Fishing License by State: 2026 Fees, Ages and Where to Buy
By Jake Harlow · Updated September 2026 · Every fee below was checked on the state’s official fish and wildlife agency website; follow the link in each row to confirm before you buy.
Quick answer: every U.S. state requires a fishing license for most adults. The age at which you need one is 16 in most states, but it ranges from 9 (Hawaii, freshwater) and 10 (Arizona) up to 18 in states such as Louisiana, Oklahoma and South Dakota. In 2026 a resident annual license costs from $5.00 (Hawaii) to $64.54 (California), and a non-resident license from $13.00 (District of Columbia) to $174.14 (California). Buy from the state’s wildlife agency, online or from a license agent. The table lists each state’s license age, 2026 fees and the official place to buy.
Fishing license fees by state (2026)
Fees are the standard annual freshwater (or general) fishing license and may include agency or transaction fees. Many states also sell short-term, senior, disabled, military and lifetime licenses, and some require extra stamps (for example trout or salmon). “Check agency” means we could not confirm the figure on the official site when we last checked.
State-by-state notes
Alabama
A separate Saltwater Fishing License is required in saltwater areas ($30.05 resident, $64.90 non-resident annual). Alabama residents 65 and over are exempt from freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses (optional 65+ licenses available). Short-term option: 7-day trip $37.00 (3-day family trip also $37.00). License age: 16 and older. All recreational licenses expire August 31 each year (license year, not 365 days). Non-resident annual is $66.25 for all states except Louisiana ($70.55) and Mississippi ($75.42) due to reciprocity. Residents may bank-fish in their county of residence without a license. The age wording 'Non-residents age 16 years of age and over' is from the non-resident page; the resident freshwater page does not state an age, the saltwater page exempts all under 16. An older snippet cited $44 + $2 issuance for non-residents; the current page shows $66.25. Source: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division / Marine Resources Division).
Alaska
Resident seniors 60+ can get a free Senior Permanent Identification Card instead of buying a license. Short-term option: 1-day $15.00. License age: Residents 18 and older; non-residents 16 and older. Licenses valid from purchase through December 31 of the calendar year; non-resident short-term licenses valid 1, 3 ($30), 7 ($45) or 14 ($75) days. A King Salmon Stamp is extra if fishing for king salmon ($10 resident annual, $100 non-resident annual). Source: Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Arizona
Free lifetime Pioneer License for residents 70+ with 25 consecutive years of Arizona residency. Short-term option: Short-term combo hunt & fish $20 per day (non-resident). License age: 10 years of age or older. General fishing license; verified on the AZGFD Licenses and Regulations page in Chrome on 2026-09-29. Youth under 10 and blind residents do not need a license. Source: Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Arkansas
Residents 65 and older can buy a 65-Plus Annual Fishing license for $3.50. Short-term option: 1-day $15.00. License age: 16 or older. Non-resident 3-day trip license $30. Trout permit required to keep trout or fish certain waters ($10 resident, $20 non-resident). Resident licenses expire June 30; the page does not state validity for non-resident annual. Source: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
California
The sport fishing license covers ocean waters, but an Ocean Enhancement Validation ($7.30) is required to fish ocean waters south of Point Arguello. Reduced-fee license ($10.04) for low-income seniors 65+ receiving SSI or CAPI benefits. Short-term option: 1-day $21.09. License age: 16 years of age or older. Annual licenses valid 365 days from purchase. 2-day $32.40; 10-day non-resident $64.54. Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Our guide: CA regulations guide.
