Getting a fishing license is generally a smooth process in the United States and Canada. Each state and province has different prices and requirements depending on various factors, but since the money is funneled directly to the government, the process has become relatively simple. With a bit of tech-savvy, you can get a fishing license wherever you’re located.
You can purchase a fishing license online from every state and province’s game and fish department. Certain states/provinces also allow third parties, like gas stations and convenience stores, to sell licenses. Proof of residency and social security number is all you need to get a license.
Some states and provinces make it easier than others, but for the most part, the process is pretty straightforward. You must have a fishing license when fishing any public water across the state, so make sure you understand what is required for your trip!
The United States and Canada Fishing License Summary Table
| United States | Minimum Required Age for Fishing License |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 16 |
| Alaska | 18 |
| Arizona | 10 |
| Arkansas | 16 |
| California | 16 |
| Colorado | 16 |
| Connecticut | 16 |
| Delaware | 16 |
| Florida | 16 |
| Georgia | 16 |
| Hawaii | 9 |
| Idaho | 14 |
| Illinois | 16 |
| Indiana | 18 |
| Iowa | 16 |
| Kansas | 16 |
| Kentucky | 12 |
| Louisiana | 16 |
| Maine | 16 |
| Maryland | 16 |
| Massachusetts | 15 |
| Michigan | 17 |
| Minnesota | 16 |
| Mississippi | 16 |
| Missouri | 16 |
| Montana | 12 |
| Nebraska | 16 |
| Nevada | 12 |
| New Hampshire | 16 |
| New Jersey | 16 |
| New Mexico | 12 |
| New York | 16 |
| North Carolina | 16 |
| North Dakota | 16 |
| Ohio | 16 |
| Oklahoma | 16 |
| Oregon | 12 |
| Pennsylvania | 16 |
| Rhode Island | 16 |
| South Carolina | 16 |
| South Dakota | 16 |
| Tennessee | 13 |
| Texas | 17 |
| Utah | 11 |
| Vermont | 15 |
| Virginia | 16 |
| Washington | 15 |
| West Virginia | 15 |
| Wisconsin | 16 |
| Wyoming | 14 |
| Canada | Minimum Age Requirement for Fishing License |
|---|---|
| British Columbia | 16 |
| Alberta | 16 |
| Saskatchewan | 16 |
| Manitoba | 16 |
| Ontario | 18 |
| Quebec | 18 |
| Newfounland and Labrador | 18 |
| New Brunswick | 10 |
| Nova Scotia | 18 |
| Prince Edward Island | 16 |
United States Fishing License Requirements
1. Alabama
Here are the prices for Alabama fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident freshwater: $15
Resident saltwater: $24
Non-resident freshwater: $58
Non-resident saltwater: $53
Short Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $7
Non-resident 7-day: $33.
2. Alaska
Here are the prices for Alaska fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $20.
Non-resident: $100
Short Term Licenses
Non-resident 1-day: $15
Non-resident 3-day: $30
Non-resident 7-day: $45.
3. Arizona
Here are the prices for Arizona fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $37.
Non-resident: $55.
Short Term Licenses
Resident per day: $15
Non-resident per day: $20
4. Arkansas
Here are the prices for Arkansas fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $36
Non-resident: $50.
Short Term Licenses
Resident 3-day: $6.50. There are no shorter options.
Non-resident 3-day: $16.
Non-resident 7-day: $25. There are no shorter options.
5. California
Here are the prices for California fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $54.
Non-resident: $145.
Short Term Licenses
Resident & Non-resident 1-day: $18
Resident & Non-resident 2-day: $27.
Non-resident 10-day: $54.
6. Colorado
Here are the prices for Colorado fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $37
Non-resident: $103
Short Term Licenses
Resident license is $14 per day.
Non-resident 1-day: $17
Non-resident 5-day: $34
7. Connecticut
Here are the prices for Connecticut fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $32
Non-resident: $63.
Short Term Licenses
Resident 3-day: $6.50. There are no shorter options.
Non-resident 3-day: $22. There are no shorter options.
8. Delaware
Here are the prices for Delaware fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $11
Non-resident: $23
Short Term Licenses
Resident license is $5 per day.
