Hawaii fishing license
Hawaii does not publish a single numeric age threshold — the age rules differ by license and are listed below. The state licenses freshwater and saltwater fishing. Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources runs licenses from the date of purchase rather than on a license year: Valid for not longer than one year from the date of issuance (HAR §13-74-2).
Source: Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources · Reviewed July 30, 2026
Your likely official license
Yes — a licence is required. For a 1-day non-resident freshwater trip in Hawaii, the official match is Freshwater Game Fishing License (7-day tourist).
- Freshwater Game Fishing License (7-day tourist)$10 · 7-Day tourist license which is valid for only seven days from the date of issue.
What it covers
- Freshwater Game Fishing License (7-day tourist) — freshwater. Statutory fee in HAR §13-74-10; the eHawaii licensing portal adds a $1.00 per-licence administration fee.Limits on this license: Covers introduced freshwater game fish 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.
Why this answer
- You selected non-resident status, age 35, freshwater fishing, for 1 day.
- Freshwater Game Fishing License (7-day tourist) covers the full trip: 7-Day tourist license which is valid for only seven days from the date of issue.
Other options you are eligible for
- Freshwater Game Fishing License (30-day tourist) — $20 for this trip · Tourist license which is valid for only thirty days from the date of issue.Covers introduced freshwater game fish only.
- Freshwater Game Fishing License (Non-resident, 1 year) — $25 for this trip · Valid for not longer than one year from the date of issuance (HAR §13-74-2).Covers introduced freshwater game fish only. Nonresidents who also want to fish in the ocean need a separate Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License.
Reduced-fee and free licenses, if you qualify (1, from $5)
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources 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.
- Freshwater Game Fishing License (Military and dependants) — $5 · Required only to take introduced freshwater game fish. Persons 65 and older pay no fee regardless of military status.
Exceptions that may change it
- Freshwater Game Fishing License (7-day tourist): Covers introduced freshwater game fish only.
- Recreational ocean fishing by Hawai'i residents is still free and has no registration requirement. The Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License applies only to nonresidents.
- Members of the U.S. armed forces on active duty in the State, as well as their spouses and minor children, are exempt from having to possess a Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License when recreational marine fishing.
- The Freshwater Game Fishing License is required only to fish for, catch or take introduced freshwater game fish; Hawai'i does not publish a general freshwater licence covering all species.
- 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 Hawaii 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
- Hawai'i Fishing Regulations, February 2025(external, opens the official state website) — Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources
- Validity
- Valid for not longer than one year from the date of issuance (HAR §13-74-2).
- 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
Freshwater Game Fishing License (7-day tourist)
Published total: $10
Resident for the season
Adult Hawaii resident · freshwater · all year
Freshwater Game Fishing License (Resident)
Published total: $5
Visiting for a saltwater day
Adult visiting from another state · saltwater · one day
Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License (1 day)
Published total: $20
Age and residency rules
Who counts as a resident. HAR §13-74-1: "Resident" means an individual that has established the individual's primary residence and worked in the State continuously for a period of twelve months or longer immediately prior to applying for or obtaining a license or permit, or has filed or paid the individual's State income taxes for the previous tax period, or has established domicile in the State. Domicile may be established by documentation including a valid Hawai'i driver's license or identification card, a valid school identification card, or any other official document issued to the individual within the previous thirty days from a government agency, financial institution, insurance company, or utility company.
Age-based rules
- Nonresidents 14 years old and under are not required to hold a Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License.
- Minors below nine years of age may fish for introduced freshwater game fish without a Freshwater Game Fishing License when accompanied by a licensee. Still required: The child must be accompanied by a licensed adult, and the catch of a child below nine is counted as part of the licensed supervising adult's bag limit. A child below nine who wants to take a bag limit of their own must purchase the $3 minor licence.
- Persons 65 years of age and older pay no fee for the Freshwater Game Fishing License. The fee is waived, not the licence. Still required: The no-fee Freshwater Game Fishing License must still be obtained (online at freshwater.ehawaii.gov or in person at a DLNR DAR office); the eHawaii portal's $1.00 per-licence administration fee may still apply.