Colorado
Residents 64 and older pay $12.96 for a senior annual license. Short-term option: 1-day $21.90 (additional days $9.13). License age: 16 and older (youth under 16 fish free). Annual licenses valid March 1 through March 31 of the following year (13 months). Fees include a $1.25 search-and-rescue fee and a $1.50 Wildlife Education Fund fee. An annual Habitat Stamp ($12.76) is also required for ages 18-64. Non-resident 5-day $41.04. Resident youth 16-17 $12.96. Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Connecticut
Inland and marine waters use separate licenses (resident marine $10, non-resident marine $15), or an all-waters license (resident $32, non-resident $63). Residents 65+ get free inland, marine or all-waters licenses (must be renewed annually). Short-term option: 3-day marine waters $8.00 (3-day inland $22.00). License age: 16 years of age and older. Figures are inland-waters licenses for ages 18-64. Licenses valid for the calendar year, expiring December 31. Residents 16-17 pay half price. Trout and Salmon Stamp $5 (ages 18+) needed for trout/salmon. Source: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Fisheries Division.
Delaware
One license covers both fresh and tidal waters; all anglers 16+ also need a free FIN number. Delaware residents 65 and older are exempt from the fishing license (FIN number still required). Short-term option: 7-day $12.50. License age: 16 and older. Licenses good for the calendar year. An agent processing fee of $2.50 applies to most licenses. A trout stamp is extra ($4.20 resident 16-64, $6.20 non-resident). Source: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Fish and Wildlife. Our guide: DE license guide.
Florida
Saltwater needs its own license (resident $17, non-resident $47 annual; residents can buy a combined freshwater/saltwater license for $32.50). Short-term option: 3-day $17.00. Prices from the official Go Outdoors Florida license catalog. Non-resident 7-day $30. Residents also have a 5-year freshwater license for $79. myfwc.com pages block automated reads, so age requirement and senior exemption were not verified. Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Georgia
Saltwater anglers also need a free annual Saltwater Information Program (SIP) permit. georgiawildlife.com, gadnr.org and coastalgadnr.org return 403 to automated reads, so fees were not verified from a direct page. Search-index snippets from georgiawildlife.com showed resident annual $9, non-resident annual $45, non-resident 1-day $20 + $6/extra day, and a $3.00 online transaction fee, but these may be outdated and conflict with other snippets. The SIP note comes from the coastalgadnr.org search index. Check the License Prices PDF manually: https://georgiawildlife.com/sites/default/files/wrd/pdf/license-applications/License%20Prices.pdf Source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division.
Hawaii
Non-residents age 15 and older need a separate Non-Resident Recreational Marine Fishing License ($20 1-day, $40 7-day, $70 annual) bought at fishing.hawaii.gov. Freshwater game fishing license is free for seniors 65 yrs and over. Short-term option: 7-day tourist freshwater $10. License age: Freshwater: minors 9-15 yrs need a $3 license; 16 yrs and over pay the full rate. Freshwater license covers introduced freshwater game fish only (HAR 13-74-10). Also a 30-day tourist license at $20. Online purchases may add small processing fees. Resident fee also applies to military. Source: Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR).
Idaho
idfg.idaho.gov refused connections from every tool used (WebFetch, curl, both browsers), so no fee could be read on the agency page. The official portal (license.gooutdoorsidaho.com) shows prices only after login. An IDFG 'Ask Fish and Game' search snippet mentioned a nonresident 1-day at $22.75 + $7.00 per extra day, but it is undated and was not verified. Re-check the fee pages before publishing. Source: Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG).
Illinois
Residents 65+ pay $7.75 for a Senior Fishing License; residents 75+ pay $1.50 for a Super Senior Fishing License. Short-term option: 24-hour $10.50. License age: 16 and older (anglers under 16 may fish without a license). Non-residents can also buy a 3-day license for $15.50. Other options: resident 24-hour $5.50, resident 3-year $44.00, resident first-time license $5.50. The 2026 license year began March 1, 2026, and licenses expire March 31 of the next year. An Inland Trout Stamp ($6.50) and a Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp ($6.50) are extra where needed. Fees come from the IDNR fee table's JSON data feed. The under-16 exemption comes from IDNR search results and the ifishillinois FAQ, not a fully rendered page. Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Our guide: Illinois guide.
