Rules & Regulations
Cast net laws in South Dakota
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
Bait species only (baitfish, crayfish, freshwater shrimp, leeches) — game fish and protected species must be released immediately. The state rule explicitly sets no size restriction for noncommercial use.
Size, mesh & licensing
- Max size
- No size restriction (noncommercial use)
- Mesh
- No mesh restriction (noncommercial use)
- Water type
- Freshwater only
- License
- Yes — valid South Dakota fishing license
Recommended BasicGear net
Cast Net — Basic Series — No cap of any kind for noncommercial use — any BasicGear cast net works.
Official source
SD Game, Fish & Parks — ARSD 41:09:04:04↗
Medium confidenceThe primary rule page is a JavaScript-only single-page app; rule text was confirmed via a Cornell LII mirror instead of a direct render.
Last verified: 2026-07-08
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