Know about length, poles and limit.how about life jackets. All the time?? Signaling gear like glares and such?? Remember a little but figure it might have changed.
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Know about length, poles and limit.how about life jackets. All the time?? Signaling gear like glares and such?? Remember a little but figure it might have changed.
Life jacket on all times in a boat less than 16 feet. Boats 16 and over wear life jacket while big motor is running. Must also have a throwable cushion on a boat over 16 feet. If your gas tank can't be thrown out of any boat you must have a fire extinguisher. All fines are around 150. Also no alcohol on the boat if caught they can write you a ticket for a BUI. It is just like getting a DUI. Sardis and Grenada 3 poles each. Enid and arkabutla 5 poles each. Grenada Enid arkabutla must be over 12 and limit is 20. Sardis must be over 11 and limit is 15.
One thing to really pay attention to in the post by hotrod1 is the fact the fish must be OVER 12" or 11" on the respective lakes. For the sake of not getting a fine, when I fish Arkabutla, the fish has to be 12 1/4" for me to consider keeping it.
There have been many that get tickets due the fact they think the law reads 12" and over.
I can be OK on the fishing part but boating regs can throw me. Didn't they require the life jacket at all times a few years back? Thought they put in a rule requiring signaling devices other than a whistle too. I know I bought a package that had flares and other stuff because of it. Was it just a trial run to see how it worked or is it still in force?
For Arkansas:
Here is a link to the Handbook of Arkansas Boating Laws and Responsibilities
The Handbook of Arkansas Boating Laws and Responsibilites | Arkansas Offroad Education Online
PFDs are talked about on page 30
Here is a link to federal regulations:
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Here is the Arkansas Fishing Regulation Book:
AGFC | Arkansas Fishing Guidebook
I read somewhere Mississppi had special boating / lifevest regs for some lakes. They also do a good job manage'n lakes there. Key to it is , I think is annual drawdowns from what I've read. Wish Arkansas could manage lakes like Nimrod with more drawdowns to improve fishing.
The wildlife officer on Enid showed me a new measuring method.....he pressed the lips back past the gill plate on the measuring board and declared the fish short.....I explained that might be the way they do it there.....but us folks over here touch the lips and if the tail was over the line it was good.........he had us throw the fish back.....and said not to keep them the next day like that.....I said no problem I can just stay in Arkansas......I ain't been back!!!! He told me 3times his name wasn't Boodro.....but that was better than what I wanted to say.
Haven't heard anything about flares or whistles or horns on the big 4. They have never checked my boat for that. My boat is 16'6". Now fishing in the gulf might be a different story.
The rules for life jackets are Corps of Engineers rules. Jackets at all times under way and under 16 ft boat. Over 16 can remove jacket even trolling. If you use a inflatable belt type jacket you must have a regular approved jacket in the boat for everyone using the belts. A signaling device is required, whistle or horn. Never seen anything on flares. Not required but I suggest if you have a child in the boat even early teen and don't want a visit from the man have them in a jacket all the time. I won't try to quote the rule because unsure what age is but they do have a age limit where they must be worn at all times for children.