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Fishing regulations at Santa Cruz River, AZ
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in Arizona can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Regulations for top species
Channel catfish
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.
No size limit.
These regulations apply statewide unless Site-Specific Special Regulations apply to that body of water. Click here to see Site-Specific Special Regulations Statewide includes all state and federal refuges, parks and monuments; open areas do not include any area closed to hunting, fishing, or trapping.
Special Regulation Areas: (catfish bag limit includes channel catfish and flathead catfish)
- Community fishing lakes: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Community fishing ponds: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Alamar Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Alvord Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Apache Lake: bag limit = 5 catfish when taken by bow and arrow
- Bear Canyon Lake: no bag limit
- Beaver Creek (Wet and Dry): no bag limit
- Black Canyon Lake: no bag limit
- Bonsall Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Canyon Lake: bag limit = 5 catfish when taken by bow and arrow
- Cataract Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- CC Cragin Reservoir (Blue Ridge): no bag limit
- Chaparral Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Chevelon Canyon Lake: no bag limit
- City Reservoir: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Cluff Ranch Ponds: catch and release only
- Colorado River-Glen Canyon Dam to Separation Canyon: no bag limit
- Copper Sky Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Cortez Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Council Avenue Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Crystal Gardens Water Treatment Facility (city of Avondale): catch and release only
- Dankworth Pond: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Dave White Regional Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Dead Horse Ranch State Park Lagoons: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Desert Breeze Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Desert West Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Discovery Park Ponds: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Dogtown Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- East Verde River: no bag limit
- Eastmark Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Eldorado Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Encanto Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Evelyn Hallman Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Fain Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Festival Fields Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Fortuna Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Francis Short Pond: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Freestone Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Friendship Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Gilbert Regional Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Graham County Fairgrounds Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Granite Basin Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Green Valley Park Lakes: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Greenfield Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Heroes Regional Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Horseshoe Lake: no bag limit
- Kaibab Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Kennedy Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Kiwanis Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Knoll Lake: no bag limit
- Lakeside Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Long Tom Lake: no bag limit
- Lower Goldwater: artificial flies and lures only; catch and release only
- Lower Lake Mary: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Mansel Carter Oasis Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- McQueen Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Oak Creek: no bag limit
- Pacana Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Paloma Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Papago Park Ponds: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Parker Canyon Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Patterson Ponds: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Pena Blanca Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Pioneer Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Red Mountain Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Redondo Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Rio Vista Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Riverview Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Roadrunner Park Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Roper Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Saguaro Lake: bag limit = 5 catfish when taken by bow and arrow
- Sahuarita Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Santa Fe Reservoir: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Show Low Creek Meadow: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Silverbell Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Steele Indian School Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Stone Dam: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Sundance Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Surprise Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Tempe Town Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- The Pond at Town Hall (town of Gilbert): catch and release only
- Tucson waters in the city park system, but not in the CFP: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Upper Salt River (Roosevelt Diversion Dam upstream to the Reservation Boundary): no bag limit
- Verde River upstream of Horseshoe Dam including tributaries: no bag limit
- Veterans Oasis Park Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Virgin River: no bag limit
- Water Ranch Park Lake: bag limit = 2 catfish
- West Clear Creek: no bag limit