Indiana
Residents 64+ (born after March 31, 1943) can buy an annual senior license ($3) or Senior Fish-for-Life ($23); residents born before April 1, 1943 are exempt. Short-term option: 1-day $15 (includes trout/salmon). License age: 18 and older (not required for individuals under the age of 18). Non-residents can also buy a 7-day license for $35. Annual licenses run April 1 to March 31. Online and app purchases add a $3 tech fee per license plus a card processing fee. Mail, DNR property and retailer sales add a $1 tech fee. The trout/salmon stamp is $11. The fee page was updated 9/04/2026. The under-18 wording comes from an in.gov search snippet. Source: Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Fish & Wildlife.
Iowa
Residents 65 and older can buy a lifetime fishing license for $61.50. Short-term option: 1-day $12.00. License age: 16 and older (residents and nonresidents under sixteen can fish without a license). Non-residents can also buy a 3-day ($20.50) or 7-day ($37.50) license. Trout fee is $14.50 for residents and $17.50 for non-residents. The resident 3-year Angler's Special is $62. A third-line Bonus Line costs $14. 2026 licenses went on sale Dec. 15, 2025. Source: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Kansas
Residents 65-74 pay $12.50 for a 1-year senior license (5-year senior $50); residents 75+ are outside the licence requirement. Short-term option: 1-day $10.00. License age: Residents age 16 through 74; nonresidents age 16 and older. Listed fees are base prices. KDWP adds agent and transaction fees to every purchase (a KDWP search snippet gives $1.00 agent + $1.50 transaction per item). Annual licenses are valid 365 days. Non-residents can also buy a 5-day license for $25. Resident 1-day is $3.50 and resident 5-year is $100. The trout permit is $17.50. A 10-year senior license could be available from November 2026 at the earliest. Source: Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP).
Kentucky
fw.ky.gov blocked every request ('The request is blocked' / 403), so fees could not be read. KDFWR search snippets say fees rose in January 2026 under a new CPI-based pricing system, so older figures (e.g. $23 resident annual) are probably out of date. The 2026-27 license year runs March 1, 2026 to end of February 2027. Source: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR).
Louisiana
Fishing south of the saltwater line also requires a Saltwater License on top of the Basic license ($15 resident, $60 nonresident, $30 nonresident 5-day). Residents born before June 1, 1940 get a free senior license; residents born June 1, 1940 to May 31, 1962 pay $5 for the Senior Hunting/Fishing license. Short-term option: 5-day Basic Fishing $30. License age: Age 18 or older (residents and nonresidents age 17 and under are not required). The Basic Fishing license covers freshwater species and is the value given above. Annual licenses are valid 365 days from purchase. A $5 Hook and Line license covers cane pole fishing only. The Nonresident Native 10-Day Basic is $17. The Sportsman's Paradise combo is $100 resident and $400 nonresident. Source: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).
Maine
Saltwater anglers must join the Maine DMR Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry ($1 online, $2 via agents) unless they hold a valid, non-lifetime Maine freshwater fishing license or are otherwise exempt. Residents can buy a reduced lifetime license from age 65 ($50 fishing at 65, falling to $8 at 70+). Short-term option: 1-day $18. License age: 16 years of age or older. Listed fees do not include the agent fee. Other short-term licenses: 3-day $30, 7-day $62, 15-day $66. The 'Season' license is the annual option. Source: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW).
Maryland
Tidal waters (Chesapeake Bay & coastal) need a separate Bay & Coastal Fishing license ($16.00 resident, $23.50 nonresident, 7-day $7 / $13); a free Saltwater Angler Registration is also offered. Residents 65+ can buy a 365-day Senior Consolidated Fishing license for $12.50. Short-term option: 3-day Non-Tidal $36.00. License age: Resident (Ages 16 to 64) and Non-Resident (Ages 16 and older) for the Adult Non-Tidal Fishing License. Prices are the 365-day Non-Tidal (freshwater) license as listed in DNR's official MD Outdoors catalog; licenses are valid 365 days from purchase. dnr.maryland.gov returned 403 so the catalog was used. Catalog prices may include agent or processing fees. Non-resident 7-day Non-Tidal is $46 and the non-resident 3-day ($36) is cheaper. The 365-day trout stamp is $20 for residents and $30 for non-residents. Source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Massachusetts
Saltwater fishing needs a separate recreational saltwater fishing permit ($10; free for anglers 60 and over). Residents 65-69 pay $20.00; residents 70 and over fish free. Short-term option: 3-day $30.50. License age: 15 or older. Prices exclude the $5 Wildlands Conservation Stamp (first resident license each year and all non-resident licenses) and a $2.75 per-license administrative fee, plus a 4.95% online convenience fee or up to $1.50 agent fee. Licenses are valid from purchase date to the end of the calendar year. Free for residents 15-17. Source: Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife).
