Back Close

How to Catch Fish How to Tie Fishing Knots Fishing Gear and Tackle How to Fish with Lures How to Fish with Live Bait Fishing Safety Fishing Tips When to Fish Types of Fishing Fishing Terms Fishing and Conservation Fishing Resources View All

When to Saltwater Fish Saltwater Bait and Lures Saltwater Fishing Tackle Types of Saltwater Fishing Saltwater Fishing Gear Saltwater Fish Species Saltwater Fishing FAQ View All

Best Freshwater Fishing When to Freshwater Fish Freshwater Bait and Lures Learn About Freshwater Fish Species Best Freshwater Fishing Gear Freshwater Fishing FAQ View All

Fly Fishing Basics Fly Fishing Flies Fly Fishing Gear Fly Casting View All

Ice Fishing Basics Ice Fishing Gear Ice Fishing Techniques View All

Boating Basics How to Boat Boating and Water Safety Choose Your Boat Use our Boat Explorer Tool Get on the Water View All

Select a state to find fishing and boating information:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho

Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri

Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania

Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Get A Fishing License

Get started fishing today, purchase your fishing license online, check regulations and more.

How to Get Your Fishing License In a Jiffy

Debbie Hanson

4/21/2016

You have to figure out how to get a fishing license in a jiffy because your friends just called to let you know that the bite is on. You haven't been fishing in awhile, and you're not even sure you remember what it is that you need to do to get your fishing license… much less how to get it quickly. Although, you also know that you don’t want to miss out on the fishing fun this year, so you have to figure it out ASAP.

Relax, you've got this! You can either purchase your fishing license online or, in some states, you can also purchase your license by phone -- both methods are easy and affordable. Plus, you will have your license in plenty of time to make that upcoming fishing trip.

Follow These Steps to Get Your License

If you are visiting a new state and aren't sure how to get a fishing license, the first thing you will need to do is check with the state fish and wildlife agency or department of natural resources to get the fishing license rules and regulations for the state you are visiting. The state agency can tell you what the license age requirements are and provide information on daily, short-term, annual, or lifetime fishing licenses.
To get your fishing license online, find links to fishing license information by state at TakeMeFishing.org.
Follow the links provided by the state agency or department of natural resources that tell you how to get a fishing license using your credit card. Many states allow you to print your license immediately after purchase. Then, by providing a valid email address, a copy of your recreational fishing license can also be sent to your email.
Some states, such as Florida, also provide you with the option of purchasing your license by phone using a toll-free number.
Know that when you purchase your fishing license, you are helping to conserve and protect state aquatic resources for generations to come.

Still have questions about how to get a fishing license? You can watch a quick video on how to get a fishing license for additional information and tips.

Fishing, How to, Fishing License

Debbie Hanson

Debbie Hanson is an award-winning outdoor writer, women’s sport fishing advocate, IGFA world record holder, and freshwater guide living in Southwest Florida. Hanson’s written work has appeared in publications such as Florida Game & Fish Magazine, BoatUS Magazine, and USA Today Hunt & Fish. To learn more about her work, visit shefishes2.com or follow her on Instagram @shefishes2.

Latest Posts

The largemouth bass is the most popular freshwater game fish in the U.S. Learn more about how you can identify a largemouth bass, where to catch it and what bait and lures to use.

Go To Fish Identifier