Rules & Regulations
Cast net laws in Kentucky
Legal with restrictionsInformational 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 may take rough fish and small redear sunfish for bait; incidental sport fish must be released immediately. Prohibited in lakes under 500 acres and in specified trout streams/tailwaters.
Size, mesh & licensing
- Max size
- 20 ft diameter (10 ft radius)
- Mesh
- Fixed at 1 in bar mesh
- Water type
- Freshwater only (no coastline)
- License
- Yes — valid resident/nonresident sport fishing license, or statutory exemption
Recommended BasicGear net
Cast Net — Basic Series — Choose a size up to 10 ft radius — any Basic Series mesh option is well under Kentucky's 1 in cap.
Official source
Last verified: 2026-07-08
See all 50 states, or shop the cast net lineup for Kentucky.