Michigan
Annual all-species senior license is $11 for Michigan residents 65+ or legally blind. Short-term option: 24-hour (daily) $10. License age: 17 years of age or older. Annual license is all-species and valid March 1 through March 31 of the following year. Daily license is $10 per day for residents and nonresidents; purchaser sets the start date/time. Optional $2 youth license for under 17. Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Minnesota
Residents 90 and older are not required to have a fishing license (requirement covers ages 16-89). Short-term option: 24-hour $15. License age: 16 and older (DNR: residents ages 16 to 89 must have a license). Fees from the DNR electronic licensing code sheet 'Total Fee' column, which includes a $1.00 agent fee (Resident Individual Angling $26, Nonresident Individual Angling $52, Nonresident 24-hour $15, 72-hour $37, 7-day $44). The PDF is undated. Licenses run March 1 through the last day of February. dnr.state.mn.us pages were blocked from this location, so the main fishing-licenses page could not be read directly. Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Mississippi
A separate saltwater license is required south of U.S. Highway 90 (resident $10, non-resident $30). Residents 65 and older are exempt from the freshwater license but must buy a lifetime saltwater license ($7.29 incl. all fees) to fish salt water. Short-term option: 1-day freshwater $10. License age: Residents ages sixteen (16) through sixty-four (64); non-residents except minors under the age of sixteen (16). MS has no standalone resident annual freshwater-only license; $10.00 is the Resident Small Game Hunting/Freshwater Fishing license (Sportsman's $45). Listed prices exclude agent fee ($1-$3) and process fee ($2.49 resident, $4.42 non-resident). Non-resident 3-day freshwater is $30. Source: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP).
Missouri
Missouri residents 65 and older are exempt from needing a fishing permit. Short-term option: Daily $9. Daily Fishing Permit is $9.00 for residents and nonresidents and can be bought for multiple days. Youth age 15 or younger qualify for a permit exemption (implies permit needed from 16), but MDC does not state a plain 'age X and older' rule on the pages read. A separate trout permit is needed to keep trout outside trout parks; trout parks need a daily trout tag. Source: Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).
Montana
Residents 62+ pay reduced rates: conservation $4 + AIS pass $2 + season fishing $10.50 = $16.50. Short-term option: 1-day $31.50 (incl. conservation license and AIS pass). License age: 12 or older. Totals include required prerequisites. Resident 18-61: Conservation $8 + AISPP $2 + season fishing $21. Nonresident: Conservation $10 + AISPP $7.50 + season fishing $100; 1-day license alone $14, 5-day $56 ($73.50 total). License year is March 1 through end of February. Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP).
Nebraska
An annual $5 Senior Fish/Hunt permit is available for resident seniors age 69 and older (and resident veterans 64+). Short-term option: 1-day $17.50. License age: Residents and nonresidents age 16 and over. From the official 2026 Fishing Guide fee table. Prices include a $3 issue fee and the Aquatic Habitat Stamp. Nonresidents fishing from a boat also need the Nonresident Aquatic Invasive Species Stamp ($20.50). Nonresidents under 16 need no permit if accompanied by a permit holder. Web search snippets of outdoornebraska.gov showed lower figures ($23 / $77.50) that do not match the 2026 guide; the guide was used. outdoornebraska.gov pages were blocked from this location. Source: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Nevada
Residents 65+ (with 6 months residency) can buy an Annual Senior Specialty Hunt & Fish Combination license for $15. Short-term option: 1-day $18 (+$7 each consecutive day). License age: 12 years of age or older. Prices do not include a nominal processing fee. Adult annual license is for ages 18 and older; ages 12-17 buy the $15 Annual Youth Hunt & Fish Combination. Anyone assisting an angler must also hold a license. Nonresident Interstate Boundary Waters license $30. Source: Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW).
