Southern Region Regulations

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Map of Nevada highlighting southern counties in dark blue, representing a specific region for fishing regulations or management areas as outlined in the Nevada Fishing Guide on eRegulations.com. — Map of Nevada highlighting southern counties designated for specific fishing regulations and management areas.

The Southern Region includes the four counties of southern Nevada: Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln and Nye. Popular fishing waters within this region include Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, the Colorado River, Eagle Valley Reservoir, Echo Canyon Reservoir, and the reservoirs on Kirch Wildlife Management Area. A number of small streams in northern Nye County provide wild trout fishing and a few are stocked with hatchery-reared rainbow trout. The Southern Region NDOW Office is located at 3373 Pepper Ln., Las Vegas, NV 89120, (702) 486-5127.

Important Note: Within the Southern Region the following general fishing seasons, hours, limits and regulations apply to all waters EXCEPT those listed under “Southern Region Special Regulations.” If the water in which you intend to fish is not listed under the Region’s Special Regulations, then the General Regulations shall apply.

All game fish must be dead before being transported away from the body of water where caught.

Attention Anglers!

Know your catch in the Colorado River

When fishing in Lakes Mead and Mohave, and the Colorado River below Davis Dam, it is essential to be able to identify two protected species of fish you may incidentally catch.

The possession of Razorback Sucker and Bonytail is prohibited!

These species are native to the Colorado River system and are endangered species. These fish can be mistaken for common carp or other unprotected species. Please help conserve native wildlife by immediately releasing these fish unharmed.

Illustration of a Common Carp, labeled as an unprotected species in Nevada. Key features include a dorsal spine, barbels, and large scales. The species occurs in all waters of the Colorado River System, as noted in the Nevada Fishing Guide on eRegulations.com. — Common Carp identification: An unprotected species with key features such as a dorsal spine, barbels, and large scales, found in all waters of the Colorado River System.

Illustration of a Razorback Sucker, an endangered species in Nevada. Key features include a raised keel or 'humpback' and small scales. The species occurs in all waters of the Colorado River System, as highlighted in the Nevada Fishing Guide on eRegulations.com. — Razorback Sucker identification: An endangered species with a distinctive raised keel or 'humpback' and small scales, found in all waters of the Colorado River System.

Illustration of a Bonytail, an endangered species in Nevada. Key features include a dorsal hump on adults, silvery coloring, and a long, narrow caudal peduncle. Found in Lake Mohave and the Colorado River below Davis Dam, as detailed in the Nevada Fishing Guide on eRegulations.com. — Bonytail identification: An endangered species with a dorsal hump in adults, silvery coloring, and a long, narrow caudal peduncle. Found in Lake Mohave and the Colorado River below Davis Dam.

Illustrations by Joseph Tomelleri

Southern Region General Regulations

Open year around, any hour of the day or night, except where noted under special regulations.

An AIS Decal Is not required for Arizona registered watercraft on Lake Mead/Mohave and the Colorado River. All Nevada registered motorized and non-motorized vessels must display a current Nevada AIS Decal.

Interstate Waters Fishing License Information

Lake Mead, Mohave, Colorado River: Persons under 12 years of age are not required to have a fishing license. Persons 12 years of age or older must have either a Nevada fishing license or a Nevada Interstate Boundary Waters license; a Nevada short-term fishing permit or an Arizona fishing license.

Southern Region Daily Limits

Except as noted under “Southern Region Special Regulations” the daily limits are as follows:

Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln and Nye counties: the limit is 10 trout and 15 warmwater game fish of which not more than 10 may be black bass.

Possession Limits

The possession limit is two times the daily limit for the water in which the fish are caught. Possession limits apply to both general and special regulation waters.

Bait Regulations

See Fishing with Bait Fish for more regulations on the use of baitfish.

Tackle Restrictions

In Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, and the Colorado River, the use of more than two hooks for bait or flies is prohibited (Refer to NAC 503.590). See below and General Statewide Regulations for further information.

Artificial Lure Waters

See General Statewide Regulations for more information on artificial lure waters.

Spearfishing

Persons may spearfish for striped bass in Lake Mead and in Lake Mohave from Cottonwood Cove to the cable below Hoover Dam. Spearfishing for striped bass is prohibited in that portion of Lake Mohave from Cottonwood Cove to Davis Dam and from Davis Dam down river to the Nevada state line. In Lakes Mead and Mohave and the Colorado River system, spearfishing is prohibited within 1/2 mile of any dock or swimming area. See General Statewide Regulations for further information.

When spearfishing, a person must display, within 100 feet, an appropriate diver’s flag. A mechanical spearing device may be used only under the surface of the water, and the spear must be attached to the device by a lanyard. Fishing license regulations apply when spearfishing. (Refer to NAC 503.590-592)

Please contact the county you will be fishing in prior to assure you are in compliance with county regulations.

All Regulations are applicable to CR 23-15 Amendment 1.

