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Annual License Fees
| License Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
- Application for Aquaculture Unit License (Form #542-0134)
- Aquaculture Annual Report (Form #542-0136)
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.
- For more information, visit Chapter 89: Approved Aquaculture Species (off-site)
- Salmonid Family Fishes, and Catfish Family Fishes Importation Application
- Non-Indigenous Aquatic Organism Importation and Possession Permit Application
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 topCommercial Fisher
A person may take fish for commercial purposes from the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
- Iowa Commercial Fishing Regulations
- Commercial Fisher License Application (Form #542-0255)
- Commercial Fisher License Report Form (Form #542-1372)
- Commercial Roe Harvester and/or Roe Buyer Application (Form #542-0251)
- Commercial Roe Harvester Report Form (Form #542-1374)
- Commercial Roe Buyer Report Form (Form #542-1385)
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.
- Iowa Commercial Fishing Regulations
- Commercial Turtle Harvester Application (Form #542-0253)
- Commercial Turtle Harvester Report Form (Form #542-1371)
- Commercial Turtle Buyer Application (Form #542-0256)
- Commercial Turtle Buyer Report Form (Form #542-1373)
- Commercial Turtle and Fisher Helper Application (Form #542-0250)
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