Fishing Licenses by State & Region

License fees, age exemptions, and official agency links for all 50 US states plus Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. All pages link directly to the official agency so you can buy your license instantly.

Regions Covered

US States

Saltwater Access

~$29

Avg. Annual Fee

ℹ️

Fees are approximate and change annually. Always verify current prices and regulations on the official agency website before purchasing. Links on each state page go directly to the official licensing portal.

Filtered 🇺🇸 United States ✕ Clear all

Sort by

🔤 Name A–Z 💵 Cheapest 💎 Most Expensive

50 regions

🇺🇸 WI

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

From $20.00/yr · NR $50.00

Free under 16 4 types

🇺🇸 WY

Wyoming

Wyoming Game and Fish Department

From $27.00/yr · NR $102.00

Free under 14 3 types

At a Glance

US states covered 50

International regions 12

With saltwater access 29

Avg. annual fee ~$29

By Country

🇺🇸 United States 50 🇨🇦 Canada 6 🇦🇺 Australia 3 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 2 🇳🇿 New Zealand 1 ✕ Clear filter

Saltwater Access

🌊 Coastal / Saltwater States 29

License Basics

📋

Always Carry It Keep your license (digital or paper) on you while fishing. Conservation officers can ask to see it at any time.

🌊

Fresh vs. Saltwater Many coastal states require separate licenses for freshwater and saltwater fishing. Check both if you plan to do both on a trip.

👦

Youth Exemptions Most states allow children (typically under 16) to fish without a license when accompanied by a licensed adult.

🗓️

License Year Most annual licenses run January–December or 12 months from purchase. Short-term licenses are great for trips.

Fishing Without a License

⚠️

Fines Are Significant Fishing without a license in US states typically results in fines of $100–$500 for a first offense. Repeat violations can result in criminal charges.

🐟

Your Fee Funds Conservation License fees fund fish stocking, habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, and public access programs - directly benefiting the waters you fish.

Explore Related

🏆 IGFA World Records 🍽️ Edible Fish Guide ♻️ Sustainable Seafood 🧠 Best Omega-3 Fish 🔤 All Species A–Z