When do i need a fishing license

A: Eligible low-income seniors, who are at least 65 years of age, and honorably-discharged veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 50 percent, may qualify for a Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License. The CDFW also offers Free Sport Fishing Licenses to persons who are blind; low-income American Indians; developmentally disabled persons; and residents who are so severely physically disabled that they are permanently unable to move from place to place without the use of a wheelchair, walker, forearm crutches, or a comparable mobility-related device.

Proof of eligibility for all free and reduced-fee licenses is required. Q: There are often in-season regulation changes for groundfish. How can I find out about these changes if I do not have a computer? Using a touch tone keypad, anglers can now get the latest regulations information over the phone; with a cell phone, it's even possible to get this information while at sea. Each species has a unique life history so researchers must tag individuals of the species in which they are interested.

Q: How do I find out when the next good low tide is or how low the tide will be? A: Most boating and tackle stores have inexpensive or free tide-books.

You can check the tide predictions in the daily newspaper for the area you are interested in or check online. License and Revenue Branch P. Home Licensing Fishing. Annual Sport Fishing Licenses valid January 1, through December 31, or for the remainder of the year if purchased after January 1 A sport fishing license is required for any person attempting to take fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians, or reptiles in inland or ocean waters.

After you prequalify for your first Disabled Veteran Reduced Fee Sport Fishing License , you can purchase disabled veteran licenses anywhere licenses are sold. How to Prequalify for a Disabled Veteran or Recovering Service Member License Send a photocopy of your identification and documentation of eligibility by: Mail to any CDFW license sales office Fax at Secure document upload - To upload your documentation, you must request a secure document upload.

Send your request for a secure document upload to LRB wildlife. You will receive a response with a link to upload your documentation securely. DO NOT send your documents via email. Recovering Service Members must submit a letter from their Commanding Officer or a military doctor. Telephone number Email address optional, but may expedite issuance For hunting licenses only - proof of hunter education Proof is not needed if you purchased a California hunting license after CDFW will have your hunter education on file.

Certification of blindness by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist is required. Print Free Sport Fishing License Application - Blind PDF Form Any person who is a resident of the State and who is so severely physically disabled as to be permanently unable to move from place to place without the aid of a wheelchair, walker, forearm crutches or a comparable mobility-related device.

Verification by a licensed physician or a copy of the previous year's free fishing license is required. Certification by a licensed physician or the director of a State regional center is required. Certification of tribal enrollment, a copy of the Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood, or a copy of an official tribal membership or identification card with membership number is required. Q: Where can I purchase a sport fishing license?

Q: How long is an annual sport fishing license valid? Q: Do I have to wear my fishing license? Q: How do I replace a lost or destroyed fishing license? Q: Can I laminate my license? Q: Can I get a refund of my fishing license fee? Q: Can I purchase a fishing license for my friend? Fish and Game Code, Section a A sport fishing license is not required to take fish for any purpose other than profit by means of angling from a public pier in the ocean waters of the state.

Q: What kind of validations or report cards do I need? Q: Are children required to purchase report cards? Q: When and where should I return my report cards?

You can either report your harvest online or return your report card to the address listed below: Abalone Report Card must be returned to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, N. Q: Can I get a free or low-cost fishing license? Q: Where can I ask questions about marine sport fishing? A: Biologists tag fish for many reasons, including: To follow fish movement over time and to ascertain migration patterns.

To discover habitat preferences for fish at different ages, or reproductive stage. To determine how fast fish grow. To get information on fish mortality and population size.

Q: What should I do with the tag found on the fish I caught? Related Information. Available for any resident or nonresident honorably discharged disabled veteran with a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability.

Available for any recovering service member of the US military. After you prequalify for your Recovering Service Member Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License , you can purchase recovering service member licenses anywhere licenses are sold. Available for low-income California residents, 65 years of age and older,who meet the specified annual income requirements.

Available for any Native American who is a resident of the State and is financially unable to pay the fee required for a resident sport fishing license.

