Commercial Fishing

Back to top

Annual License Fees

Annual License Fees
License TypeFee
Resident Commercial Fisher License$202
Nonresident Commercial Fisher License$402
Resident Commercial Fish Helper (16 years old and older)$52
Nonresident Commercial Fish Helper (16 years old and older)$102
Resident Commercial Roe Harvester$102
Nonresident Commercial Roe Harvester$3,502
Resident Commercial Roe Buyer$252
Nonresident Commercial Roe Buyer$502
Resident Commercial Turtle Harvester$102
Nonresident Commercial Turtle Harvester$402
Resident Commercial Turtle Helper (16 years old and older)$52
Nonresident Commercial Turtle Helper (16 years old and older)$102
Resident Commercial Turtle Buyer$202
Nonresident Commercial Turtle Buyer$402
Back to top

Aquaculture Units

An aquaculture unit license holder can possess, propagate, buy, sell, deal in, and transport the aquatic organisms produced from breeding stock legally acquired, including minnows. A license holder may own or operate a pond where guests or customers are allowed to fish for a fee, or take fish without regard to angling licenses, seasons, gear restrictions, or bag limits.

Back to top

Fish Importation

You must have a Fish Importation Permit to receive, propagate, or sell in the state any aquaculture species not listed in subrule 89.1(1) (Approved Aquaculture Species). Aquaculture units cannot import live fish, viable eggs, or semen from any species of the salmonids family (trout, salmon, or char) and ictalurid family (catfishes and bullheads), unless the owner or operator possesses a fish importation permit. 

Back to top

Bait Dealers

New crayfish harvest regulation on Storm Lake
To help reduce the spread of rusty crayfish to other waterbodies in Iowa, licensed bait dealers can no longer harvest any crayfish species from Storm Lake.

Bait Dealers - Retail

A licensed person who sells minnows, frogs, crayfish and salamanders retail for fish bait.

Bait Dealers - Wholesale

A licensed person who resells minnows, frogs, crayfish and salamanders wholesale for further distribution to retail customers.

Back to top

Commercial Fisher

A person may take fish for commercial purposes from the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

Back to top

Commercial Turtle

Commercial Turtle Harvest Rules (effective 3/22/17)

You must have a commercial turtle license to take, possess, or sell live or dressed turtles. A commercial turtle license holder may sell live or dressed turtles. Nonresidents can only take turtles in Iowa from the Mississippi, Missouri, and Big Sioux rivers.

 

Back to top