Non-resident 7-day: $15. There are no shorter options.
9. Florida
Here are the prices for Florida fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $17.
Non-resident: $47.
Short Term Licenses
Non-resident 3-day: $17.
Non-resident 7-day: $30. There are no shorter options.
10. Georgia
Here are the prices for Georgia fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $15.
Non-resident: $50.
Short Term Licenses
Non-resident 1-day: $10. Each additional day is $3.50.
11. Hawaii
Here are the prices for Hawaii fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $6.
Non-resident: $26
Short Term Licenses
Non-resident 7-day: $11.
Non-resident 31 day: $21.
There are no shorter options.
12. Idaho
Here are the prices for Idaho fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $30.50
Non-resident: $99
Short Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $13.50
Non-resident 1-day: $15. Each additional day is $7.
13. Illinois
Here are the prices for Illinois fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $15.
Non-resident: $31.50
Short Term Licenses
Non-resident 1-day: $11.
Non-resident 3-day: $16.
14. Indiana
Here are the prices for Indiana fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $23
Non-resident: $60
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $10
Non-resident 1-day: $15
Non-resident 7-day: $35
15. Iowa
Here are the prices for Iowa fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $22.
Non-resident: $48.
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $11
Resident 7-day: $16.
Non-resident 1-day: $12
Non-resident 3-day: $21
Non-resident 7-day: $38
16. Kansas
Here are the prices for Kansas fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $28.
Non-resident: $53
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $6
Non-resident 1-day: $10
Non-resident: 5-day: $28
17. Kentucky
Here are the prices for Kentucky fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $23.
Non-resident: $55.
Short-Term Licenses
Resident per day: $7
Non-resident 1-day: $15
Non-resident 7-day: $35
18. Louisiana
Here are the prices for Louisiana fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident freshwater: $17
Resident saltwater: $15
Non-resident freshwater: $68
Non-resident saltwater: $60
Short-Term Licenses
Non-resident freshwater 5-day: $30
Non-resident freshwater 10-day: $17
Non-resident saltwater 5-day: $30
Non-resident saltwater 10-day: $15
19. Maine
Here are the prices for Maine fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $25.
Non-resident: $64
Short-Term Licenses
Non-resident 1-day: $11
Non-resident 3-day: $23
Non-resident 7-day: $43
Non-resident 15-day: $50
20. Maryland
Here are the prices for Maryland fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident freshwater: $20
Resident saltwater: $15
Non-resident freshwater: $30
Non-resident saltwater: $23
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 7-day: $8
A non-resident short-term license depends on the state from which you’re coming.
21. Massachusetts
Here are the prices for Massachusetts fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident freshwater: $26
Resident saltwater: $10
Non-resident freshwater: $36
Non-resident saltwater: $10
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 3-day: $10
Non-resident 3-day: $21
22. Michigan
Here are the prices for Michigan fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $26.
Non-resident: $76.
Short-Term Licenses
Non-resident 1-day: $10
Non-resident 3-day: $30.
23. Minnesota
Here are the prices for Minnesota fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $26.
Non-resident: $51
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $12
Resident 3-day: $14
Non-resident 1-day: $14
Non-resident 3-day: $36.
24. Mississippi
Here are the prices for Mississippi fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident freshwater: $48
Resident saltwater: $13
Senior resident (65 and older) saltwater lifetime: $8
Non-resident freshwater: $67
Non-resident saltwater: $37
Short-Term Licenses
Non-resident 1-day: $14
Non-resident 3-day: $21
Non-resident 3-day saltwater: $21
Resident 3-day: $6
25. Missouri
Here are the prices for Missouri fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $12.
Non-resident: $49.
Short-Term Licenses
Non-resident per-day: $8
Resident per-day: $8
26. Montana
Here are the prices for Montana fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $31.
Non-resident: $117.
Short-Term Licenses
Resident: 2-day $15.
Non-resident 1-day: $31
Non-resident 5-day $73.50
27. Nebraska
Here are the prices for Nebraska fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $38.
Non-resident: $84.
Short-Term Licenses
Non-resident 1-day: $15
Non-resident 3-day: $37.
