Keith Lusher 12.26.25
In 2023, an international animal rights organization operating under the name Upstream Policies began pushing state-level legislation and regulatory changes aimed at restricting or eliminating the interstate sale and use of live bait in U.S. waters. Since then, bills or formal proposals tied to that effort have surfaced in Colorado, Delaware, New Hampshire, and New York, according to the American Sportfishing Association.
Those efforts have drawn strong opposition from the recreational fishing community and the businesses that support it. Industry groups argue that the proposals are not rooted in new science and overlook existing state and federal safeguards already designed to prevent the spread of invasive species and aquatic diseases.
Most states already regulate live bait through species restrictions, licensing requirements for bait dealers, and testing and certification standards developed in partnership with the aquaculture industry. Wildlife agencies also conduct public outreach campaigns encouraging anglers to properly handle and dispose of unused bait, reducing environmental risk without eliminating access.
Live bait remains one of the most widely used tools in recreational fishing. Roughly 67 percent of anglers fish with live bait each year, accounting for an estimated $345 million in annual spending nationwide. For many first-time anglers, live bait provides the most reliable way to catch fish and build long-term interest in the sport.
Certain fisheries depend heavily on live bait, particularly ice fishing, where minnows and shiners are often essential for success. Restricting interstate sales would disproportionately affect northern states and small bait dealers that rely on seasonal demand.
“The importance of live bait in sportfishing cannot be understated,” said Connor Bevan, ASA’s Inland Fisheries Policy Director. He noted that broad restrictions would impact anglers and businesses despite the presence of science-based management systems already in place.
So far, none of the proposed restrictions have advanced into law. Several efforts have stalled in committee or failed to gain legislative support after economic impacts and enforcement challenges were raised. With no successful bans and growing resistance from anglers and state agencies, industry observers say the campaign to restrict live bait appears unlikely to gain traction in the near future.
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