Georgia fishing license
Georgia requires a recreational fishing license from age 16. The state licenses freshwater and saltwater fishing. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division runs licenses from the date of purchase rather than on a license year: Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase and may be stacked to create a license of any year duration.
Source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division · Reviewed July 30, 2026
Your likely official license
Yes — a licence is required. For a 1-day non-resident freshwater trip in Georgia, the official match is Nonresident Fishing License (One-Day).
- Nonresident Fishing License (One-Day)$10 · One-Day (which may be a future date); additional consecutive days may be added at $3.50 each, up to 10 additional days for 11 consecutive days total.
What it covers
- Nonresident Fishing License (One-Day) — freshwater and saltwater. State base fee; + Additional Day $3.50 each. Transaction fees apply.Limits on this license: Covers basic fishing privileges only.
Required add-ons
No stamp or endorsement is attached to this licence for your residency, age and trip length. Check “You may also need” below for requirements that depend on where and what you fish.
You may also need
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division publishes these for the water you selected. Whether one applies depends on what you fish for and where — something this tool does not ask.
- Resident Trout License (Annual) — Required, in addition to a fishing license, for resident anglers age 16 and older to fish in designated trout waters and to fish for or possess mountain trout. Included in Sportsman's, Lifetime Sportsman's, Honorary and Discount Disability licenses. · $10
- Resident Trout License (One-Day) — Short-term resident trout privilege bought alongside a short-term fishing or combo license; additional consecutive days are $1.00 each. · $5
- Nonresident Trout License (Annual) — All nonresident anglers 16 or older must possess a nonresident fishing license and nonresident trout license to fish for or possess trout or to fish in designated trout waters. · $25
- Nonresident Trout License (One-Day) — Short-term nonresident trout privilege bought alongside a short-term nonresident fishing license; additional consecutive days are $2.00 each. · $10
Why this answer
- You selected non-resident status, age 35, freshwater fishing, for 1 day.
- Nonresident Fishing License (One-Day) covers the full trip: One-Day (which may be a future date); additional consecutive days may be added at $3.50 each, up to 10 additional days for 11 consecutive days total.
Other options you are eligible for
- Nonresident Fishing License (Annual) — $50 for this trip · Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase.Covers basic fishing privileges. Saltwater fishing additionally requires the free SIP; mountain trout requires a nonresident trout license.
- Nonresident Combo Hunting & Fishing License (Annual) — $150 for this trip · Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase.Does not include Big Game or Trout privileges.
Reduced-fee and free licenses, if you qualify (1, from $400)
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division offers these to anglers who meet specific criteria — such as a disability, veteran or military status, low income, or tribal membership. We cannot check whether they apply to you, so they are never used as the answer above.
- Nonresident Sportsman's License (Annual) — $400 · Provides all state paid hunting and fishing privileges including Trout, except the Alligator Harvest Permit. "A Sportsman's license of annual or longer duration requires completion of a qualifying hunter education course."
Exceptions that may change it
- Georgia has a free fishing day coming up on September 26, 2026 (Free Fishing Day — National Hunting and Fishing Day); June 6, 2026 (Free Fishing Day — National Fishing & Boating Week) and June 13, 2026 (Free Fishing Day — National Fishing & Boating Week) have already passed. No licence is required on a free fishing day; other rules still apply.
- Nonresident Fishing License (One-Day): Covers basic fishing privileges only.
- A fishing license is not required to fish in private ponds. This does not include ponds owned by governments — city, county, state, or federal.
- A fishing license is not required of a Georgia resident and their immediate family when fishing on their own land. Landowners and their immediate families may also fish on their premises without a trout license.
- Georgia resident military veterans who were on active duty for 90 or more consecutive days and who were honorably discharged on or after July 1, 2005 may obtain one annual Honorary Hunting and Fishing License free of charge. The Honorary license includes the trout fishing privilege.
- State park visitors are not required to have a trout license to fish in the impounded waters of the Park; however, those visitors wishing to harvest trout will need to have a trout license in their possession. A basic Georgia fishing license is still required.
