New York · Fishing license
Do I need a fishing license in New York?
Yes — anyone 16 or older needs one.
A year costs $25 if you live here and $50 if you don't. Just passing through? Fishing, one day costs $10.
What it costs
If you live in New York
| license | Price |
|---|---|
| Fishing, annual, ages 16 to 69 | $25 |
| Fishing, annual, age 70 and overA fifth of the ordinary rate — and still a licence you have to hold. | $5 |
| Fishing, seven days | $12 |
| Fishing, one dayThe cheapest legal day of fishing in New York for a resident. | $5 |
If you're visiting
| license | Price |
|---|---|
| Fishing, annualDouble the resident rate. | $50 |
| Fishing, seven days | $28 |
| Fishing, one dayFrom the fifth day the annual licence is cheaper. | $10 |
How long it lasts
DEC: a licence is "valid one full year (365 days) from the date of purchase or renewal". No fixed licence year, so a licence bought in October runs to the following October.
Who doesn't need one
- Anyone under 16
- Everyone on DEC’s designated free fishing days
- Active duty military, and veterans with a service-connected disability rated 40 percent or more, qualify for free or reduced licences
- Residents 70 and over, and legally blind residents, qualify for reduced-fee licences
- Non-resident students at New York colleges may buy at resident rates
DEC words the age rule this way: DEC: "You need a fishing license if you are 16 years and older." From 70 a resident still needs one but pays $5 instead of $25. Salt water works differently again: instead of a licence, the marine district asks for a free entry in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry.
Where to buy it
- Online through DEC’s automated licensing system
- At licence issuing agents across the state, including town and county clerks and sporting goods shops
- At DEC offices
- By phone
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
DEC publishes this as a recurring rule rather than a fixed date. Check the exact days on their free fishing page before you plan around it.
Where to use it today
Waters we read every morning in New York.
- 6 Decent Salmon River