Available for a person who is blind, developmentally disabled, or mobility impaired. Subsequent licenses may be obtained from any license agent. See application for details. The SIP permit is valid for one year from the date of issuance. Anglers must obtain a new SIP permit each year. Domiciled means a person's fixed, permanent, and principal home for legal purposes.

A person may own land or dwellings and may stay for a time in several states, but may only have one domicile, and therefore may not be a resident of two states at the same time. The following nonresident persons may purchase resident recreational hunting and fishing licenses, other than lifetime, honorary or discounted license types:.

Resident hunters age 16—64 may purchase a Sportsman's License. A Sportsman's License provides all state paid hunting and fishing privileges some free licenses may be required see below , with the exception of the paid Alligator Harvest Permit.

A Sportsman's license of annual or longer duration requires completion of a qualifying hunter education course. Additional free licenses may be required, based on activity. Sportsman's licenses are available to residents in annual and short-term durations. Lifetime licenses are also available. See Annual License for more information on annual licenses. See Lifetime Licenses for more information on lifetime licenses.

Resident youth hunters age 15 and under can get a Youth Sportsman's License. The youth must complete hunter education in order to hunt without supervision or to hunt after their 16th birthday under this license.

The multiyear license is effective until the youth's 17th birthday. Additional free licenses may be required based on the activity. See Lifetime Licenses for additional options. Seniors who turned 65 born on or before June 30, are eligible for a free lifetime license.

Residents age 16—64 may purchase an annual combo hunting and fishing license. A Combo License combines basic hunting and basic fishing privileges. Completion of a qualifying hunter education course is required for Combo Licenses of annual or longer duration. This license is available in annual and short-term durations. If you would like to try hunting but haven't completed hunter education available online or in-person and are 16 and older, you can purchase an apprentice license and go try hunting!

Although we recommend learning hunting from a mentor or another licensed hunter, you are not required to have a licensed hunter with you. Anyone age 16 and older can purchase this license. There is no limit on the amount of one-day apprentice licenses you can purchase.

You can stack up to 10 consecutive days of one-day licenses at a time. Residents age 16—64 may purchase a hunting license. This license covers basic hunting privileges. Completion of a qualifying hunter education course is required for Hunting Licenses of annual or longer duration. Residents 15 years of age or younger may opt for the optional Youth Sportsman's License. This license does not include big game or the waterfowl and migratory bird stamp , see Senior Sportsman's license.

This license is available in annual duration. Seniors who turned 65 and were born on or before June 30, are eligible for a free lifetime license. Residents age 16—64 must have a fishing license to fish in fresh and salt waters of Georgia.

This license covers basic fishing privileges. Fishing licenses are available in annual and short-term durations. Resident youth under the age of 15 can get an Optional Youth Fishing License. Mountain trout privileges are included in this license. This license does not include trout fishing , see Senior Sportsman's License. Nonresident landowners owning land in Georgia must obtain a nonresident license to hunt or fish.

Florida residents age 65 or older only need a Florida Driver License or Identification Card to prove residency and age. They are not required to purchase the following recreational licenses and permits:. While a license is not required for resident seniors, they should keep proof of age and residency in their possession while participating in these activities. Youth under the age of 16 do not need a fishing license, although they must abide by all other fishing regulations such as gear type, bag and size limits.

They may, however, be asked to provide proof of age. Starting July 1, , anglers age 16 and older including those exempt from license requirements fishing from a private boat, who plan to harvest, possess, or land specific reef fish must sign up to participate in the State Reef Fish Survey by adding the State Reef Fish Angler designation to their license or customer account. Skip to main content. Report Issues Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc.

Go Outdoors Florida! Do I need a freshwater or saltwater fishing license or both? The interpretation of the rule is: You need either a freshwater, saltwater or combination license or appropriate exemption to take fish take is legally defined as taking, attempting to take, pursuing, molesting, capturing, or killing any fish, or their nests or eggs by any means whether or not such actions result in obtaining possession of such fish or their nests or eggs. If you are using species specific gear, your license should be appropriate e.

License requirements follow the species of fish, regardless of where they are caught.