- This answer covers the licence only. Season, size, bag and waterbody rules still apply and change through the year.
We do not sell licenses and take no commission. This goes to the state agency.
Check current Georgia regulations(external, opens the official state website)Seasons, size limits, bag limits and waterbody closures are not covered by this tool and change through the year.
- Source
- What License Do I Need? — Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division(external, opens the official state website) — Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division
- Validity
- Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase and may be stacked to create a license of any year duration.
- Reviewed
- July 30, 2026
Answers at a glance
Common trips, answered from the same official record the checker uses. These assume an adult with no special circumstances — set your own age, water and trip above.
Visiting for a day
Adult visiting from another state · freshwater · one day
Nonresident Fishing License (One-Day)
Published total: $10
Resident for the season
Adult Georgia resident · freshwater · all year
Resident Fishing License (Annual)
Published total: $15
Visiting for a saltwater day
Adult visiting from another state · saltwater · one day
Nonresident Fishing License (One-Day)
Published total: $10
Age and residency rules
Who counts as a resident. For all recreational hunting and fishing licenses except lifetime licenses, resident means any person who has been domiciled within the State of Georgia for a period of at least three months. Domicile is a person's fixed, permanent, and principal home for legal purposes. Full-time active-duty military personnel stationed in Georgia and their dependents, and out-of-state full-time college students living in Georgia and attending a Georgia college, may purchase resident annual or short-term licenses.
Age-based rules
- Anglers under 16 do not need a Georgia fishing license: "Anglers age 16 and older must have a current Georgia fishing license in their possession while fishing in fresh or salt water in Georgia." Nonresidents under 16 do not require a fishing license or trout license either.
- Georgia residents 65 and older born on or before June 30, 1952 can obtain a free Senior Lifetime Sportsman's hunting and fishing license. There are no transaction fees for this free license, it does not have to be renewed, and it is valid for life. Still required: The senior must still obtain the free Senior Lifetime Sportsman's License — online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, through a license agent, or by telephone at 1-800-366-2661 — and carry it while fishing. The free SIP is still required to fish saltwater.
License options
| License | Who | Water | Valid for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Fishing License (Annual)(external, opens the official state website)Basic fishing privileges cover fishing (except mountain trout) in fresh and salt water. Saltwater fishing additionally requires the free Saltwater Information Permit; mountain trout fishing additionally requires the paid Trout License. | ResidentFishing License (Residents 16-64; All non-residents). Residents 65+ use a senior or lifetime license. | freshwater and saltwater | Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase and may be stacked to create a license of any year duration. | $15 |
| Resident Combo Hunting & Fishing License (One-Day)(external, opens the official state website)Georgia does not sell a resident short-term fishing-only license: the 2025-2026 regulations fee table lists the resident One-Day Fishing License as "see combo", so residents buy this combo license for short-term fishing. | ResidentResidents age 16-64 may purchase a combo hunting and fishing license. | freshwater and saltwater | One-Day (which may be a future date); additional consecutive days may be added at $1.00 each, up to 10 additional days for 11 consecutive days total. | $5 |
| Resident Combo Hunting & Fishing License (Annual)(external, opens the official state website)Does not include Big Game or Trout privileges; those are separate licenses. | ResidentResidents age 16-64 may purchase an annual combo hunting and fishing license. | freshwater and saltwater | Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase. | $30 |
| Resident Sportsman's License (Annual)(external, opens the official state website)SPORTSMAN'S LICENSE includes Hunting, Big Game, Fishing and Trout Licenses, so no separate trout license is needed. Saltwater anglers must still obtain the free SIP. "A Sportsman's license of annual or longer duration requires completion of a qualifying hunter education course." | ResidentSportsman's License (Residents 16-64). | freshwater and saltwater | Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase. | $65 |
| Resident Senior Fishing License (Annual, 65+)(external, opens the official state website)Seniors born on or before June 30, 1952 are instead eligible for a free Senior Lifetime Sportsman's License. | ResidentAnnual Resident Fishing licenses are available to seniors (age 65+) at a discounted rate. | freshwater and saltwater | Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase. | $4 |