New Hampshire
Saltwater needs a separate Recreational Saltwater Fishing License ($11), except holders of a Maine or Massachusetts saltwater license or anglers on licensed charter boats. Resident seniors 68+ (born 1948 or later) pay $7 for a Senior Freshwater Fishing license; residents born in or before 1947 get a free permanent license. Short-term option: 1-day $15. License age: 16 and older (a fishing license is not required for minors under 16 years of age). A $2.00 transaction fee per license ($2.75 online) is added. Nonresident 3-day $28, 7-day $35; resident 1-day $10. Source: New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
New Jersey
Residents 65-69 pay a reduced $12.50; residents 70 and over need no license or trout stamp. Short-term option: 2-day $9. License age: Residents at least 16 years and less than 70 years of age, plus all non-residents 16 years and older. A trout stamp is also required to fish for or keep trout (resident $10.50, non-resident $20). Non-resident 7-day is $19.50. dep.nj.gov blocks access from this location, so the page and 2026 digest could not be opened directly. Fees come from search-engine extracts of the official dep.nj.gov pages and digest. Verify before publishing. Saltwater rules were not verified this session. Source: New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife (NJDEP). Our guide: NJ saltwater rules.
New Mexico
Short-term option: 1-day $12. UNVERIFIED: every wildlife.dgf.nm.gov URL (pages and PDFs) returned HTTP 403 (F5 block) from this network, in both fetch and browser. Figures come only from search-engine snippets of the agency's own pages/2026-27 rules booklet: resident annual $25, nonresident annual $90, nonresident 1-day $12 / 5-day $30, nonresident junior (12-17) $20; most anglers also need a $4 Habitat Management & Access Validation; a $5 federal Habitat Stamp is needed on BLM/USFS lands; licenses valid April 1 – March 31; free licenses for 70+ are residents only. Re-check on the agency page before publishing. Source: New Mexico Department of Wildlife (formerly Department of Game and Fish).
New York
Saltwater anglers 16 and older must enroll in the free Recreational Marine Fishing Registry instead of buying a license. Residents 70 and older pay $5 for an annual license. Short-term option: 1-day $10 (non-resident). License age: 16 years and older. Annual licenses are valid for 365 days from purchase. Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Our guide: NY license guide.
North Carolina
Coastal and joint waters need a separate Coastal Recreational Fishing License (resident $20, nonresident $40 annual); a resident Unified Inland/Coastal license is $51. Short-term option: Nonresident Coastal Recreational Fishing License 10-day $15. License age: 16 years or older (youth under age 16 are exempt). The NCWRC fees page does not list inland fishing prices on the page itself (it links to eRegulations, a third-party site), and the Go Outdoors NC portal only shows bundled packages (e.g. resident Inland Angler package $75, which includes extras), so annual inland prices could not be verified from an official page. CRFL prices are from NC DEQ. Wildlife Service Agents may add a $5 transaction fee. Source: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (inland); NC DEQ Division of Marine Fisheries (coastal license info). Our guide: NC license guide.
North Dakota
Residents 65 or older can buy a Senior Citizen Fishing License for $10 (plus the $2 certificate). Short-term option: 3-day $48. License age: Residents and nonresidents age 16 and older need fishing licenses. All license buyers also need a Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate once a year: $2 for residents, $5 for nonresidents (not included in the prices above). Nonresident 10-day is $58. Married-couple licenses: resident $42, nonresident $108. Licenses run April 1 – March 31. Nonresidents under 16 may fish without a license if a licensed adult is with them. Source: North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
Ohio
Resident senior 1-year license is $10.00; Ohio residents born on or before December 31, 1937 can get a free license. Short-term option: 1-day $27.04. License age: Persons under 16 years of age are not required to purchase a fishing license (i.e., 16 and older need one). Annual licenses are valid 365 days from date of purchase. Nonresident 3-day is $52.00. A 1-day license can be credited toward an annual license (upgrade: resident $12.00, nonresident $49.92). Multi-year and lifetime licenses are for residents only. Source: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.
