Fishing Licenses
Purchase Your Fishing License
Sporting License Issuing Agent Locations
Types & Fees
General Fishing Licenses (View residency qualifications)
| Type | Resident Fee | Nonresident Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Annual valid one full year (365 days) from the date of purchase |
$25 (ages 16-69) $5 (ages 70+)< |
$50 |
| 7-day | $12 | $28 |
| 1-day | $5 | $10 |
Free/Reduced Fee & Lifetime Licenses
You may qualify for a free/reduced fee annual fishing license if you are:
For information on required documents and qualifications click the links below. In most instances, you must be a New York resident
- Active duty military
- Military veteran with 40% or greater disability
- Senior citizen (70 years or older)
- Legally blind
- Non-resident student attending a New York State college or university full-time
- Lifetime Licenses: Fish for life with a lifetime license! Available to residents only.
Who Needs a Fishing License?
You need a fishing license if you are 16 years and older and fishing for:
- Freshwater fish species by angling, spearing, hooking, longbow, and tip-ups.
- Frog species by spearing, catching with the hands or by use of a club or hook.
- Freshwater baitfish for personal use.
Note: You need a marine fishing registration if fishing for migratory fish of the sea and saltwater fish species.
You do not need a fishing license if you are:
- Fishing on a licensed fishing preserve
- Fishing during the free fishing weekend
- Fishing at a free fishing clinic
- A resident landowner primarily engaged in farming (including lessees and members of their immediate families) when fishing on farm lands they are occupying and cultivating.
- A farm fish pond license holder (including members of their immediate families) fishing on waters covered by the license.
- A Native American living and fishing on reservation land.
- A patient residing at a qualifying U.S. Veterans Administration hospital or facility in New York State.
More information can be found at The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation website.
Fishing Regulations:
Click here for updated information on New York Fresh Water Fishing Regulations.