| Resident Senior Sportsman's License (Annual, 65+)(external, opens the official state website)Sportsman's privileges include Hunting, Big Game, Fishing and Trout. Not offered to nonresidents. "A Sportsman's license of annual or longer duration requires completion of a qualifying hunter education course." | ResidentSenior Sportsman's License (Residents 65+); available to seniors born on or after July 1, 1952. | freshwater and saltwater | Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase. | $7 |
| Senior Lifetime Fishing License (65+)(external, opens the official state website)Lifetime fishing license; the Senior Lifetime Sportsman's License ($70) is the version that also includes trout and hunting privileges. | ResidentSenior Lifetime Fishing License, age 65+. | freshwater and saltwater | Lifetime; does not have to be renewed. | $35 |
| Optional Resident Youth Fishing License (Multi-Year)(external, opens the official state website)Mountain trout privileges are included in this license. Not offered to nonresidents. A free SIP must be obtained at age 16 by youth license holders fishing saltwater. | ResidentResident youth 15 years of age or younger. Conflict noted: the 2025-2026 regulations fee table labels this license "(12-15)" while the May 2025 License Prices sheet labels it "(0-15)"; both agree the buyer must be 15 or younger. | freshwater and saltwater | Multi-year: privileges for the multi-year resident Youth License are valid until the person's 17th birthday. | $10 |
| Resident Disability Fishing License (Annual)(external, opens the official state website)For Georgia residents who are permanently and totally disabled, with the disability certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration, Medicaid, Medicare, or Railroad Retirement System. | Resident | freshwater and saltwater | Annual. A three-year Disability Fishing License is also offered at $9.00. | $3 |
| Nonresident Fishing License (Annual)(external, opens the official state website)Covers basic fishing privileges. Saltwater fishing additionally requires the free SIP; mountain trout requires a nonresident trout license. | Non-residentNonresidents 16 years of age and older must have a fishing license to fish in fresh and salt waters of Georgia. | freshwater and saltwater | Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase. | $50 |
| Nonresident Fishing License (One-Day)(external, opens the official state website)Covers basic fishing privileges only. | Non-residentNonresidents 16 years of age and older. | freshwater and saltwater | One-Day (which may be a future date); additional consecutive days may be added at $3.50 each, up to 10 additional days for 11 consecutive days total. | $10 |
| Nonresident Combo Hunting & Fishing License (Annual)(external, opens the official state website)Does not include Big Game or Trout privileges. | Non-residentNonresidents 16 years of age or older may purchase an annual combo hunting and fishing license. | freshwater and saltwater | Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase. | $150 |
| Nonresident Sportsman's License (Annual)(external, opens the official state website)Provides all state paid hunting and fishing privileges including Trout, except the Alligator Harvest Permit. "A Sportsman's license of annual or longer duration requires completion of a qualifying hunter education course." | Non-residentNonresident hunters 16 years of age or older may purchase a Sportsman's License. | freshwater and saltwater | Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase. | $400 |
Resident Fishing License (Annual)(external, opens the official state website)
Basic fishing privileges cover fishing (except mountain trout) in fresh and salt water. Saltwater fishing additionally requires the free Saltwater Information Permit; mountain trout fishing additionally requires the paid Trout License.
- Who
- Resident · Fishing License (Residents 16-64; All non-residents). Residents 65+ use a senior or lifetime license.
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase and may be stacked to create a license of any year duration.
- Price
- $15
Resident Combo Hunting & Fishing License (One-Day)(external, opens the official state website)
Georgia does not sell a resident short-term fishing-only license: the 2025-2026 regulations fee table lists the resident One-Day Fishing License as "see combo", so residents buy this combo license for short-term fishing.
- Who
- Resident · Residents age 16-64 may purchase a combo hunting and fishing license.
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- One-Day (which may be a future date); additional consecutive days may be added at $1.00 each, up to 10 additional days for 11 consecutive days total.
- Price
- $5
Resident Combo Hunting & Fishing License (Annual)(external, opens the official state website)
Does not include Big Game or Trout privileges; those are separate licenses.