Southern Region Special Regulations
Area	Season and hours	Daily Limit
Clark County
Carpenter Canyon Creek	Year round; any hour of the day or night	2 trout
Clark County Urban Ponds: (Boulder City Pond/Veteran’s Memorial Park, Lorenzi Park Pond, Mesquite Urban Pond-Hafen Lane Pond, Sunset Park Pond, and Floyd Lamb Park Pond)	Year round; hours are when the park is open to public use.	3 game fish
Cold Creek Pond and Cold Creek	Year round; any hour of the day or night	3 game fish
Clark County (Continued)
Colorado River below Davis Dam	Year round; any hour of the day or night except in areas as posted.	5 trout, 6 black bass, 10 striped bass, and 25 catfish. Minimum size for black bass is 13 inches total length. No limit on other game fish.
Colorado River below Davis Dam	Special Regulations: For bait restrictions see Fishing with Bait Fish.
Lake Mead	Year round; any hour of the day or night, except in areas as posted.	5 trout, 6 black bass, 25 catfish and 15 crappie. No limit on striped bass less than 20 inches total length. The daily limit on striped bass 20 inches total length or longer is 20 fish. *No limit on other game fish.
Lake Mead	Special Regulations: For bait restrictions see Fishing with Bait Fish.
Lake Mohave	Year round; any hour of the day or night, except in areas as posted.	5 trout, 6 black bass, 25 catfish and 15 crappie. No limit on striped bass less than 20 inches total length. The daily limit on striped bass 20 inches total length or longer is 20 fish. No limit on other game fish.
Lake Mohave	Special Regulations: For bait restrictions see Fishing with Bait Fish.
Virgin River and Muddy (Moapa) River systems	Year round; any hour of the day or night	5 trout, 6 black bass, 25 catfish, 15 crappie, and 20 striped bass. No limit restriction on other game fish.
CLARK COUNTY CLOSED WATERS: Lakes Mead and Mohave and the Colorado River areas as posted immediately above and below Hoover and Davis Dams; and except as otherwise posted by the National Park Service, all harbors, in or from marinas, from boats moored within marinas, and in mooring areas for those waters to include, but not limited to, the following on Lake Mead: Calville Bay Marina, Boulder Harbor, Hemenway Harbor, and the Las Vegas Boat Harbor/Lake Mead Marina Harbor Complex and on Lake Mohave: Cottonwood Cove. Spring Mountain Ranch State Park Pond. Veteran’s Memorial Park, Boulder City, all waters except the Boulder City Pond as posted in Clark County. Las Vegas Wash, all waters within the Clark County Wetlands Park. Cornerstone Park, all waters within Cornerstone Park as posted by Henderson Municipality.
Lincoln County
Eagle Valley Reservoir and Meadow Valley Wash above the reservoir	Year round; any hour of the day or night.	5 trout and 15 warmwater game fish of which not more than 10 may be black bass.
Echo Canyon Reservoir	Year round; any hour of the day or night.	5 trout and 15 warmwater game fish of which not more than 10 may be black bass.
Nesbitt Lake (Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area)	Year round; any hour of the day or night except the portion above the old fence line as posted closed to entry from Feb. 15 - August 15 and closed to fishing during waterfowl season.	15 warmwater game fish of which not more than 10 may be black bass. No limit on bullheads (unlimited possession)
Nesbitt Lake (Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area)	Special Regulations: See boat restrictions in Boating Regulations.
Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge	Year round; any hour of the day or night except North Marsh which is closed to fishing during the waterfowl hunting season.	3 trout and 15 warmwater game fish of which not more than 5 may be black bass.
LINCOLN COUNTY CLOSED WATERS: Ash Springs outflow through the River Ranch to beginning of the concrete ditch, in Lincoln County. Crystal Springs and outflow for one half mile to beginning of the concrete ditch, in Lincoln County.
Nye County
Beatty Urban Pond	Year round; any hour of the day or night.	3 game fish
Kirch Wildlife Management Area	Year round; any hour of the day or night, except the upper portions of Adams-McGill, Cold Springs and Haymeadow Reservoirs, which are closed to trespass Feb. 15 - August 15 as posted. A 100-yard area as posted around the inflow from Hot Creek to Adams-McGill Reservoirs is closed to fishing Jan. 1 - April 1.	5 trout and 15 warmwater game fish of which not more than 10 may be black bass. No limit on bullheads (unlimited possession). You may only possess 5 black bass from April 1 - June 30.
Kirch Wildlife Management Area	Special Regulations: See boat restrictions Boating Regulations.
Kirch Wildlife Management Area Tule Reservoir	Open Aug. 16 - Feb. 14, any hour of the day or night.	5 trout and 15 warmwater game fish of which not more than 10 may be black bass. No limit on bullheads (unlimited possession).
Kirch Wildlife Management Area Dacey Reservoir	Year round except the upper portions of Dacey Reservoir closed to trespass Feb. 15 - Aug. 15 as posted. A 100-yard area as posted around the inflow from Hot Creek to Dacey Reservoir is closed to fishing Jan. 1 - April 1.	1 trout and 15 warmwater game fish of which not more than 10 may be black bass. No limit on bullheads (unlimited possession). Zero black bass (catch and release only) from April 1 through June 30.
Kirch Wildlife Management Area Dacey Reservoir	Special Regulation: Artificial lures only, see General Statewide Regulations.
Upper Reese River and tributaries from the Arc Dome wilderness boundary south of the Yomba Shoshone Tribe Reservation to its headwaters	Year round; any hour of the day or night.	No limit on trout
Sportsman’s Park Pond	Year round; hours are when the park is open to public use.	3 game fish
Stewart Creek from its confluence with the Reese River to its headwaters	Year round; any hour of the day or night.	No limit on trout
NYE COUNTY CLOSED WATERS: Kirch Wildlife Management Area - Hot Creek to its confluence with Adams-McGill Reservoir; Sunnyside Creek above Sunnyside / Adavin County Road crossing in Sec 36, T7N, R61E in Nye County.