How Many Hooks Can You Fish With? [Each State Covered]

Over the millennia, the way fishing was conducted saw many changes. In today’s times, the standard fishing rig consists of a rod, reel, fishing line, and at least one hook. There are, however, anglers who opt to fish with multiple hooks, but is it allowed? And how many hooks can you fish with?

Most states only allow two hooks per line for sports fishing, with a maximum of 2 lines, while other states allow 100 hooks for trotlines. With Alabama rigs, some states permit 2 while others allow unlimited hooks. The amount of hooks permitted per state depends on the type of fishing conducted.

Although states generally follow a similar trend, there are one or two outliers. Before fishing in an area, you must ensure that you fish with the correct number of hooks and lines, or you run the risk of fines and even misdemeanors. So arm yourself with the knowledge below.

The Amount Of Hooks Allowed Per State

As with many industries in the US, each state has its regulations regarding what is permissible or not (within reason of the overarching legislation).

The amount of hooks permitted is directly related to the type of fishing conducted and the waterbody you’re in. Below we will investigate each state and how many hooks they allow you to use.

Alabama Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 5 hook limit.
Any recreational fisherman using a “trotline” may only use up to 100 hooks.
When fishing “gigs,” use 1 barbless hook.
You may fish with a maximum of 3 fishing rods with a maximum of 33 hooks between them when fishing at Weiss and Neely Henry Lakes.

Alaska Hook Regulations

Umbrella rigs: no limit.
When sports fishing, only 2 hooks are allowed.
When sport fishing for burbot or ice fishing, use a maximum of 15 hooks (one per line for 15 lines).
One hook for fly fishing.

Arizona Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 2 hook limit.
When recreational fishing, not more than 2 hooks per line.
Most recreational fishing needs to be done with single-pointed hooks.

Arkansas Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 5 hook limit.
When trotlining, use a maximum of 100 hooks per line.
Trout, catfish, bass, and other fish may only be caught on one hook while fishing in flowing water.
You can use a maximum of 100 hooks in the Mississippi River.

California Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hook limit.
There is a maximum of 1 line and 2 hooks for most angling. Some areas do allow up to 3 hooks on one line.
Only 1 hook is allowed when catching sturgeon.

Colorado Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hook limit
Most areas only allow 1 line with a maximum of 3 hooks.
Trotlines: one trotline may be used in specific areas with 100 hooks (25 drop lines with 1 common hook and 3 barbed hooks each).
Jugs: maximum of 10 jug lines with 1 hook each.

Connecticut Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 5 hook limit.
Trout: single hook.
No more than 3 lines at any time, with some areas restricting to 2 (with one hook per line).
When ice fishing: maximum of 6 tip-ups, with 3 hooks each (some lakes are restricted to 5 hooks maximum).
Salmon fishing: 1 hook.

Delaware Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hook limit.
Three hooks per single line for recreational fishing and a maximum of 2 lines per person.
Ice fishing: 5 tip-ups.
Shad fishing: maximum of two hooks (two single hooked lures).
Bass fishing requires circle hooks.

Florida Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: no hook limit.
When using natural bait in Federal waters, use non-stainless steel circle hooks.
Trotlines with 10 or fewer hooks need to be tended at all times and are considered hook-and-line tackle.
You can only catch certain fish with a single hook, including tripletail, African pompano, snook, and red and black drum.
Recreational fishing: 10 hooks on a hook and line, and 25 on a trotline, before needing a commercial permit.

Georgia Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: no hook limit.
It is considered commercial fishing
if you use 51 or more hooks on a trotline.
The number of rods or lines for game fishing has no restrictions, except for:
- One rod/line for trout fishing in certain areas.
- Two rods in public fishing areas.
- Two rods for sport shad fishing.
Other than a sports fishing license, there are no restrictions on the number of hooks when using set-hooks and jugs to catch catfish, non-game fish, and American and Hickory shad.
Trout fishing requires up to two lures with single hooks.

Hawaii Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 2 hook limit.
Some areas allow 2 rods/lines per person, with a maximum of 2 hooks per rod, while others only allow 1 rod, with 2 hooks maximum.
Wahiawā, Wailua Reservoir, and Kōke’e Public Fishing Area restrict the number of hooks to 1.