- Who
- Resident · Residents age 16-64 may purchase an annual combo hunting and fishing license.
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase.
- Price
- $30
Resident Sportsman's License (Annual)(external, opens the official state website)
SPORTSMAN'S LICENSE includes Hunting, Big Game, Fishing and Trout Licenses, so no separate trout license is needed. Saltwater anglers must still obtain the free SIP. "A Sportsman's license of annual or longer duration requires completion of a qualifying hunter education course."
- Who
- Resident · Sportsman's License (Residents 16-64).
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase.
- Price
- $65
Resident Senior Fishing License (Annual, 65+)(external, opens the official state website)
Seniors born on or before June 30, 1952 are instead eligible for a free Senior Lifetime Sportsman's License.
- Who
- Resident · Annual Resident Fishing licenses are available to seniors (age 65+) at a discounted rate.
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase.
- Price
- $4
Resident Senior Sportsman's License (Annual, 65+)(external, opens the official state website)
Sportsman's privileges include Hunting, Big Game, Fishing and Trout. Not offered to nonresidents. "A Sportsman's license of annual or longer duration requires completion of a qualifying hunter education course."
- Who
- Resident · Senior Sportsman's License (Residents 65+); available to seniors born on or after July 1, 1952.
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase.
- Price
- $7
Senior Lifetime Fishing License (65+)(external, opens the official state website)
Lifetime fishing license; the Senior Lifetime Sportsman's License ($70) is the version that also includes trout and hunting privileges.
- Who
- Resident · Senior Lifetime Fishing License, age 65+.
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Lifetime; does not have to be renewed.
- Price
- $35
Optional Resident Youth Fishing License (Multi-Year)(external, opens the official state website)
Mountain trout privileges are included in this license. Not offered to nonresidents. A free SIP must be obtained at age 16 by youth license holders fishing saltwater.
- Who
- Resident · Resident youth 15 years of age or younger. Conflict noted: the 2025-2026 regulations fee table labels this license "(12-15)" while the May 2025 License Prices sheet labels it "(0-15)"; both agree the buyer must be 15 or younger.
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Multi-year: privileges for the multi-year resident Youth License are valid until the person's 17th birthday.
- Price
- $10
Resident Disability Fishing License (Annual)(external, opens the official state website)
For Georgia residents who are permanently and totally disabled, with the disability certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration, Medicaid, Medicare, or Railroad Retirement System.
- Who
- Resident
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Annual. A three-year Disability Fishing License is also offered at $9.00.
- Price
- $3
Nonresident Fishing License (Annual)(external, opens the official state website)
Covers basic fishing privileges. Saltwater fishing additionally requires the free SIP; mountain trout requires a nonresident trout license.
- Who
- Non-resident · Nonresidents 16 years of age and older must have a fishing license to fish in fresh and salt waters of Georgia.
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase.
- Price
- $50
Nonresident Fishing License (One-Day)(external, opens the official state website)
Covers basic fishing privileges only.
- Who
- Non-resident · Nonresidents 16 years of age and older.
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- One-Day (which may be a future date); additional consecutive days may be added at $3.50 each, up to 10 additional days for 11 consecutive days total.
- Price
- $10
Nonresident Combo Hunting & Fishing License (Annual)(external, opens the official state website)
Does not include Big Game or Trout privileges.
- Who
- Non-resident · Nonresidents 16 years of age or older may purchase an annual combo hunting and fishing license.
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase.
- Price
- $150
Nonresident Sportsman's License (Annual)(external, opens the official state website)
Provides all state paid hunting and fishing privileges including Trout, except the Alligator Harvest Permit. "A Sportsman's license of annual or longer duration requires completion of a qualifying hunter education course."
- Who
- Non-resident · Nonresident hunters 16 years of age or older may purchase a Sportsman's License.
- Water
- freshwater and saltwater
- Valid for
- Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase.
- Price
- $400
Freshwater and saltwater
Georgia licenses freshwater and saltwater fishing. Check which waters your license covers before you fish — a freshwater license does not cover saltwater unless the option explicitly says it does.