Resident 1-day: $10
Resident 3-day: $31
28. Nevada
Here are the prices for Nevada fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $40.
Non-resident: $80.
Short-Term Licenses
Non-resident per day: $18
Resident per-day: $9
29. New Hampshire
Here are the prices for New Hampshire fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $45.
Non-resident: $63
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $10
Non-resident 1-day: $15
Non-resident 3-day: $28
Non-resident 7-day: $35
30. New Jersey
Here are the prices for New Jersey fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
A resident annual license is $23.
A non-resident annual license is $34.
Short-Term Licenses
Non-resident 2-day: $9
Non-resident 7-day: $20
31. New Mexico
Here are the prices for New Mexico fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $25.
Non-resident: $56.
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $12
Resident 5-day: $24
Non-resident 1-day: $12
Non-resident 5-day: $24
32. New York
Here are the prices for New York fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $25.
Non-resident: $50.
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $5
Resident 7-day: $12
Non-resident 1-day: $10
Non-resident 7-day: $30.
33. North Carolina
Here are the prices for North Carolina fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident freshwater: $25
Resident saltwater: $16
Non-resident freshwater: $45
Non-resident saltwater: $32
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 10-day freshwater: $9
Resident 10-day saltwater: $6
Non-resident 10-day freshwater: $23
Non-resident 10-day saltwater: $11
North Carolina Fishing License
34. North Dakota
Here are the prices for North Dakota fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $18.
Non-resident: $48.
Short-Term Licenses
Non-resident 3-day:$28
Non-resident 10-day: $38
35. Ohio
Here are the prices for Ohio fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $25
Non-resident: $51
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $14
Non-resident 1-day: $14
Non-resident 3-day: $25
36. Oklahoma
Here are the prices for Oklahoma fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $25.
Non-resident: $55.
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $15
Non-resident 1-day: $15
Non-resident 6-day: $35
37. Oregon
Here are the prices for Oregon fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $44.
Non-resident: $111.
Short-Term Licenses
Non-resident 1-day: $23
Non-resident 7-day: $95
38. Pennsylvania
Here are the prices for Pennsylvania fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $23.
Non-resident: $53
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $12
Non-resident 3-day: $27
Non-resident 7-day: $35
39. Rhode Island
Here are the prices for Rhode Island fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $21
Non-resident: $38
Short-Term Licenses
Non-resident 3-day license: $18
40. South Carolina
Here are the prices for South Carolina fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $10
Non-resident: $35
Short-Term Licenses
Non-resident 14-day: $11
South Carolina Fishing License
41. South Dakota
Here are the prices for South Dakota fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $28.
Non-resident: $67.
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $8
Non-resident 1-day: $16
Non-resident 3-day: $37
42. Tennessee
Here are the prices for Tennessee fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $34.
Non-resident no trout: $50 f
Non-resident all species: $99
Short-Term Licenses
Non-resident 3-day: $41
Non-resident 10-day: $62.
43. Texas
Here are the prices for Texas fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident freshwater: $30
Resident saltwater: $35
Resident all-water: $40
Non-resident freshwater: $58
Non-resident saltwater: $63
Non-resident all water: $68
Short-Term Licenses
Resident per day: $11
Non-resident per day: $16
44. Utah
Here are the prices for Utah fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $34.
Non-resident: $85
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 3-day: $16
Resident 7-day: $20
Non-resident 3-day: $28
Non-resident 7-day: $46.
45. Vermont
Here are the prices for Vermont fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $34.
Non-resident: $54
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 3-day: $11
Non-resident 1-day: $21
Non-resident 3-day: $23
Non-resident 7-day: $31
46. Virginia
Here are the prices for Virginia fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident freshwater: $23
Resident Saltwater: $40
Non-resident freshwater: $47
Non-resident saltwater $25
Short-Term Licenses
Non-resident 1-day freshwater: $8
Non-resident 5-day freshwater: $21
Non-resident 10-day saltwater: $10
47. Washington
Here are the prices for Washington fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident annual freshwater: $29
Resident annual saltwater: $30
Non-resident freshwater: $84
Non-resident saltwater: $60
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $11
Resident 2-day: $15
Resident 3-day: $19
Non-resident 1-day: $21
Non-resident 2-day: $29
Non-resident 3-day: $36
48. West Virginia
Here are the prices for West Virginia fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $19.
