🏆 Top 3 Cheapest Resident Fishing Licenses
Mississippi ties South Carolina at $10.00. Hawaii's $6 license is the lowest sticker price in the country, but it only covers introduced freshwater sportfish — it has nothing to do with the ocean fishing most visitors and residents actually do. See the ranking notes below before assuming lowest price means broadest coverage.
All 50 States: Resident Annual License — Cheapest First
Prices are for a standard resident annual freshwater license. Saltwater and combination license prices may differ.
| # | State | Resident Annual | Non-Resident Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $6.00 | $26.00 |
| 2 | Delaware | $8.50 | $20.00 |
| 3 | South Carolina | $10.00 | $35.00 |
| 4 | Arkansas | $10.50 | $60.00 |
| 5 | Missouri | $14.00 | $57.00 |
| 6 | Georgia | $15.00 | $50.00 |
| 7 | Illinois | $15.00 | $31.50 |
| 8 | Alabama | $17.00 | $66.25 |
| 9 | Florida | $17.00 | $47.00 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $17.00 | $60.00 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $17.00 | $60.00 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $19.00 | $37.00 |
| 13 | Alaska | $20.00 | $100.00 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $20.00 | $50.00 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $21.00 | $38.00 |
| 16 | Iowa | $22.00 | $48.00 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $22.50 | $34.00 |
| 18 | Indiana | $23.00 | $60.00 |
| 19 | Virginia | $23.00 | $47.00 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $24.31 | $58.14 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $25.00 | $51.00 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $25.00 | $56.00 |
| 23 | New York | $25.00 | $50.00 |
| 24 | Ohio | $25.00 | $76.96 |
| 25 | Michigan | $26.00 | $76.00 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $27.00 | $68.00 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $27.00 | $102.00 |
| 28 | Kansas | $27.50 | $52.50 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $27.97 | $60.97 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $28.00 | $55.00 |
| 31 | Vermont | $28.00 | $54.00 |
| 32 | Maine | $30.00 | $83.00 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $30.00 | $54.00 |
| 34 | Texas | $30.00 | $58.00 |
| 35 | Idaho | $30.50 | $112.75 |
| 36 | Montana | $31.00 | $117.50 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $31.00 | $81.00 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $31.00 | $80.00 |
| 39 | Maryland | $32.00 | $55.00 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $33.00 | $49.00 |
| 41 | Arizona | $37.00 | $55.00 |
| 42 | Massachusetts | $40.00 | $50.00 |
| 43 | Nevada | $40.00 | $80.00 |
| 44 | Utah | $40.00 | $90.00 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $41.00 | $84.00 |
| 46 | Colorado | $44.87 | $124.01 |
| 47 | New Hampshire | $45.00 | $63.00 |
| 48 | Oregon | $50.00 | $138.00 |
| 49 | California | $64.54 | $174.14 |
| 50 | Washington | $74.37 | $170.00 |
Why Are Some States So Much Cheaper?
Fishing license revenue funds each state's fish and wildlife programs — hatcheries, habitat restoration, conservation officers, and public water access. States with more anglers (and thus more license sales) can keep per-license costs lower. States with expensive fisheries management, smaller resident populations, or premium fishing destinations (like Alaska's salmon runs or California's anadromous fisheries) charge more.
Louisiana's $17.00 resident license is partly subsidized by oil and gas revenue flowing into the state's Conservation Fund — a structural advantage most states don't have, even though it's no longer among the very cheapest nationally.
Cheapest for Residents Isn't Cheapest for Visitors
The resident ranking and the non-resident ranking are two different lists, and it's easy to assume a "cheap" state is cheap for everyone. It isn't. South Carolina ($10.00) and Arkansas ($10.50) are among the cheapest resident licenses in the country, but neither cracks the top tier for non-residents — their out-of-state rates don't carry the same discount. Meanwhile New Jersey ($34.00) ranks among the cheapest non-resident licenses without being especially cheap for its own residents. Only Delaware and Hawaii show up as genuinely low-cost on both lists (Hawaii's low price applies to freshwater only). If you're planning where to fish based on this table, check which ranking actually applies to you — the state that's cheapest for locals may not be the bargain it looks like for a visiting angler.
Cheapest Fishing License — FAQs
What state has the cheapest fishing license?
Hawaii has the lowest sticker price in 2026 at $6.00, but that license only covers freshwater sportfish, not ocean fishing. For full-scope coverage, Delaware is lowest at $8.50. South Carolina and Mississippi (both $10.00) and Arkansas ($10.50) round out the next cheapest.
What is the most expensive fishing license in the US?
Washington has the most expensive resident annual fishing license at $74.37 (combination license), followed by California at $64.54 and Colorado at $44.87. For non-residents, California's $174.14 is the priciest in the country, just ahead of Washington's $170 combination license and Oregon's $138 (driven largely by a required Combined Angling Tag). Colorado's non-resident annual is also among the highest at $124.01.
Which state has the cheapest non-resident fishing license?
Delaware ($20) offers the cheapest true annual non-resident license in the country, with Hawaii ($26), Illinois ($31.50), and New Jersey ($34) also offering very affordable non-resident options. For a single day, most states offer 1-day licenses for $10–$20.
Can I save money by buying a license in a neighboring state?
No — you must fish with a valid license for the state you're actually fishing in. Non-resident rates apply if you're not a resident of that state, and they're always higher than resident rates. Your best strategy is to check if nearby border waters have reciprocal licensing agreements, which let you use one state's license in shared waters.