Oklahoma
Residents who turn 65 or older during the current calendar year can buy a Senior Citizen Lifetime Fishing license for $30. Short-term option: 1-day $26. License age: An Oklahoma fishing license is required of all persons 18 or older. Annual fishing licenses are valid 365 days. Resident 1-day is $11. A $12 Lake Texoma license covers the Oklahoma and Texas sides of the lake. Nonresidents 65+ who live in Texas are exempt. The page does not mention a processing fee. Source: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Our guide: Oklahoma guide.
Oregon
Since 2026 a new Ocean Endorsement ($9 annual / $4 daily) is required for ocean fishing, except when taking only salmon, steelhead or shellfish. Resident Senior Angler license is $34.00 in 2026. Short-term option: 1-day angling & shellfish $29. License age: All anglers 18 and older must purchase a fishing license; young anglers 12-17 need a $10 Youth License; children younger than 12 do not need a license. Prices from the ODFW fee schedule's 2026 column and include the agent fee. Fees went up an average of 12-14% in 2026, with more increases planned for 2028 and 2030. Licenses are valid Jan 1 – Dec 31. A Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident / $89 nonresident in 2026) is needed for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut. Nonresident 7-day is $117. Source: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Pennsylvania
Residents 65 and up can buy a Senior Resident annual license ($14.47) or a Senior Resident Lifetime license ($86.97). Short-term option: 1-day tourist $31.97 (3-day tourist also $31.97). License age: A valid Pennsylvania fishing license is required of persons age 16 and over. All prices include a $1.00 issuing agent fee and a $0.97 transaction fee. The 1-day licenses are not valid March 15 – April 30, and the 1-day tourist license includes the Trout and Lake Erie permits. A Trout Permit ($14.97) is needed to fish for trout. 7-day tourist is $39.47. Nonresident students at PA schools pay $27.97. Source: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Rhode Island
Saltwater needs a separate Recreational Saltwater Fishing License, required at age 16 and older. RI residents 65 years of age or older can get a permanent freshwater license at no cost. Short-term option: Non-resident tourist (3 consecutive days) $20. License age: Recreational Freshwater Fishing Licenses are required of anglers fifteen (15) years of age and older. Fees are from the DEM 'Freshwater Fishing License Fees' page (after the 2025 fee increase). The DEM FAQ page still shows older online/vendor prices (resident $21/$23, nonresident $38/$41), so use the fee page. The license year runs March 1 to the last day of February. A Trout Conservation Stamp ($6) is needed to keep trout or to fish catch-and-release/fly-only areas. Source: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Division of Fish & Wildlife.
South Carolina
South Carolina sells a separate Saltwater Fishing License (the official portal lists an 'Annual Saltwater Fishing License (Res)'). UNVERIFIED: dnr.sc.gov refused connections (ECONNREFUSED) from this network in both fetch and browser. Figures come only from search-engine snippets of SCDNR's own pricing pages/express PDF (resident freshwater annual $10.00; nonresident freshwater annual $35). The official Go Outdoors SC portal shows only bundled packages, and it confirms licenses expire 1 year from date of purchase. Re-check on the SCDNR page before publishing. Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
South Dakota
Residents age 65 and older can buy a Resident Senior Fishing license for $17. Short-term option: 1-day $26. License age: Resident youth under age 18 are not required to have a fishing license; nonresident youth under age 18 are not required to obtain a fishing license (i.e., 18 and older need one). Prices on the page are marked 'Agent fee not included in price.' Nonresident 3-day is $45 and resident 1-day is $10. A search snippet of the 2026 Fishing Handbook says anglers 18+ also need a Habitat Stamp ($10 resident / $25 nonresident; not needed for 1-day licenses) and gives a license period of Dec 15, 2025 – Jan 31, 2027. That was not read directly because the handbook PDF would not download fully. Source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. Our guide: SD license guide.
