Fishing rules in Nara

Legal gear

We have not transcribed Nara’s gear table yet.

If you are not a Japanese national

Under the Act on the Regulation of Fishing Operations by Foreign Nationals (Act No. 60 of 1967), recreational fishing by foreign nationals in Japanese waters is limited to 'gathering or catching of aquatic animals or plants on a minor scale'. What you may use depends on the size of the boat you are on.

On a vessel of 3 gross tons or more, a foreign national may fish ONLY when the trip is run by a Japanese vessel under the control of a Japanese fisher — that is, a registered charter (yugyosen) or fishing boat. Most serious offshore boats are over 3 GT, so for offshore fishing a licensed Japanese guide is not a convenience. It is the law.

Up to 3 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to ¥30,000,000, or both — for breaching the gear and method rules that apply specifically to foreign nationals.

This is national law and applies in Nara exactly as everywhere else. It sits on top of the prefecture’s gear list above — you need to clear both.

Size limits and closed seasons

We have not transcribed Nara’s minimum sizes and closed seasons yet. That is a gap in this page, not an absence of rules — every prefecture sets them, and taking an undersized fish is an offence whether or not we list the figure. Ask the prefecture or the cooperative before you keep anything.

Cooperatives that sell a permit online

1 in Nara. Buying before you travel matters: on many rivers the price doubles if you buy it on the bank.

Who holds the fishing right

10 cooperatives on record in Nara, from the fifth-class fishery rights and permit rules the prefecture publishes by law. A right names the waters and the species it covers — outside that list no cooperative permit is required, though national and prefectural rules still are.

• Shimokitayama-mura Fishery Cooperative 下北山村漁業協同組合Lake Ikehara and Nanairo Dam, plus the Zenki, Ikego and Nishi RiversRight covers: Sweetfish, Amago, Crucian carp, Pond smelt, Eel, Common carp07468-5-9555 / https://www.shimokita-gyokyo.com
• Kamikitayama-mura Fishery Cooperative 上北山村漁業協同組合Upper Kitayama RiverRight covers: Sweetfish, Amago, Crucian carp, Pond smelt, Eel, Common carp奈良県内水面漁連の漁業権魚種一覧（令和3年6月1日現在）による
• Totsukawa-mura Fishery Cooperative 十津川村漁業協同組合Totsukawa systemRight covers: Sweetfish, Amago, Crucian carp, Eel, Common carp奈良県内水面漁連の漁業権魚種一覧（令和3年6月1日現在）による
• Tenkawa-mura Fishery Cooperative 天川村漁業協同組合Tenkawa systemRight covers: Sweetfish, Amago, Crucian carp, Eel, Common carp奈良県内水面漁連の漁業権魚種一覧（令和3年6月1日現在）による
• Nosegawa-mura Fishery Cooperative 野迫川村漁業協同組合Nosegawa systemRight covers: Amago, and others奈良県内水面漁連の漁業権魚種一覧（令和3年6月1日現在）による
• Gojo-shi Fishery Cooperative 五條市漁業協同組合Kino River at GojoRight covers: Sweetfish, Amago, Crucian carp, Eel, Common carp奈良県内水面漁連の漁業権魚種一覧（令和3年6月1日現在）による
• Kawakami-mura Fishery Cooperative 川上村漁業協同組合Upper Kino RiverRight covers: Sweetfish, Amago, Crucian carp, Eel奈良県内水面漁連の漁業権魚種一覧（令和3年6月1日現在）による
• Tsuburoko Fishery Cooperative 津風呂湖漁業協同組合Lake TsuburoRight covers: Sweetfish, Crucian carp, Pond smelt, Common carp奈良県内水面漁連の漁業権魚種一覧（令和3年6月1日現在）による
• Higashiyoshino-mura Fishery Cooperative 東吉野村漁業協同組合Higashiyoshino systemRight covers: Sweetfish, Amago, Crucian carp, Eel奈良県内水面漁連の漁業権魚種一覧（令和3年6月1日現在）による
• Tsukigase Fishery Cooperative 月ヶ瀬漁業協同組合Tsukigase areaRight covers: Sweetfish, and others奈良県内水面漁連の漁業権魚種一覧（令和3年6月1日現在）による

Places we list here

• Lake IkeharaFreshwater · Kansai · 2 h 30 from Osaka

What we do not hold, and who to ask

Being explicit about the gap is the point of this page. What is missing:

• This prefecture’s minimum sizes and closed seasons — not transcribed yet.
• Sea-area and inland committee directives, which close specific waters or periods. We hold these for a few prefectures only.
• Port and municipal rules. Posted on signs at the water, in Japanese, and published nowhere centrally.

Nara Inland Fisheries Federation 奈良県漁連
0742-22-1410
630-8114 奈良市芝辻町85-10 自由民主会館３Ｆ

National rules apply on top of everything here — see Before you fish. How every figure is graded is set out in Data & sources.