Idaho Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 5 hook limit.
For all fishing, a maximum of 5 hooks is allowed per line (including 5 treble hooks)
Ice fishing: 5 hooks per 5 lines maximum.

Illinois Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: legal in areas where the “2 poles with 2 hooks each” is not in effect, or by modifying the rig to have 2 hooks.
Sports anglers: 1 fishing pole/line with a maximum of 2 hooks.
Fifty hooks maximum per trotline or any other line.
Ice fishing: 3 poles with 2 hooks on each line.

Indiana Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hook limit.
A maximum of 3 poles/lines may be used, with 3 hooks; this includes ice fishing.
You may use up to 10 limb lines with 1 hook each.
One trotline of a maximum of 50 hooks.
One hook on a jug and float line.

Iowa Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 2 hook limit.
A maximum of 3 hooks per line when on the Mississippi or Missouri rivers.
One to two lines may be used with a maximum of 2 hooks when trolling/still fishing.
One to two lines for tip-ups and a maximum of 2 hooks per line.
Trotlines: require a sports fishing permit and a maximum of 5 lines with 15 hooks cumulative.
A boundary water sport trotline license allows for up to 200 hooks.

Kansas Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 2 hook limit.
Recreational anglers: 2 rods (unless a 3 pole permit holder), with 2 hooks per line.
One trotline with 25 hooks maximum.
Alternatively: 8 setlines/float lines with 2 hooks.

Kentucky Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 5 hook limit.
Trout fishing in some areas only allows 1 hook.
Trotlines: maximum 50 hooks.
Snagging with a single hook (some areas allow up to 5 hooks for snagging).

Louisiana Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 5 hook limit.
Trotlines: maximum 3 lines with 50 hooks per line.
Non-stainless steel hooks are required when using natural baits for reef fish.

Maine Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 1 hook limit.
For most fishing, 1 line with 1 hook is the maximum.
When smelt fishing, there is no hook limit.

Maryland Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 2 hook limit.
For most fishing, 2 hooks per line are the maximum.
Jugs: You may use 10 lines, with 2 hooks per line.
Three lines with 2 hooks max for freshwater fishing.
Ice fishing: 5 tip-ups max.

Massachusetts Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 2 hook limit.
Ice fishing: a maximum of 5 hooks.
Maximum of 2 hooks for open water fishing.

Michigan Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 5 hook limit.
A maximum of 6 hooks on 3 poles/lines.

Minnesota Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 1 hook limit.
Maximum of 3 hooks per line.

Mississippi Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 5 hook limit.
A hard maximum of 100 hooks (trot and limblines included).
Yo-yos and jugs: 25 maximum with 2 hooks each.
Recreational anglers: 1 rod with 2 hooks max in certain areas.

Missouri Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hook limit.
Trotlines, setlines, and jug lines: 33 hooks maximum.
Recreational fishing: 3 hooks maximum.

Montana Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: some areas, up to 5 hooks.
Rivers and streams: 1 line, 2 hooks.
Lakes, reservoirs, and ice fishing: 2 lines, 2 hooks.
In are some lakes, up to 6 lines, with 2 hooks per line (including ice fishing).
From Morony Dam to Fort Benton, Missouri river and some areas of the Eastern section: 6 lines with 6 hooks per line (especially in rivers and streams).

Nebraska Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 2 to 5 hooks.
Ponds, lake, and reservoirs: 2 lines and 2 hooks maximum.
Ice fishing: 5 lines with 2 hooks per line.
Rivers and streams: maximum 15 hooks (either 15 lines with 1 hook or 3 lines with 5 hooks).

Nevada Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 2 hook limit.
Maximum of 3 hooks for most recreational fishing, but most areas stipulate 2 hooks.
Maximum of 2 rods/poles if you have a permit.
Many areas require a single barbless hook.

New Hampshire Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: Illegal to use.
Maximum 2 hooks per line with 2 lines in open waters maximum.
For trout and salmon: a single hook is required.

