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How Much Does a Fishing License Cost? – A Helpful State By State Guide

You have your fishing gear together and you think you are ready to earn some bragging rights. Whether you are fishing from your Bass Tracker™ loaded with the most high-tech equipment, relaxing on the shoreline, or getting ready to drill some ice holes, you need to have a fishing license

Getting caught without a fishing license can be a very expensive hassle and totally ruin your otherwise great day. Depending on the state you live in, you can accrue some pretty hefty fines and they can even confiscate your gear along with any fish you have caught illegally. 

Continue reading to learn what it will cost to fish in your state and the states that surround you.

State-by-State License Fees

This table will show you how much a fishing license is for every state so if you decide that you want to go lake hopping from one state to another this may be beneficial to you. 

State by State

(F) = Fresh Water

(S) = Salt Water

(F/S) = Both 

 

State 

Annual Resident Fee

Annual Non-Resident Fee

Short-term Fee Resident

Short-term Fee Non-Resident

Alabama

$14.05 (F) 

$24.35 (S)

$54.20(F) 

$52.20 (S)

$6.45 1 Day

$30.40 7 Days

Alaska

$29.00

$145.00

N/A

N/A

Arizona

$37.00

$55.00

N/A

N/A

Arkansas

$35.00

$50.00

$16.00 3 Days

$25.00 7 Days

California 

$51.02

$137.73

$16.46 1 Day

$25.66 2 Days

$51.02 10 Days

Colorado

$35.17

$97.97

$13.90 1 Day

$16.94 1 Day

$32.14 5 Days

$6.81 Add Days

Connecticut

#32.00

$63.00

N/A

$22.00 3 Days

Delaware

$11.00

$22.50

N/A

$15.00 7 Days

Florida

$17.00 (F/S)

$47.00 (F/S)

N/A

$17.00 3 Days

$30.00 7 Days

Georgia

$15.00

$50.00

N/A

$10.00 1 Day

$3.50 Add Days

Hawaii

$6.00

$26.00

N/A

$11.00 7 Days

$21.00 30 Days

Idaho

$30.50

$98.25

N/A

$15.00 1 Day

$7.00 Add Days

Illinois

$15.00

$31.50

N/A

N/A

Indiana

$17.00

$35.00

N/A

$9.00 1 Day

$20.00 7 Days

Iowa

$22.00

$48.00

$10.50 1 Day

$15.50 7 Days

$12.00 1 Day

$20.50 3 Days

$37.50 7 Days

Kansas

$27.50

$52.50

$8.50 1 Day

$14.50 1 Day

$25.50 5 Days

Kentucky

$23.00

$55.00

$7.00 1 Day

$15.00 1 Day

Louisiana

$9.5

$60.00

N/A

$5.00 1 Day

Maine

$25.00

$64.00

 

$11.00 1 Day

$23.00 3 Days

$43.00 7 Days

$47.00 15 Days

Maryland

$20.50 (F) 

$15.00 (S)

$30.50 (F) 

$22.50 (S)

N/A

$7.50 1-3 Days Depending on home state

Massachusetts

$27.50 (F) 

$10.00 (S)

$37.50 (F) 

$10.00 (S)

$12.50 3 Days

$23.50 3 Days

Michigan

$26.00

$76.00

$10.00 1 Day

$30.00 3 Days

$10.00 1 Day

$30.00 3 Days

Minnesota

$25.00

$51.00

$12.00 1 Day

$14.00 3 Days

$14.00 1 Day

$36.00 3 Days

$43.00 7 Days

Mississippi

$27.29 (F) 

$34.29 (S)

$64.29 (F) 

$34.29 (S)

