OHIOFishing Regulations 2018-2019 Effective MARCH 1, 2018 to FEBRUARY 28, 2019 OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE wildohio.gov contact 2018-2019 information CHANGES The fee for a nonresident fishing license has increased to $43.50. The new fee is effective March 1, 2018. Blue catfish and channel catfish regulations have changed at Hoover Reservoir. See page 8. Lake Snowden was removed from the list of walleye, saugeye, and sauger lakes. See page 9. Site-specific trout regulations have changed. See page 9. OHIO FISHING REGULATIONS WILDLIFE HEADQUARTERS 2045 Morse Road Columbus, OH 43229‑6693 (614) 265‑6300 (Voice) wildohio.gov 1‑800‑750‑0750 (Ohio Relay-TTY) 1‑800‑WILDLIFE (1‑800‑945‑3543) 1-800-WILDLIFE WILDLIFE DISTRICT ONE (1-800-945-3543) 1500 Dublin Road Columbus, OH 43215 LAKE ERIE FISHING FORECAST (614) 644‑3925 1-888-HOOKFISH WILDLIFE DISTRICT TWO (1-888-466-5347) 952 Lima Avenue Findlay, OH 45840 TO REPORT POACHING (419) 424‑5000 1-800-POACHER WILDLIFE DISTRICT THREE (1-800-762-2437) 912 Portage Lakes Drive Akron, OH 44319 (330) 644‑2293 FOLLOW US WILDLIFE DISTRICT FOUR Like us on Facebook 360 E. State Street facebook.com/ohiodivisionofwildlife Athens, OH 45701 (740) 589‑9930 Like us on Facebook facebook.com/yourwildohioangler WILDLIFE DISTRICT FIVE 1076 Old Springfield Pike Follow us on Twitter Xenia, OH 45385 twitter.com/OhioDivWildlife (937) 372‑9261 Follow us on Instagram FAIRPORT FISHERIES UNIT instagram.com/your_wild_ohio 1190 High Street Fairport Harbor, OH 44077 The ODNR Division of Wildlife is funded by annual hunt- (440) 352‑4199 ing, trapping, and fishing license sales. It is the authority on Ohio’s fish and wildlife resources, and uses no state or SANDUSKY FISHERIES & ENFORCEMENT UNITS federal taxpayer dollars to fulfill its mission. Additional 305 E. Shoreline Drive funds come in the form of federal aid reimbursement Sandusky, OH 44870 from an excise tax on hunting and fishing equipment. (419) 625‑8062 Money generated allows the ODNR Division of Wildlife to INLAND FISHERIES RESEARCH UNIT promote conservation efforts of game and non-game an- 10517 Canal Road SE imals. Examples of these efforts include endangered and Hebron, OH 43025 threatened species restoration, fish hatcheries, hunter (740) 928‑7034 and angler education, and law enforcement. OHIO FISHING REGULATIONS THIS SUMMARY is intended for the convenience of anglers and IS NOT INTEND- ED to cover all laws and regulations. THIS SUMMARY is not intended for use as evidence or as a defense in a criminal or civil case. Due to possible changes, this summary may not be an accurate reflection of the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code, which contains the details of these regulations. Copies of the actual laws are available for review at each ODNR Division of Wildlife district office and online at wildohio.gov. TABLE OF CONTENTS LICENSE INFORMATION 4 STATEWIDE REGULATIONS 6 LAKE ERIE REGULATIONS 7 SITE-SPECIFIC WATERS 8 FROG & TURTLE REGULATIONS 11 OHIO RIVER REGULATIONS 12 BANKLINES, SETLINES, FLOATLINES, & TROTLINES 14 FISH OHIO AWARD 17 GENERAL INFORMATION 18 CONTACT INFORMATION 23 MAY 5 & 6 ARE FREE FISHING DAYS On May 5 and 6, 2018, all Ohio residents are invited to experience Ohio’s fantastic public fishing opportunities without purchasing a license. All size and bag limits apply during these two days. OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE The ODNR Division of Wildlife’s mission is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY The ODNR Division of Wildlife offers equal opportunity regardless of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in education programs). If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or fa- cility, you should contact: The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Diversity & Civil Rights Programs-External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 130, Arlington, VA 22203 Ohio Department of Natural Resources, EEO Office PUBLICATION 5084 (R1217) 2045 Morse Road, Bldg. D, Columbus, OH 43229-6695. Total Printed: 625,000 Unit Cost: $0.107 Pub Date: 12/17 license2018-2019 OHIOinformation FISHING REGULATIONS LICENSE FEES LICENSES VALID MARCH 1, 2018 to FEBRUARY 28, 2019 LICENSE TYPE COST Resident Fishing License $19.00 For persons age 16 through 65 who have resided in Ohio for the past six months. Resident Reduced-Cost Senior Fishing License For persons age 66 and older, born on or after January 1, 1938 $10.00 who have resided in Ohio for the past six months. One-Day Fishing License LICENSE INFORMATION For residents and nonresidents, the purchase of a One-Day Fishing License may $11.00 be applied as credit toward the purchase of an annual fishing license (minus writing fee). Only one may be applied to the purchase of an annual license. Lake