Arizona · Fishing license
Do I need a fishing license in Arizona?
Yes — anyone 10 or older needs one.
A year costs $37 if you live here and $55 if you don't.
What it costs
If you live in Arizona
| license | Price |
|---|---|
| General fishing, adults 18 and over | $37 |
| Youth combo hunt and fish, ages 10 to 17The same $5 for residents and visitors. It is the only product AZGFD names for that age group, and it covers hunting too. | $5 |
| Combo hunt and fishOnly worth it if you hunt as well. | $57 |
| Short-term combo hunt and fish, per dayArizona sells no fishing-only day licence. The short-term product is a combination licence, so a day of fishing costs $15 and the annual pays for itself from the third day. | $15 |
If you're visiting
| license | Price |
|---|---|
| General fishing, adults 18 and over | $55 |
| Youth combo hunt and fish, ages 10 to 17Visitors pay the same $5 as residents — the cheapest licence Arizona sells to anyone from out of state. | $5 |
| Combo hunt and fish | $160 |
| Short-term combo hunt and fish, per dayAgain a combination licence, not a fishing-only one. From the third day the $55 annual is cheaper. | $20 |
How long it lasts
AZGFD: "All licenses are valid 365 days from the date of purchase." Arizona runs no licence year at all — buy in August and you are covered to the following August. Licences cannot be returned for refund or exchange.
Who doesn't need one
- Anyone under 10, resident or visitor
- Blind Arizona residents
- Residents 70 and over with 25 or more consecutive years of Arizona residency may apply for a Pioneer License, which also covers all community lakes
- Disabled veterans who have lived in Arizona for at least a year and draw federal compensation for permanent and total service-connected disabilities rated 100 percent — the licence carries all the privileges of a hunt and fish combination licence. A 100 percent Individual Unemployability rating does not qualify
- Groups: a nonprofit or government body caring for people with physical, developmental or mental disabilities can be issued a two-day fishing permit; a nonprofit can take up to 25 young people fishing over two consecutive days under a youth group licence
AZGFD words the age rule this way: AZGFD: "A valid Arizona fishing license is required for Arizona resident and non-resident anglers 10 years of age or older fishing any public accessible water in Arizona. Youth under the age of 10 and blind residents do not need to purchase a state fishing license to fish in Arizona." Ten is the lowest age of any state on this site — most start at 15 or 16. The general licence is priced for adults 18 and over; between 10 and 17 the department names the $5 youth combination licence.
Where to buy it
- Online through the AZGFD licence portal, with optional auto-renewal
- At every Arizona Game and Fish Department office
- At licence dealers across the state
Wondering about the big retailers? A shop like Walmart sells the state's license at the state's price — it sets none of its own.
Days you can fish without one
