Rules & Regulations
Cast net laws in Alaska
Legal — narrow personal-use fisheries onlyInformational only — this is not legal advice
Fishing regulations change, sometimes with little notice, and can vary further by county, water body, or season within a state. This page is a starting point for research, not a substitute for the law. Always verify current rules directly with your state's fish & wildlife agency or TakeMeFishing.org before you fish. BasicGear is not responsible for citations, fines, or gear seizures resulting from reliance on this page.
Last verified: 2026-07-08 — regulations are re-checked periodically; see the date above before assuming this is current.
Summary
Cast nets aren't a general sport-fishing method in Alaska. They're authorized only inside specific personal-use finfish fisheries (for example, Kenai/Kasilof-area herring), open to Alaska residents holding a personal-use permit.
Size, mesh & licensing
- Max size
- Not specified — varies by fishery and area
- Mesh
- Regulatory definition caps mesh at 1.5 in for the fisheries where cast nets apply
- Water type
- Fishery-specific (tidal and river)
- License
- Yes — resident personal-use permit or sport fishing license
Recommended BasicGear net
No recommendation — Legality depends entirely on which personal-use fishery is currently open and where — there's no general statewide allowance to size a net against. Check ADFG's current personal-use fishery announcements before buying gear for Alaska.
Official source
Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game — Personal Use Fisheries Regulations↗
Medium confidenceLast verified: 2026-07-08
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