arizona. Should any of these be caught (most likely to occur in Colorado, Salt, Verde and Gila river systems), they must be immediately released unharmed.

Colorado River Pikeminnow

Description: Body is long and slender, gray-green back with silver sides. Scales, very small. Long, conical shaped head, flattened between the eyes; large, horizontal mouth. Dorsal fin originates behind origin of pelvic fins. Dorsal and anal fins almost always with nine rays. Tail fin, large and deeply forked. Length: up to 36 inches. Weight: up to 20 pounds.

Bonytail Chub

Description: Extremely rare. Federally listed as Endangered. Body highly streamlined, bluish, dusky color above, pale below. Head short, concave on top, arching smoothly into a subtle hump in adults. Dorsal fin rays almost always 10 or more; anal fin rays 9-11; very slender caudal peduncle. Length: up to 24 inches. Weight: up to 3 pounds.

Razorback Sucker

Description: Back, olive to brown-black, sides brown or pinkish; belly, white to yellow. Adults have sharp-edged keel or “humpback.” Mouth facing downward; lower lip widely separated into two lobes by a deep groove. 13-16 dorsal rays; 7 anal rays. Length: up to 30 inches. Weight: up to 8 pounds.

Humpback Chub

Description: Federally listed as Endangered. Body streamlined, dark olive-gray above, silver sides. Small head with snout overhanging mouth. High pronounced hump immediately behind head. This high-hump acts as a barrier to passing water forcing the body against the bottom where currents are slightly less, thus enabling these fish to move through rapids separating one eddying habitat from another. Deeply embedded scales. Slender caudal peduncle. Dorsal fin rays usually 9, anal fin rays 10 or more. Length: up to 18 inches. Weight: up to 2 pounds.