New Jersey Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hooks.
Maximum of 3 rods with 3 hooks per line.
Ice fishing: 5 tip-ups, with 1 hook.
Jigging: 3 hooks
Nine hooks are the hard maximum.

New Mexico Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 5 hook limit.
Two hooks per line for trout.
Red and green chile waters: 1 hook per line.
Trotlines: 25 hooks maximum and only 1 line.

New York Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 5 hook limit.
Ice fishing: maximum of 15 hooks.
Maximum of 3 lines with 15 hooks.
Certain lakes have a 2 line, 2 hook restriction.
One line and 1 hook restriction in Finger Lakes, Great Lakes, and Tributaries.

North Carolina Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 5 hook limit.
Trotlines: limited to 70 hooks.
Roanoke River: 1 line and 1 hook.
Trout: single hook.
Set hooks/jug hooks: 3 hooks.

North Dakota Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 2 hook limit.
Two hooks per line maximum for most recreational fishing.
2 poles maximum.
Ice fishing: 4 lines.

Ohio Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hook limit.
Recreational fishing: 2 lines with 3 hooks per line.

Oklahoma Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 5 hook limit.
Trotlines: 100 hooks, over 3 lines.
Jugs: 20 lines and 5 hooks per line
Limblines: 20 lines and 2 hooks per line.
Trout: single hooks.
Recreational: 3 rods with 3 hooks.

Oregon Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hook limit.
Maximum of 3 hooks for recreational fishing.
Some areas allow a second rod with 3 hooks.
Species with fewer hooks:
- Pacific halibut – 2 hooks
- Sturgeon – 1 hook
- Ocean salmon – 2 hooks

Pennsylvania Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 5 hook limit.
Maximum 3 lines with unlimited hooks.
Ice fishing: maximum 5 tip-ups/lines, with unlimited hooks, except in Pymatuning Reservoir, where a maximum of 3 hooks per line.

Rhode Island Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hook limit.
Ice fishing: 6 lines with 1 hook each.

South Carolina Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: no hook limit.
You may use up to 4 rods/lines and an unlimited number of lines for non-game fish from a boat.
No more than 50 hooks for trotlines, set hooks, and jugs.

South Dakota Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hook limit.
Two lines for open water fishing and 4 for ice fishing with 3 hooks per line.
Snagging salmon: 1 hook.

Tennessee Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hook limit.
Generally, 3 hooks per line.
Trotlines: maximum 100 hooks.
Limblines: 25 lines, with 1 hook per line.
Jugs: 50 lines, with 1 hook per line.
Some seasonal restrictions of 1 line and 1 hook also exist.

Texas Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 5 hook limit.
In total, up to 100 hooks. One line may have up to 50 hooks.
Jugs and throwlines: 5 hooks per line.
Sail lines: 30 hooks maximum.

Utah Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hook limit.
Recreational: 3 hooks per line.
Certain areas permit up to 2 rods.
Setlines: 1 per angler with 15 hooks maximum.

Vermont Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 2 hook limit.
Recreational fishing: 2 lines with 2 hooks.
Seymour Lake and Little Averill Lake: 1 line.
Ice fishing: 8 lines, with 2 hooks, but only 4 (lines) on Seymour and Little Averill Lakes.

Virginia Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: no hook limit.
Certain trout areas restrict fishing to 1 line and 1 hook.

Washington Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hook limit.
Recreational fishing: 1 line with a maximum of 3 hooks.
Sturgeon, whitefish, and fish from Bear Creek, Beaver Creek, and Bogachiel river (among others): 1 hook limit.

West Virginia Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: no hook limit.
Trout: maximum 2 rods in some areas.

Wisconsin Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hook limit.
Maximum of 3 hooks.

Wyoming Hook Regulations

Umbrella rig: 3 hook limit.
Maximum 3 hooks per line.
Maximum of 2 lines/poles.

Conclusion

Although this blog aims to serve as a general guide per state, it is essential to do your research before fishing in any particular waterbody. There are often local regulations for that waterbody and the type of fish you intend to catch. To avoid any unnecessary fines, arm yourself with knowledge before going on a fishing expedition.