Non-resident: $37
Short-Term Licenses
Non-Resident 1-day: $3
49. Wisconsin
Here are the prices for Wisconsin fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $20.
Non-Resident: $50.
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $8
Non-Resident 1-day: $10
Non-Resident 4-day: $24
50. Wyoming
Here are the prices for New York fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $27
Non-Resident: $102
Short-Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $6
Non-Resident 1-day: $14
Non-Resident 5-day: $56
Canada Fishing License Requirements
1. British Columbia
Here are the prices for British Columbia fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses
Resident: $36
Non-resident: $55
Non-resident alien: $80
Short-Term License
Resident 1-day: $10
Non-resident 1-day: $20
Non-resident alien: $20
Resident 8-day: $20
Non-resident 8-day: $36
Non-resident alien 8-day: $50
British Columbia Fishing License
2. Alberta
Here are the prices for Alberta fishing licenses.
Annual Licenses:
Resident: $28
Resident over 65 years: Free
Non-resident $60
Non-resident alien: $85
Short Term Licenses
Non-resident 1-day: $25
Non-resident 7-day: $41
Non-resident alien 1-day: $27
Non-resident alien 7-day: $55
3. Saskatchewan
Here are the prices for Saskatchewan fishing licenses.
Annual
Resident: $42
Resident over 65 years: Free
Non-resident: $86
Non-resident alien: $115
Short Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $15
Resident 3-day: $21
Non-resident 1-day: $23
Non-resident 3-day: $46
Non-resident alien 1-day: $28
Non-resident alien 3-day: $57
4. Manitoba
Here are the prices for Manitoba fishing licenses.
Annual
Resident: $25
Resident over 65: free
Non-resident: $48
Non-resident alien: $62
Short Term
Resident 1-day: $10
Resident 3-day: $15
Non-resident 1-day: $22
Non-resident 3-day: $28
Non-resident alien 1-day: $28
Non-resident alien 3-day: $40
5. Ontario
Here are the prices for Ontario fishing licenses.
Annual
Resident: $27
Non-resident: $55
Non-resident alien:$84
Short Term Licenses
Resident 1-day: $13
Non-resident 1-day: $15
Non-resident alien 1-day: $25
Non-resident alien 8-day: $54
6. Quebec
Here are the prices for Quebec fishing licenses.
Annual
Resident: $25
Resident over 65: $20
Non-resident: $87
Resident salmon: $54
Non-resident salmon: $175
Short Term Licenses
Resident 3-day: $14
Non-resident 1-day: $20
Non-resident 3-day: $35
Non-resident 7-day: $52
Resident 3-day salmon: $24
Non-resident 3-day salmon: $46
7. Newfoundland and Labrador
Here are the prices for Newfounland and Labrador fishing licenses.
Annual
Resident salmon: $23
Non-resident salmon: $80
Over 65 Salmon: $15
Non-resident trout: $12
Newfoundland and Labrador Fishing License
8. New Brunswick
Here are the prices for New Brunswick fishing licenses.
Annual
Resident (excluding salmon): $13
Resident (with salmon): $26
Non-resident (excluding salmon): $40
Non-resident (with salmon): $138
Short Term Licenses
Non-resident (with salmon) 3-day: $38
Non-resident (with salmon) 7-day: $75
Non-resident (without salmon) 3-day: $20
Non-resident (without salmon) 7-day: $26
9. Nova Scotia
Here are the prices for Nova Scotia fishing licenses.
Annual
Resident: $27
Resident over 65: free
Non-resident: $35
Short Term Licenses
1-day resident and non-resident: $14
10. Prince Edward Island
Here are the prices for Prince Edward Island fishing licenses.
Annual
Resident/Non-resident: $10
Conclusion
Thankfully, as years have progressed, finding and purchasing fishing licenses in the United States and Canada have become easier and easier.
Game and fish departments are incorporating online tools into their websites, so outdoor men and women have a chance to purchase their licenses easily from their smartphone.
One simple Google search can give you all the information you need to get out on the water as soon as possible!