Fishing is a favorite national pastime in the United States but it’s also heavily regulated and for good reason. Overfishing has endangered the survival of many species of fish, slowing down their reproduction rates so that they can’t replace the population lost to human consumption fast enough. When a fish species becomes too rare in certain areas, it can endanger entire ecosystems as organisms that depend on eating those fish begin to starve. This is why fishing regulations are so important.

Regulations on recreational fishing and commercial fishing are quite different. Most of the time, permits have to be obtained for recreational and commercial fishing, but they are very different permits. Commercial fishers are allowed to harvest much more fish than recreational fishers, though they are usually both limited to a certain number per season. In addition, commercial fisherman’s boats are more often regulated. If you are interested in either commercial or recreational fishing, check these websites for all the information that you need to know before you fish.

Commercial Fishing Regulations

• The importance of Fishing Laws: A great page on fishing outlining why fishing laws exist and your role in obeying those laws.
• Commercial Saltwater Fishing: Lists regulations for commercial fishing in saltwater.
• Massachusetts Regulations: Outlines the commercial fishing regulations in Massachusetts, where it’s one of the biggest industries.
• California Commercial Fishing Restrictions: Shows where California commercial fishing is allowed in California and what is allowed within those regions.
• Tennessee Commercial Regulation Outlines: An article that discusses the permits that have to be obtained in Tennessee as well as their costs and other information related to commercial fishing there.
• Virginia Commercial Fishing Regulations: Provides detailed information about Virginia’s regulations on commercial fishing and permits.
• NJ Regs: Lists all of New Jersey’s regulations pertaining to commercial fishing in all its aspects.
• DEM Regulations: Outlines Rhode Island’s Department of Environmental Management’s regulations about commercial fishing and similar activities.
• Regulations on Fishing Vessels: What regulations on commercial fishing vessels are supposed to accomplish for the sea life and fisherman affected.
• Missouri Fishing Regulations: Discusses all of Missouri’s fishing regulations as well as ways to get proper permits.

Recreational Fishing Regulations

• Texas Regulations: Outlines all of Texas’s varied regulations regarding catching fish for recreational purposes.
• Saltwater Fishing Regulations - Recreational: New York’s regulations on recreational fishing, including a limit to how many fish can be caught and how many in total during a specific time period.
• Louisiana Regulations: PDF document that explains the new 2010 regulations for recreational fishing in Louisiana.
• Maryland Tidal Recreational Fisheries Regulations: Discusses when Maryland fisheries can release their fish for recreational use, how many fish they can release, etc by regulation.
• Fishing and Shell fishing: A look at regulations on recreational fishing and recreational shell fishing in the State of Washington.
• Maine Saltwater Recreational Fishing: Information about which fish can be legally caught during recreational fishing in Maine as well as other regulations.
• Florida Recreational Fishing: Discusses the different regulations in Florida.
• Fishing Resources: Resources for people who are looking for fishing regulations in Oregon.
• Saltwater Recreational Fishing Menu: Detailed menu with information about certain regulations as well as links to Georgian fisheries and their regulations.
• National Park Regulations: Explains how regulations in National Parks can be different, but the same.