California Fishing License Cost & Rules

Resident, non-resident, short-term, senior, youth, and lifetime fishing license fees for California. Checked 2026-11-12.

Fishing Licenses (12)

License / Permit	Residency	Fee	Eligibility & Notes	Source
Resident Sport Fishing (365-day)	Resident	$64.54	16 and older Includes 5% agent fee and 3% application fee on items sold through agents or online	Official page
Nonresident Sport Fishing (365-day)	Non-resident	$174.14	16 and older	Official page
One-day Sport Fishing	Resident & Non-resident	$21.09	Any resident or nonresident Exempt from Ocean Enhancement Validation	Official page
Two-day Sport Fishing	Resident & Non-resident	$32.40	Any resident or nonresident Exempt from Ocean Enhancement Validation	Official page
Ten-day Nonresident Sport Fishing	Non-resident	$64.54	Nonresident	Official page
Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing - Low Income Senior	Resident	$10.04	65 and older receiving SSI or CAPI CDFW license sales offices only; verification renewed annually	Official page
Youth (under 16)	All / N/A	Not offered	Under 16 not required to hold a sport fishing license Report cards still required for some species	Official page
Lifetime Fishing License package ages 0-9	Resident	$709.00	Ages 0-9 Packages bought at CDFW license sales office	Official page
Lifetime Fishing License package ages 10-39	Resident	$1160.25	Ages 10-39 Packages bought at CDFW license sales office	Official page
Lifetime Fishing License package ages 40-61	Resident	$1045.00	Ages 40-61 Packages bought at CDFW license sales office	Official page
Lifetime Fishing License package ages 62+	Resident	$709.00	Ages 62 and older Packages bought at CDFW license sales office	Official page
Fishing Privilege Package (lifetime)	Resident	$478.75	Lifetime Includes lifetime second-rod; ocean enhancement; north coast salmon and steelhead report card	Official page

Fishing Stamps, Endorsements & Permits (6)

License / Permit	Residency	Fee	Eligibility & Notes	Source
Trout stamp or permit	All / N/A	Not shown	No trout stamp listed on official fee pages	Official page
Ocean Enhancement Validation (saltwater)	Resident & Non-resident	$7.30	Required to fish ocean waters south of Point Arguello Not required with one- or two-day licence	Official page
Steelhead Fishing Report Card	Resident & Non-resident	$10.29	Anyone taking steelhead in inland waters	Official page
Sturgeon Fishing Report Card	Resident & Non-resident	$8.13	Anyone taking sturgeon Catch-and-release only	Official page
North Coast Salmon Report Card	Resident & Non-resident	$9.21	Anyone taking salmon in Smith or Klamath-Trinity systems	Official page
Spiny Lobster Report Card	Resident & Non-resident	$12.70	Anyone taking spiny lobster	Official page

Combination Hunting & Fishing Packages (1)

License / Permit	Residency	Fee	Eligibility & Notes	Source
Hunting and fishing combination package	All / N/A	Not offered	No combination licence listed on hunting or fishing fee pages	Official page

Free, Senior, Veteran & Disability Exemptions (11)

License / Permit	Residency	Fee	Eligibility & Notes	Source
Disabled Veteran Reduced-Fee Hunting License	Resident & Non-resident	$10.04	50% or greater service-connected disability; CDFW offices 10.54 from license agents	Official page
Disabled Veteran Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License	Resident & Non-resident	$10.04	50% or greater service-connected disability; CDFW offices 10.54 from license agents	Official page
Recovering Service Member Reduced-Fee Hunting License	Resident & Non-resident	$10.04	Member in outpatient recovery status; commanding officer or doctor letter 10.54 from license agents	Official page
Recovering Service Member Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License	Resident & Non-resident	$10.04	Member in outpatient recovery status; commanding officer or doctor letter 10.54 from license agents	Official page
Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing - Low Income Senior	Resident	$10.04	65 and older on SSI or CAPI Renewed annually at CDFW office	Official page
Free Sport Fishing - Blind / Mobility Impaired / Developmentally Disabled	Resident	Free ($0.00)	Certified blind or developmentally disabled; mobility impaired resident First licence from CDFW License and Revenue Branch	Official page
Free Sport Fishing - Low Income Native American	Resident	Free ($0.00)	Resident Native American financially unable to pay Tribal enrolment proof required	Official page
Mobility Impaired Disabled Persons Motor Vehicle Hunting License	Resident & Non-resident	Free ($0.00)	Permanently confined to wheelchair or amputee or dependent on walker/crutches; physician certification Only from CDFW License and Revenue Branch	Official page
Visually Disabled Muzzleloader Scope Permit	Resident & Non-resident	Free ($0.00)	Visually impaired hunter; physician or optometrist certification Annual certification unless permanent	Official page
Disabled Archer Permit	Resident & Non-resident	Free ($0.00)	Permanent or significant upper-extremity impairment; physician certification Annual certification unless permanent	Official page
Active military (resident rate)	Resident	$64.54	Active duty armed forces treated as residents No separate reduced fee shown	Official page

Planning a fishing trip in California?

Once you have your California fishing license, you can browse local guided charters and trips on FishingBooker (affiliate partner placeholder).

Also see: California Hunting Licenses →