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Fishing licenses
Fishing License Cost by State
A resident annual fishing license costs a median of $27 across the 47 states compared here, and a nonresident annual license $60.97. Nonresident annual prices run from $20 in Delaware to $174.14 in California. Every price comes from the state wildlife agency’s own site, checked October 2026.
All states
Fishing license prices, state by state
| State | Resident annual | Nonresident annual | Nonresident short-term | Saltwater (res / nonres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $17 | $66.25 | $35.65 (7-day) | $30.05 / $64.90 |
| Alaska | $20 | $100 | $15 (1-day) | Same license |
| Arizona | $37 | $55 | $20 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Arkansas | $10.50 | $60 | $15 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| California | $64.54 | $174.14 | $21.09 (1-day) | Same license |
| Colorado | $44.87 | $124.01 | $21.90 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Connecticut | $28 | $55 | $8 (3-day) | $10 / $15 |
| Delaware | $8.50 | $20 | $12.50 (7-day) | Same license |
| Florida | $17 | $47 | $17 (3-day) | $17 / $47 |
| Georgia | $15 | $50 | $10 (1-day) | Same license |
| Hawaii | $5 | $25 | $10 (7-day) | — / $70 |
| Idaho | $30.50 | $108 | $22.75 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Illinois | $15 | $31.50 | $10.50 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Indiana | $23 | $60 | $15 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Iowa | $22 | $48 | $12 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Kansas | $25 | $75 | $10 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Kentucky | $24.31 | $58.14 | $15.86 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Louisiana | $17 | $68 | $30 (5-day) | $32 / $128 |
| Maine | $30 | $83 | $18 (1-day) | $1 / $1 |
| Maryland | $32 | $55 | $12 (7-day) | $15 / $22.50 |
| Massachusetts | $40 | $50 | $30.50 (3-day) | $10 / $10 |
| Michigan | $26 | $76 | $10 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Minnesota | $25 | $51 | $14 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Mississippi | $10 | $68 | $10 (1-day) | $10 / $30 |
| Missouri | $14 | $57 | $9 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Montana | $31 | $117.50 | $31.50 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Nebraska | $41 | $95.50 | $12 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Nevada | $40 | $80 | $18 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| New Hampshire (check agency) | — | — | — | — |
| New Jersey (check agency) | — | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | $35 | $90 | $12 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| New York | $25 | $50 | $10 (1-day) | Same license |
| North Carolina | $32 | $56 | $15 (10-day) | $20 / $40 |
| North Dakota | $27 | $68 | $48 (3-day) | Landlocked |
| Ohio | $25 | $76.96 | $27.04 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Oklahoma | $31 | $81 | $26 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Oregon | $50 | $138 | $29 (1-day) | Same license |
| Pennsylvania | $27.97 | $60.97 | $31.97 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Rhode Island | $24 | $41 | $20 (3-day) | Same license |
| South Carolina | $10 | $35 | $10 (1-day) | $15 / $75 |
| South Dakota | $31 | $80 | $26 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Tennessee | $33 | $49 | $20 (3-day) | Landlocked |
| Texas | $30 | $58 | $16 (1-day) | $35 / $63 |
| Utah | $40 | $94 | $31 (3-day) | Landlocked |
| Vermont | $28 | $54 | $21 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Virginia | $28 | $72 | $20 (1-day) | Same license |
| Washington | $39.95 | $115.85 | $27.05 (1-day) | $40.71 / $81.70 |
| West Virginia (check agency) | — | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | $20 | $55 | $15 (1-day) | Landlocked |
| Wyoming | $27 | $102 | $14 (1-day) | Landlocked |
Annual prices are the basic freshwater (or general) license. “Same license” means one license covers salt water too. Some states add a required stamp or conservation license – see each state page. Where we show “check agency”, we could not confirm current prices on the agency’s own site.
Questions
Fishing license questions
How much does a fishing license cost?
Across the 47 states compared, the median resident annual license is $27 and the median nonresident annual license is $60.97.
Which state has the cheapest nonresident fishing license?
Among the states compared, Delaware, at $20 for a nonresident annual license.
Do I need a license on a fishing charter?
It depends on the state. In some states the charter boat’s license covers paying passengers; in others each angler needs one. Each state page says what the agency publishes, and the captain can tell you when you book.
Fishing across the border? Canada fishing license costs, province by province.
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