Tennessee
Residents 65+ can buy an Annual Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap license for $4 or a Permanent Senior license for $49. Short-term option: Non-resident 3-day fishing (no trout) $20. License age: 13 and older ("No license is required for ages 12 and under"). Tennessee has no standalone resident statewide annual fishing-only license on the fee page; $33 is the Resident Combination Hunt/Fish Annual (ages 16-64). A County of Residence Fishing (no trout) license is $10 and Junior Hunt/Fish/Trap (13-15) is $9. Trout needs the $21 Annual Trout Supplemental for residents; non-resident all-species (with trout) annual is $98. Processing fees apply to all purchases (amount not stated); the portal sells the non-resident Annual General Fishing Package at $55. TWRA Commission approved FY28 increases in Aug 2026 (e.g. resident Hunt/Fish Combo $33 to $42), pending legislative approval. Source: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Texas
Saltwater fishing needs the Saltwater Package ($35 resident / $63 non-resident) or All-Water Package ($40 / $68) instead of the Freshwater Package. Residents 65+ pay $12 for the Senior Freshwater Package ($17 saltwater, $22 all-water). Short-term option: Non-resident 1-day all-water $16. License age: 17 and older (not needed for anyone under 17 or Texas residents born before January 1, 1931). Prices are Freshwater Packages. Annual packages are valid through August 31 regardless of purchase date; a resident Year-from-Purchase All-Water license is $47. Resident 1-day all-water is $11. Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).
Utah
Residents 65+ pay $31 for a 365-day fishing license. Short-term option: Non-resident 3-day $44. License age: 12 and older ("If you're 12 or older, a license is required"). Adult (18-64 resident; 18+ non-resident) 365-day licenses, valid 365 days from purchase. Youth: resident $5 (12-13) / $16 (14-17); non-resident $18 / $44. Non-resident fees rose July 1, 2025 (adult $94 to $120). Resident 3-day $19, 7-day $30; non-resident 7-day $91. Resident combination (hunt+fish) 18-64 is $44. Source: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR).
Vermont
Vermont residents aged 66+ can buy a permanent hunting and fishing license for a one-time fee of $60. Short-term option: Non-resident 1-day $21. License age: 15 and older (children under 15 fish for free). Fees read from the Vermont statute (10 V.S.A. 4255, as amended effective Jan 1, 2026) because the agency's fee page (anrweb.vt.gov) was unreachable. Non-resident 3-day $23, 7-day $31. Youth (15-17): resident $8, non-resident $15. Resident hunt/fish combo $47. Agents may charge up to a $1.50 administrative fee for reprints. Source: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.
Virginia
Tidal waters need a saltwater license or the fresh/saltwater combo ($44.50 resident from Oct 1, 2026); anglers 65+ need no saltwater license but must register with the Fisherman Identification Program. Residents 65+ pay $9 for an annual freshwater license. Short-term option: Non-resident 1-day freshwater $20. License age: 16 and older (residents under 16 do not need a license). Fees shown are those effective October 1, 2026. Until Sept 30, 2026: resident freshwater $23, non-resident freshwater $47, non-resident 1-day $8, non-resident 5-day $21 (rising to $36). Issuance fee is included in all prices. Sold via Go Outdoors Virginia, agents, or 804-367-1000. Source: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). Our guide: VA license guide.