Erie Charter One-Day Fishing License For residents and nonresidents, the license may be purchased in advance of a scheduled charter trip. To validate the license, anglers must sign it and fill in the $11.00 date at the beginning of the trip. If the trip is postponed, anglers may keep the unvalidated license until they are able to reschedule the trip. Annual Nonresident Fishing License $43.50 Three-Day Nonresident Tourist’s Fishing License $19.00 Duplicate License A fishing license that has been lost, stolen, or destroyed can be reissued from any $4.00 * license vendor or via the Internet. * Free reprints are available at wildohio.gov. ALL ABOVE LICENSE COSTS INCLUDE A $1.00 WRITING FEE LICENSE PURCHASING FISHING LICENSES ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL AUTHORIZED LICENSE SALES AGENTS AND AT WILDOHIO.GOV. Licenses and permits purchased at retail Operator assisted short-term licenses are outlets or at wildohio.gov are printed available for purchase by calling 1-866- on plain white paper. The paper can be 703-1928 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. A trimmed and folded down. It is highly rec- $5.50 fee will be added to the cost of the ommended to protect your licenses from license. the elements. An Ohio resident is a person who has re- Licenses purchased using a mobile de- sided in the state of Ohio for the past six vice will be emailed to the customer upon consecutive months. All others are consid- completion of the transaction. Licenses ered nonresidents and must purchase a are not required to be printed as long as nonresident license. the image of the license can be displayed on a mobile device and presented upon request. The Lake Erie Charter One-Day Fishing License is not available for pur- chase from a mobile device and is not 4 valid for use unless printed. LICENSE INFORMATION LICENSE REQUIREMENTS A fishing license is required to take fish from Ohio waters. A fishing license is required to take frogs or turtles on public and private property. Persons fishing in privately owned ponds, lakes, or reservoirs that are open to pub- lic fishing through an agreement or lease with the ODNR Division of Wildlife are re- quired to have a fishing license. Persons must have their license in their FREE LICENSES Ohio residents born on or before Decem- possession while fishing and must show the ber 31, 1937 can obtain a free license at any license to anyone on request. Licenses can be displayed using a mobile device. license outlet, or online at wildohio.gov. The following Ohio residents are also eli- Members of the U.S. Armed Forces on ac- tive duty stationed in Ohio, but not on gible for a free license, but must submit leave or furlough are required to purchase a formal application (Form DNR 9032), a resident license. which is available by calling 1-800-WILD- LIFE (1-800-945-3543): Persons who are mobility impaired LICENSE EXEMPTIONS and require the assistance of another A FISHING LICENSE IS NOT REQUIRED person to cast and retrieve; OF PERSONS WHO ARE: Holders of veteran license plates Less than 16 years of age. This includes frogs and turtles; displaying the international wheelchair symbol; Persons fishing in privately owned ponds, lakes, or reservoirs to and from which fish Certain veterans who are do not migrate are not required to have a permanently disabled; license to take fish; Residents of state and county institutions; Giving assistance to an angler who has been issued the free mobility impaired Former prisoners of war. or blind fishing license, provided the two persons together are using only one line; Fishing, or taking frogs and turtles, on SOCIAL SECURITY land and water which they or their parents NUMBER REQUIREMENT own, except where the land is in or bor- Any customer who applies for a license is re- ders on state parks or state-owned lakes; quired to provide their Social Security Num- ber (SSN). Federal Statute 42 requires the SSN Fishing, or taking frogs and turtles, on land and water where they or their par- of any individual to whom the state issues a ents are tenants on which they reside, and recreational hunting or fishing license. Ap- from which they derive the majority of plicants who do not have an active SSN must their income from agricultural production affirm their status at the time of application. on that land (except state-owned lakes); Applicants must also declare their residency and provide their full name, date of birth, Members of the U.S. Armed Forces on ac- gender, address, height, weight, hair color, tive duty while on leave or furlough; and eye color. Once provided and recorded On May 5 and 6, 2018, all Ohio residents in the licensing system, applicants will only may fish without a license as part of Free be required to update their information on Fishing Days.