$5.29 3 Days

$10.29 1 Day

$18.29 (F) 3 Days

$18.29 (S) 3 Days

Missouri

$12.00

$49.00

$8.00 1 Day

$8.00 1 Day

Montana

$31.00

$111.00

$15.00 2 Days

$50.00 2 Days

$81.00 10 Days

Nebraska

$38.00

$76.00

$10.00 1 Day

$31.00 3 Days

$13.00 1 Day

$37.00 3 Days

Nevada

$40.00

$80.00

$9.00 1 Day

$3.00 Add Days

$18.00 1 Day

$7.00 Add Days

New Hampshire

$45.00

$63.00

$10.00 1 Day

$15.00 1 Day

$28.00 3 Days

$35.00 7 Days

New Jersey

$22.00

$34.00

N/A

$9.00 2 Days

$19.50 7 Days

New Mexico

$25.00

$56.00

$12.00 1 Day

$24.00 5 Days

$12.00 1 Day

$24.00 5 Days

New York

$25.00

$50.00

$5.00 1 Day

$12.00 7 Days

$10.00 1 Day

$25.00 7 Days

North Carolina

$25.00 (F) 

$16.00 (S)

$45.00 (F) 

$32.00 (S)

$9.00 (F) 10 Days

$6.00 (S) 10 Days

$23.00 (F) 10 Days

$11.00 (S) 10 Days

North Dakota

$18.00

$48.00

N/A

$28.00 3 Days

$38.00 10 Days

Ohio

$19.00

$40.00

N/A

$11.00 1 Day

$19.00 3 Days

Oklahoma

$22.00

$55.00

$15.00 2 Days

$15.00 1 Day

$35.00 6 Days

Oregon

$44.00

$110.50

$23.00 1 Day

$42.00 2 Days

$59.50 3 Days

$93.50 7 Days

Pennsylvania

$22.90

$52.90

$11.90 1 Day

$26.90 3 Days

$34.90 7 Days

Rhode Island

$18.00

$35.00

N/A

$16.00 3 Days

South Carolina

$10.00 (F/S)

$35.00 (F/S)

$14.00 5 Days

$11.00 14 Days

South Dakota

$28.00

$67.00

$8.00 1 Day

$16.00 1 Day

$37.00 3 Days

Tennessee

$34.00 All Species

$50.00 Trout Only

$90.00 All Species

$11.00 All Species

$20.50 3 Days No Trout

$40.50 3 Days All Species

$30.50 10 Days No Trout

$61.50 10 Days All Species

Texas

$30.00 (F)

$35.00 (S)

$40.00 (F/S)

$58.00 (F)

$63.00 (S)

$68.00 (F/S)

$11.00 1 Day

$16.00 1 Day

Utah

$35.00

$85.00

$16.00 3 Days

$20.00 7 Days

$28.00 3 Days

$46.00 7 Days

Vermont

$28.00

$54.00

$11.00 3 Days

$21.00 1 Day

$23.00 3 Days

$31.00 7 Days

Virginia

$23.00 (F) 

$17.50 (S)

$39.50 (F/S)

$47.00 (F)

$25.00 (S)

$71.00 (F/S)

$14.00 (F) 5 Days

$24.00 (F/S) 5 Days

$10.00 (S) 10 Days

$8.00 (F) 1 Day

$21.00 (F) 5 Days

$31.00 (F/S) 10 Days

$10.00 (S) 10 Days

Washington

$29.50 (F)

$39.05 (S) 

$84.50 (F)

$59.75 (S)

$11.35 1 Day

$15.75 2 Days

$35.55 3 Days

$29.95 2 $20.00Days

$35.55 3 Days

West Virginia

$19.00

$37.00

N/A

$3.00 1 Day

Wisconsin

$20.00

$50.00

$8.00 1 Day

$10.00 1 Day

$24.00 4 Days

$28.00 15 Days

Wyoming

$27.00

$102.00

$6.00 1 Day

$14.00 1 Day

$56.00 5 Days

Fishing License Information

Environmental Tip

When fishing in multiple bodies of water it is especially important to wash the hull of your boat to avoid cross-contamination between lakes/oceans. 

Fishing on a boat

Invasive species such as Zebra mussels can easily latch onto the bottom of your boat or get in your motor and before you know it they will take over an area.

It also helps to keep from spreading certain bacteria/algae from one body of water to another.

How Much Does A Fishing License Cost – A Helpful State By State Guide

Be Prepared to Avoid a Fouled Fishing Trip

Knowing the facts before you get to a particular state can prevent you from getting into trouble with the local Environmental Police/Rangers. If you get your documents in order before you get on the ice or open water you can relax and enjoy your time without worrying about being legal.  

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