License options
| License | Who | Water | Valid for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater Game Fishing License (Resident)(external, opens the official state website)Required only to fish for, catch or take introduced freshwater game fish. It does not cover ocean fishing. | ResidentResidents over 15 years of age; persons 65 years of age and older pay no fee. | freshwater | Valid for not longer than one year from the date of issuance (HAR §13-74-2). | $5 |
| Freshwater Game Fishing License (Military and dependants)(external, opens the official state website)Required only to take introduced freshwater game fish. Persons 65 and older pay no fee regardless of military status. | Resident or visitorMembers of the armed forces of the United States on active duty in the State, whether qualifying as a resident or not, and their spouses and children fifteen years of age and over. | freshwater | Valid for not longer than one year from the date of issuance (HAR §13-74-2). | $5 |
| Freshwater Game Fishing License (Minor)(external, opens the official state website)Minors below nine years of age may fish without a licence when accompanied by a licensee, but their catch is counted as part of the licensed supervising adult's bag; a child below nine who wants their own bag limit must purchase a licence. | Resident or visitorAll minors between nine and 15 years of age, $3. A child below nine years of age may also buy a licence in order to take a bag limit of their own. | freshwater | Valid for not longer than one year from the date of issuance (HAR §13-74-2). | $3 |
| Freshwater Game Fishing License (Senior 65 and over, no fee)(external, opens the official state website)Free, but the licence itself is still required in order to take introduced freshwater game fish. | Resident or visitorPersons sixty-five years of age and older, free. | freshwater | Valid for not longer than one year from the date of issuance (HAR §13-74-2). | No charge |
| Freshwater Game Fishing License (Non-resident, 1 year)(external, opens the official state website)Covers introduced freshwater game fish only. Nonresidents who also want to fish in the ocean need a separate Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License. | Non-residentPersons not qualifying for the resident, minor or senior rate but over fifteen years of age, $25. | freshwater | Valid for not longer than one year from the date of issuance (HAR §13-74-2). | $25 |
| Freshwater Game Fishing License (7-day tourist)(external, opens the official state website)Covers introduced freshwater game fish only. | Non-residentSold at the non-resident tourist rate to persons over fifteen years of age. | freshwater | 7-Day tourist license which is valid for only seven days from the date of issue. | $10 |
| Freshwater Game Fishing License (30-day tourist)(external, opens the official state website)Covers introduced freshwater game fish only. | Non-residentSold at the non-resident tourist rate to persons over fifteen years of age. | freshwater | Tourist license which is valid for only thirty days from the date of issue. | $20 |
| Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License (1 day)(external, opens the official state website)Covers recreational ocean fishing, whether from land or from a boat including charter boats. It does not cover fishing in streams, lakes and reservoirs — a Freshwater Game Fishing License is needed for freshwater gamefish. | Non-residentRequired for nonresidents 15 years old and up; not required at 14 years old and under. | saltwater | One day is from 12am to 11:59pm on the day selected. | $20 |
| Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License (7 day)(external, opens the official state website)Covers recreational ocean fishing only; freshwater gamefish require a separate Freshwater Game Fishing License. | Non-residentRequired for nonresidents 15 years old and up. | saltwater | Seven-day fishing license running from the effective date selected at purchase. | $40 |
| Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License (1 year)(external, opens the official state website)Covers recreational ocean fishing only; freshwater gamefish require a separate Freshwater Game Fishing License. Available online only, at fishing.hawaii.gov. | Non-residentRequired for nonresidents 15 years old and up. | saltwater | Annual fishing license; HAR §13-74-2 limits licences to not longer than one year from the date of issuance. | $70 |
Freshwater Game Fishing License (Resident)(external, opens the official state website)
Required only to fish for, catch or take introduced freshwater game fish. It does not cover ocean fishing.
- Who
- Resident · Residents over 15 years of age; persons 65 years of age and older pay no fee.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid for not longer than one year from the date of issuance (HAR §13-74-2).
- Price
- $5
Required only to take introduced freshwater game fish. Persons 65 and older pay no fee regardless of military status.
- Who
- Resident or visitor · Members of the armed forces of the United States on active duty in the State, whether qualifying as a resident or not, and their spouses and children fifteen years of age and over.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid for not longer than one year from the date of issuance (HAR §13-74-2).
- Price
- $5
Freshwater Game Fishing License (Minor)(external, opens the official state website)
Minors below nine years of age may fish without a licence when accompanied by a licensee, but their catch is counted as part of the licensed supervising adult's bag; a child below nine who wants their own bag limit must purchase a licence.
- Who
- Resident or visitor · All minors between nine and 15 years of age, $3. A child below nine years of age may also buy a licence in order to take a bag limit of their own.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid for not longer than one year from the date of issuance (HAR §13-74-2).
- Price
- $3
Free, but the licence itself is still required in order to take introduced freshwater game fish.
