Captain has you covered. Find your state or country on the list below and follow the link for the official government licensing site for fishing licenses and permits. You will need a license in the state or country in which you are fishing, not where you live, so if you are traveling be sure to look for the location where you'll be reeling them in.
Fishing licenses are regulated at the state level in the US and at the federal level abroad, so the pricing and licensing vary a little bit everywhere. Licenses are easily bought online for all US states and most international destinations (or offline at local retailers, if you prefer). Licensing exists as a way for states and countries to collect money that goes towards conservation - you are directly paying for the safety and longevity of the waterways you will be heading out to fish.
A fishing license is usually the only mandatory item that you will need to bring on our trips, and it is certainly the only one that fishing without can get you into big trouble. We also don't want to get our guides into any trouble with the law, and if you don't have a license you won't be able to step aboard, so be sure to buy one before you head out.
Alabama Fishing License - Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (If you are fishing from a chartered saltwater boat in Alabama that has a valid license, you do not need to buy additional licenses for yourself or other anglers aboard. Freshwater anglers will still need to purchase a license.)
Alaska Fishing License - Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Arizona Fishing License - Arizona Game & Fish
Arkansas Fishing License - Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
California Fishing License - California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Colorado Fishing License - Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Connecticut Fishing License - Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Delaware Fishing License - Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife
Florida Fishing License - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (If you are fishing from a chartered saltwater boat in Florida that has a valid license, you do not need to buy additional licenses for yourself or other anglers aboard. Freshwater anglers will still need to purchase a license.)
Georgia Fishing License - Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Hawaii Fishing License - Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources (If you are fishing from a chartered saltwater boat in Hawaii that has a valid license, you do not need to buy additional licenses for yourself or other anglers aboard. Freshwater anglers will still need to purchase a license.)
Idaho Fishing License - Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Illinois Fishing License - Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Indiana Fishing License - Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Iowa Fishing License - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Kansas Fishing License - Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Kentucky Fishing License - Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources
Louisiana Fishing License - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Maine Fishing License - Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (If you are fishing from a chartered saltwater boat in Maine that has a valid license, you do not need to buy additional licenses for yourself or other anglers aboard. Freshwater anglers will still need to purchase a license.)
Maryland Fishing License - Maryland Department of Natural Resources (If you are fishing from a chartered saltwater boat in Maryland that has a valid license, you do not need to buy additional licenses for yourself or other anglers aboard. Freshwater anglers will still need to purchase a license.)
Massachusetts Fishing License - Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game
Michigan Fishing License - Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Minnesota Fishing License - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Mississippi Fishing License - Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks
Missouri Fishing License - Missouri Department of Conservation
Montana Fishing License - Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Nebraska Fishing License - Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Nevada Fishing License - Nevada Department of Wildlife
New Hampshire Fishing License - New Hampshire Fish & Game Department (If you are fishing from a chartered saltwater boat in New Hampshire that has a valid license, you do not need to buy additional licenses for yourself or other anglers aboard. Freshwater anglers will still need to purchase a license.)
New Jersey Fishing License - New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (If you are fishing from a chartered saltwater boat in New Jersey that has a valid license, you do not need to buy additional licenses for yourself or other anglers aboard. Freshwater anglers will still need to purchase a license.)
New Mexico Fishing License - New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
New York Fishing License - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (If you are fishing from a chartered saltwater boat in New York that has a valid license, you do not need to buy additional licenses for yourself or other anglers aboard. Freshwater anglers will still need to purchase a license.)
North Carolina Fishing License - North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (If you are fishing from a chartered saltwater boat in North Carolina that has a valid license, you do not need to buy additional licenses for yourself or other anglers aboard. Freshwater anglers will still need to purchase a license.)
North Dakota Fishing License - North Dakota Game and Fish
Ohio Fishing License - Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Oklahoma Fishing License - Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Oregon Fishing License - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Pennsylvania Fishing License - Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Rhode Island Fishing License - Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (If you are fishing from a chartered saltwater boat in Rhode Island that has a valid license, you do not need to buy additional licenses for yourself or other anglers aboard. Freshwater anglers will still need to purchase a license.)
South Carolina Fishing License - South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (If you are fishing from a chartered saltwater boat in South Carolina that has a valid license, you do not need to buy additional licenses for yourself or other anglers aboard. Freshwater anglers will still need to purchase a license.)
South Dakota Fishing License - South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Tennessee Fishing License - Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Texas Fishing License - Texas Parks and Wildlife
Utah Fishing License - Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Vermont Fishing License - Vermont Fish and Wildlife
Virginia Fishing License - Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (If you are fishing from a chartered saltwater boat in Virginia that has a valid license, you do not need to buy additional licenses for yourself or other anglers aboard. Freshwater anglers will still need to purchase a license.)
Washington Fishing License - Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
West Virginia Fishing License - West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Wisconsin Fishing License - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Wyoming Fishing License - Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Bahamas Fishing License - Government of the Bahamas
Bermuda Fishing License - Your Captain's license will cover all passengers. We make sure all of our Captains have the correct licensing.
Bolivia Fishing License - Your Captain's license will cover all passengers. We make sure all of our Captains have the correct licensing.
Canada Fishing License
Costa Rica Fishing License - Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture
Dominican Republic Fishing License - Your Captain's license will cover all passengers. We make sure all of our Captains have the correct licensing.
Guatemala Fishing License - Visit in person or call the Guatemala Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Feeding at +502 6640-9300.
Honduras Fishing License - No license required.
Mexico Fishing License - Baja Sur Sportfishing Department
Puerto Rico Fishing License - Your Captain's license will cover all passengers. We make sure all of our Captains have the correct licensing.
Saint Barthélemy Fishing License - St Barthélemy Territorial Agency of the Environment
Uruguay Fishing License - Uruguay Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries
Venezuela Fishing License - Visit in person to get your license from the Venezuelan National Institute for Fisheries and Aquaculture.
See you out there.
Attison Barnes
Updated on December 6, 2022
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