Washington
Saltwater needs a separate Saltwater license ($40.71 resident / $81.70 non-resident) or a Combination license ($74.37 / $170.00). Residents 70+ pay $9.59 for an annual freshwater license ($28.83 combination). Short-term option: Non-resident 1-day combination $27.05. License age: 16 and older ("All fishers age 16 and older need a fishing license"). Annual prices effective January 1, 2026; prices include applicable fees. All annual licenses except Shellfish/Seaweed include a Vehicle Access Pass. Resident 1-day combination $14.90. A Social Security number is required to buy. Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
West Virginia
Residents who turned 65 on or after Jan 1, 2012 can buy the Senior Hunting/Trapping/Fishing License (Class XS) for $25; residents who turned 65 before Jan 1, 2012 fish free with ID. Short-term option: Non-resident 1-day (Class LL) $3 plus $13 Conservation/Law Enforcement stamp. License age: 15 and older (no license needed for residents or non-residents under 15 years of age). Base license fees only. Residents (Class B $19) must also buy the $5 Conservation Stamp; non-residents (Class F $37) must also buy the $13 Conservation/Law Enforcement Stamp. Trout stamp extra ($10 resident / $16 non-resident); $2 National Forest stamp when fishing on national forests. Licenses are good for the calendar year. Resident 5-day (Class L) $8. Source: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR).
Wisconsin
Short-term option: Non-resident 4-day $29. License age: 16 and older (residents and nonresidents 16 years old or older need a fishing license). The DNR site did not resolve during research, so values come from indexed text of the official DNR pages (not a direct page read). Non-resident 15-day $33. A one-day license exists but its price was not confirmed. Spousal license $31; first-time buyer resident annual $5. License year begins April 1. Trout/salmon stamps not verified. Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Wyoming
The fee list shows a Pioneer Bird/Small Game & Fish license at $0.00; eligibility was not verified. Short-term option: Non-resident daily $14. License age: 14 and older (residents under 14 need no license; non-resident youth under 14 need none if accompanied by an adult with a valid Wyoming fishing license). Annual licenses are valid 365 days from purchase. A Conservation Stamp ($21.50 on the current fee list) is also required with annual licenses. Resident daily $6; youth annual $3 resident / $15 non-resident; non-resident 5-day $56. The fee list has no year printed on it. Source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
District of Columbia
Anglers age 65 and older do not need a DC fishing license. License age: 16 through 64 (not required for those under the age of 16 or age 65 and older). Licenses are sold online only, on a calendar-year basis, and are valid from purchase until December 31. 14-day licenses were discontinued in January 2022. All sales are final. Source: DC Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE). Our guide: DC license guide.
How fishing licenses work
- Who needs one: in most states anyone 16 or older who fishes public waters; children under the state’s age limit fish free. See what age you need a fishing license.
- Residents vs. non-residents: residents pay much less; most states define residency by how long you have lived there (often 30 days to 6 months) and ask for a state ID.
- How long it lasts: some states sell licenses for the calendar year, others for 365 days from purchase. See when do fishing licenses expire?
- Saltwater: coastal states may need a separate saltwater license or a free saltwater registry.
- Free fishing days: every state has a few days a year when no license is needed; see free fishing days.
- Reduced-fee licenses: most states offer discounts or free licenses for seniors, disabled veterans and people with disabilities; see disabled fishing licenses by state.
How to buy a fishing license
- Go to your state’s official wildlife agency site (links in the table above). Avoid third-party sites that charge extra fees.
- Create an account or look up your existing customer number, and have your ID and residency proof ready.
- Choose the license type and length, plus any stamps or saltwater registry you need.
- Pay and save or print your license; many states accept a digital copy on your phone, but check first.
- Carry it whenever you fish and follow the state’s regulations for seasons, limits and gear.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a fishing license?
In 2026 resident annual licenses range from $5.00 (Hawaii) to $64.54 (California); non-residents usually pay two to four times more. See the table above for each state.
At what age do you need a fishing license?
Most states require a license from age 16, but some start younger or older. Check your state’s row in the table.
Can I use my fishing license in another state?
Usually not. You need a license from the state you fish in, except on some border waters where neighbouring states have reciprocal agreements.
Does everyone in my group need a license?
Anyone who is fishing and over the age limit does. See does everyone in the group need a fishing license?
Do I need a license for salmon fishing?
Yes, and often an extra stamp or report card. See do you need a license for salmon fishing?