- Who
- Resident or visitor · Persons sixty-five years of age and older, free.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid for not longer than one year from the date of issuance (HAR §13-74-2).
- Price
- No charge
Freshwater Game Fishing License (Non-resident, 1 year)(external, opens the official state website)
Covers introduced freshwater game fish only. Nonresidents who also want to fish in the ocean need a separate Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License.
- Who
- Non-resident · Persons not qualifying for the resident, minor or senior rate but over fifteen years of age, $25.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid for not longer than one year from the date of issuance (HAR §13-74-2).
- Price
- $25
Freshwater Game Fishing License (7-day tourist)(external, opens the official state website)
Covers introduced freshwater game fish only.
- Who
- Non-resident · Sold at the non-resident tourist rate to persons over fifteen years of age.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- 7-Day tourist license which is valid for only seven days from the date of issue.
- Price
- $10
Freshwater Game Fishing License (30-day tourist)(external, opens the official state website)
Covers introduced freshwater game fish only.
- Who
- Non-resident · Sold at the non-resident tourist rate to persons over fifteen years of age.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Tourist license which is valid for only thirty days from the date of issue.
- Price
- $20
Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License (1 day)(external, opens the official state website)
Covers recreational ocean fishing, whether from land or from a boat including charter boats. It does not cover fishing in streams, lakes and reservoirs — a Freshwater Game Fishing License is needed for freshwater gamefish.
- Who
- Non-resident · Required for nonresidents 15 years old and up; not required at 14 years old and under.
- Water
- saltwater
- Valid for
- One day is from 12am to 11:59pm on the day selected.
- Price
- $20
Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License (7 day)(external, opens the official state website)
Covers recreational ocean fishing only; freshwater gamefish require a separate Freshwater Game Fishing License.
- Who
- Non-resident · Required for nonresidents 15 years old and up.
- Water
- saltwater
- Valid for
- Seven-day fishing license running from the effective date selected at purchase.
- Price
- $40
Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License (1 year)(external, opens the official state website)
Covers recreational ocean fishing only; freshwater gamefish require a separate Freshwater Game Fishing License. Available online only, at fishing.hawaii.gov.
- Who
- Non-resident · Required for nonresidents 15 years old and up.
- Water
- saltwater
- Valid for
- Annual fishing license; HAR §13-74-2 limits licences to not longer than one year from the date of issuance.
- Price
- $70
Freshwater and saltwater
Hawaii 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. Hawaii is not on NOAA Fisheries' list of exempt states, and NOAA specifically carves Hawaii out of the state-licence exemption: an angler does not need to register with the National Saltwater Angler Registry only if they hold a saltwater licence, registration or permit "issued by a U.S. state or territory other than Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands." A U.S.-resident angler aged 16 or older who fishes in federal waters from a private or rental boat, or who may catch anadromous fish, and who has no saltwater licence from an exempt state, may therefore still need to register with NSAR; the registration fee is $12. A Hawaii Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License does not by itself remove that federal requirement.
Exemptions worth knowing
- Recreational ocean fishing by Hawai'i residents is still free and has no registration requirement. The Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License applies only to nonresidents.
- Members of the U.S. armed forces on active duty in the State, as well as their spouses and minor children, are exempt from having to possess a Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License when recreational marine fishing.
- The Freshwater Game Fishing License is required only to fish for, catch or take introduced freshwater game fish; Hawai'i does not publish a general freshwater licence covering all species. Still required: Other freshwater rules (public fishing area seasons, gear rules and bag limits) still apply, and many freshwater areas are private property requiring the landowner's permission for access. Check the DAR fishing regulations before fishing without a licence.
Where this comes from
- Primary source
- Hawai'i Fishing Regulations, February 2025(external, opens the official state website) — Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources
- Retrieved
- July 26, 2026
- Reviewed
- July 30, 2026
- Also consulted
- Freshwater Game Fishing License — Division of Aquatic Resources(external, opens the official state website)
- Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License — Division of Aquatic Resources(external, opens the official state website)
- Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License (NRMFL) Frequently Asked Questions(external, opens the official state website)
- Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 13-74 — Rules Regulating Licenses and Permits(external, opens the official state website)
- Freshwater Game Fishing License online portal(external, opens the official state website)
- Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License & Lay Net Permit portal(external, opens the official state website)
- Fishing Permits (Freshwater) — fee list and portal administration fee(external, opens the official state website)
- National Saltwater Angler Registry — Exempt States(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.