- West Wetlands Pond: bag limit = 2 catfish
- Whitehorse Lake: bag limit = 4 catfish
- Willow Springs Lake: no bag limit
- Woods Canyon Lake: no bag limit
- Yavapai Lakes: bag limit = 4 catfish
Common carp
AZ Methods
Hook and Line Methods• All new fishing and combo licenses allow the angler to fish with two poles or lines simultaneously. In no case are more than two lines allowed to be used at the same time.• "Angling" means the taking of fish by one line and not to exceed two hooks, by one line and one artificial lure, which may have attached more than one hook, or by one line and not to exceed two artificial flies or lures.• Fishing lines must be constantly attended and in immediate control.• The hook, fly or lure must be used in such a manner that the fish voluntarily attempts to take it in its mouth.• A single-pointed barbless hook is a fish hook with a single point, manufactured without barbs on or which barbs have been completely closed or removed. This does not include a treble hook. Regulations limiting tackle to single-pointed barbless hooks do not eliminate the angler's option for simultaneous fishing as defined. Anglers may use a single line with no more than two single hooks, as with a primary hook and a dropper hook or fly.Artificial Flies and Lures• "Artificial flies and lures" means manmade devices intended as visual attractants to catch fish. Artificial flies and lures does not include living or dead organisms or edible parts of those organisms, natural or prepared food stuffs, or chemicals or organic materials intended to create a scent, flavor, or chemical stimulant to the device regardless of whether it is added or applied during or after the manufacturing process.• Check the Special Regulations to determine if hooks must also be single- pointed barbless hook only.Other Fishing Methods• Bow and arrow, crossbow, snare, gig, spear or spear gun, or snagging are valid methods for taking common carp, buffalofish, mullet, tilapia, goldfish, and shad statewide unless a closure or Special Regulation restricts it.• Bow and arrow fishing for catfish (5 catfish daily bag limit, any combination) is valid at Apache Lake, Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake.Capturing Baitfish and Crayfish for Bait• Live baitfish may be used only in areas approved for certain species.• Live bait may be taken by minnow trap, dip net, cast net, pole and line, handline, crayfish net or seine.• Cast nets shall not exceed a 4-foot radius (or an 8-foot diameter).• Seine nets shall not exceed 10 feet in length and 4 feet in width.• Except for sunfish of the genus Lepomis, the flesh of gamefish may not be used as bait.• Landing nets or dip nets may be used for the capture of legal baitfish or crayfish or only to land a legally hooked fish.• Any unattended traps or devices used to catch or hold aquatic wildlife or fish
Green sunfish
AZ Methods
Hook and Line Methods• All new fishing and combo licenses allow the angler to fish with two poles or lines simultaneously. In no case are more than two lines allowed to be used at the same time.• "Angling" means the taking of fish by one line and not to exceed two hooks, by one line and one artificial lure, which may have attached more than one hook, or by one line and not to exceed two artificial flies or lures.• Fishing lines must be constantly attended and in immediate control.• The hook, fly or lure must be used in such a manner that the fish voluntarily attempts to take it in its mouth.• A single-pointed barbless hook is a fish hook with a single point, manufactured without barbs on or which barbs have been completely closed or removed. This does not include a treble hook. Regulations limiting tackle to single-pointed barbless hooks do not eliminate the angler's option for simultaneous fishing as defined. Anglers may use a single line with no more than two single hooks, as with a primary hook and a dropper hook or fly.Artificial Flies and Lures• "Artificial flies and lures" means manmade devices intended as visual attractants to catch fish. Artificial flies and lures does not include living or dead organisms or edible parts of those organisms, natural or prepared food stuffs, or chemicals or organic materials intended to create a scent, flavor, or chemical stimulant to the device regardless of whether it is added or applied during or after the manufacturing process.• Check the Special Regulations to determine if hooks must also be single- pointed barbless hook only.Other Fishing Methods• Bow and arrow, crossbow, snare, gig, spear or spear gun, or snagging are valid methods for taking common carp, buffalofish, mullet, tilapia, goldfish, and shad statewide unless a closure or Special Regulation restricts it.• Bow and arrow fishing for catfish (5 catfish daily bag limit, any combination) is valid at Apache Lake, Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake.Capturing Baitfish and Crayfish for Bait• Live baitfish may be used only in areas approved for certain species.• Live bait may be taken by minnow trap, dip net, cast net, pole and line, handline, crayfish net or seine.• Cast nets shall not exceed a 4-foot radius (or an 8-foot diameter).• Seine nets shall not exceed 10 feet in length and 4 feet in width.• Except for sunfish of the genus Lepomis, the flesh of gamefish may not be used as bait.• Landing nets or dip nets may be used for the capture of legal baitfish or crayfish or only to land a legally hooked fish.• Any unattended traps or devices used to catch or hold aquatic wildlife or fish
No size limit. No bag limit.
These regulations apply statewide unless Site-Specific Special Regulations apply to that body of water. Click here to see Site-Specific Special Regulations Statewide includes all state and federal refuges, parks and monuments; open areas do not include any area closed to hunting, fishing, or trapping.
Special Regulation Areas:
- Community Fishing Lakes: bag limit = 10 sunfish (includes bluegill, redear sunfish, green sunfish, and hybrid sunfish)
- Community Fishing Ponds: bag limit = 5 sunfish (includes bluegill, redear sunfish, green sunfish, and hybrid sunfish)
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