State license vs federal registry. Georgia collects saltwater angler data through the free Saltwater Information Permit (SIP) issued with a Georgia fishing license, and NOAA reports that anglers holding a saltwater recreational fishing license or registration from an Atlantic Coast state are automatically registered in the National Saltwater Angler Registry and exempt from registering through the national interface.
Stamps, endorsements and report cards
- Saltwater Information Permit (SIP) — Issued free of charge, but required for persons 16 years of age or older to fish in Georgia salt water — including federal marine waters beyond 3 nautical miles — even if they hold a full-privilege license or are not required to have a fishing license. The SIP expires one year from the date of issuance and must be obtained again each year. · No charge · this is a report card or registration, not a paid stamp
- Resident Trout License (Annual) — Required, in addition to a fishing license, for resident anglers age 16 and older to fish in designated trout waters and to fish for or possess mountain trout. Included in Sportsman's, Lifetime Sportsman's, Honorary and Discount Disability licenses. · $10
- Resident Trout License (One-Day) — Short-term resident trout privilege bought alongside a short-term fishing or combo license; additional consecutive days are $1.00 each. · $5
- Nonresident Trout License (Annual) — All nonresident anglers 16 or older must possess a nonresident fishing license and nonresident trout license to fish for or possess trout or to fish in designated trout waters. · $25
- Nonresident Trout License (One-Day) — Short-term nonresident trout privilege bought alongside a short-term nonresident fishing license; additional consecutive days are $2.00 each. · $10
Exemptions worth knowing
- A fishing license is not required to fish in private ponds. This does not include ponds owned by governments — city, county, state, or federal.
- A fishing license is not required of a Georgia resident and their immediate family when fishing on their own land. Landowners and their immediate families may also fish on their premises without a trout license.
- On Georgia's designated Free Fishing Days, Georgia residents do NOT need a fishing license or a trout license to fish on any public waters in the state, including lakes, streams, ponds and any of the 11 Public Fishing Areas.
- Georgia resident military veterans who were on active duty for 90 or more consecutive days and who were honorably discharged on or after July 1, 2005 may obtain one annual Honorary Hunting and Fishing License free of charge. The Honorary license includes the trout fishing privilege. Still required: The veteran must apply for the free Honorary license by providing a copy of their DD Form 214 and a completed DNR application; the license must be carried while fishing, and the free SIP is still required for saltwater.
- State park visitors are not required to have a trout license to fish in the impounded waters of the Park; however, those visitors wishing to harvest trout will need to have a trout license in their possession. A basic Georgia fishing license is still required. Still required: A regular Georgia fishing license is still required, and a trout license must be carried by anyone who wants to harvest trout in park impoundments.
Free fishing days
- Free Fishing Day — National Fishing & Boating Week — June 6, 2026. Georgia residents do not need a fishing license or a trout license to fish on any public waters in the state.
- Free Fishing Day — National Fishing & Boating Week — June 13, 2026. Georgia residents do not need a fishing license or a trout license to fish on any public waters in the state.
- Free Fishing Day — National Hunting and Fishing Day — September 26, 2026. Georgia offers one additional free fishing day on National Hunting and Fishing Day.
Where this comes from
- Primary source
- What License Do I Need? — Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division(external, opens the official state website) — Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division
- Retrieved
- July 26, 2026
- Reviewed
- July 30, 2026
- Also consulted
- 2025-2026 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations and Seasons (license fee table, pp. 3-4; Who Needs a Fishing License, p. 7)(external, opens the official state website)
- License Prices (updated May 2025)(external, opens the official state website)
- License FAQs — resident definition, free 65+ senior license, SIP permit(external, opens the official state website)
- National Fishing & Boating Week — Georgia Free Fishing Days(external, opens the official state website)
- Lifetime Licenses(external, opens the official state website)
- National Saltwater Angler Registry(external, opens the official state website)
Found something out of date? Email corrections@fishinglicensecheck.com and tell us which figure and which page — see corrections.
Nearby states
Licenses are issued state by state — a Georgia license does not carry its own rules across the border, so if your trip crosses one, check both states.