Massachusetts fishing license
Massachusetts requires a recreational fishing license from age 15. The state licenses freshwater and saltwater fishing. The current license year is 2026 (January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026).
Source: Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and Division of Marine Fisheries · Reviewed July 30, 2026
Your likely official license
Yes — a licence is required. For a 1-day non-resident freshwater trip in Massachusetts, the official match is Non-resident Fishing (3-day).
- Non-resident Fishing (3-day)$30.50 · Three-day freshwater fishing licence.
What it covers
- Non-resident Fishing (3-day) — freshwater. Base 2026 fee published by MassWildlife; excludes the $5 Wildlands Conservation Stamp added to all non-resident licences, and excludes administrative/convenience/agent fees.
Required add-ons
- Wildlands Conservation Stamp — "This stamp is added to the first fishing, hunting, or trapping license you buy each calendar year. If you are a Massachusetts resident, there is no Wildlands stamp fee for the second license purchased in a calendar year. If you are purchasing a license as a non-resident, the Wildlands stamp fee will be added to all licenses purchased." It does not apply to the saltwater fishing permit, which is issued by the Division of Marine Fisheries. · $5
Why this answer
- You selected non-resident status, age 35, freshwater fishing, for 1 day.
- Non-resident Fishing (3-day) covers the full trip: Three-day freshwater fishing licence.
- It requires Wildlands Conservation Stamp for the fishing you described.
Other options you are eligible for
- Quabbin Reservoir 1-day Fishing — $5 for this trip · One-day licence.Quabbin Reservoir only.
- Non-resident Fishing (freshwater) — $55 for this trip · Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026.Inland (fresh) waters only.
Reduced-fee and free licenses, if you qualify (1, from No charge)
Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and Division of Marine Fisheries 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.
- Free Fishing License - paraplegic, blind, or intellectually disabled — No charge · First-time applicants must apply on paper: fill out the application for the free licence and submit a Certificate of Blindness from the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, or a doctor's form certifying intellectual disability or paraplegia, by mail to MassWildlife Licensing. Cannot be purchased online the first time. After the first application the licence renews online.
Exceptions that may change it
- Massachusetts's most recently published free fishing days were May 10, 2026 (Free Saltwater Fishing Day 2026), June 6, 2026 (Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend 2026 (Saturday)), June 7, 2026 (Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend 2026 (Sunday)) and June 21, 2026 (Free Saltwater Fishing Day 2026); check the agency for the next one. No licence is required on a free fishing day; other rules still apply.
- "Anglers fishing on permitted for-hire vessels (for example, head boats and/or chartered boats)" do not need a Massachusetts saltwater fishing permit - the vessel's for-hire permit covers them.
- "Anglers who meet the definition of a disabled person in M.G.L. c. 19C" do not need a Massachusetts recreational saltwater fishing permit.
- "Non-residents with a valid CT, NH, or RI recreational saltwater fishing permit" may fish Massachusetts marine waters without a Massachusetts permit - a New Hampshire or Rhode Island permit works provided you are not a Massachusetts resident, and a Connecticut permit works provided you are a Connecticut resident.
- "Any person who owns or leases land that is principally used for agriculture and any immediate family members who are domiciled on said land does not need a hunting, fishing, or trapping license to hunt, fish, or trap on that property."
- 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 Massachusetts 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
- License types and fees | Mass.gov(external, opens the official state website) — Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and Division of Marine Fisheries
- Validity
- 2026 · January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
- 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
Non-resident Fishing (3-day)
Published total: $35.50
Resident for the season
Adult Massachusetts resident · freshwater · all year
Resident Fishing (freshwater)
Published total: $45
Visiting for a saltwater day
Adult visiting from another state · saltwater · one day
Recreational Saltwater Fishing Permit (ages 16-59)
Published total: $10
Age and residency rules
Who counts as a resident. Resident licenses are issued to (1) a citizen of the United States resident in the commonwealth for at least six consecutive months immediately prior to his application for a license, and (2) a person who is on active duty in the armed forces of the United States and is stationed within the commonwealth. Aliens qualify for resident-class licences after establishing residence in the commonwealth for at least six consecutive months immediately prior to making application. All other United States citizens receive nonresident licences. (M.G.L. c. 131, s. 11)
Age-based rules
- "A person shall not fish in any inland waters of the commonwealth, unless he is a minor under fifteen years of age" without a licence - so anglers under 15 need no freshwater fishing licence. MassWildlife states it plainly: "If you are 15 years of age or older, you need a license to fish."
- "Anglers under 16" do not need a Massachusetts recreational saltwater fishing permit.
License options
| License | Who | Water | Valid for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Fishing (freshwater)(external, opens the official state website)Inland (fresh) waters only; a separate saltwater permit is needed for marine waters. | ResidentResidents 15-17 and 70 or over hold free licences; residents 65-69 pay the discounted rate, so the full-price licence covers ages 18-64. | freshwater | All licenses and permits are valid for the calendar year; valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026. | $40 |
| Resident Minor Fishing (Age 15-17)(external, opens the official state website)Massachusetts residents only; a licence is still required even though it is free. Discounted licences are only available to US citizens. | ResidentResident Minor Fishing (Age 15-17). | freshwater | Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026. | No charge |
| Resident Fishing (Age 65-69)(external, opens the official state website)Discounted licences are only available to US citizens. | ResidentResident Fishing (Age 65-69). | freshwater | Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026. | $20 |
| Resident Fishing (Age 70 or over)(external, opens the official state website)Massachusetts residents only, US citizens only. A licence is still required and must be carried, even though it is free. | ResidentResident Fishing (Age 70 or over). | freshwater | Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026. | No charge |
| Free Fishing License - paraplegic, blind, or intellectually disabled(external, opens the official state website)First-time applicants must apply on paper: fill out the application for the free licence and submit a Certificate of Blindness from the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, or a doctor's form certifying intellectual disability or paraplegia, by mail to MassWildlife Licensing. Cannot be purchased online the first time. After the first application the licence renews online. | Resident or visitor | freshwater | Valid from the date issued until December 31, 2026. | No charge |
| Resident Fishing (3-day)(external, opens the official state website) | ResidentA licence is required to fish fresh water from age 15. | freshwater | Three-day freshwater fishing licence. | $20 |
| Non-resident Fishing (freshwater)(external, opens the official state website)Inland (fresh) waters only. | Non-residentNon-resident minors aged 15-17 hold the cheaper Non-resident Minor Fishing licence. | freshwater | Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026. | $50 |
| Non-resident Minor Fishing (Age 15-17)(external, opens the official state website) | Non-residentNon-resident Minor Fishing (Age 15-17). | freshwater | Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026. | $8 |
| Non-resident Fishing (3-day)(external, opens the official state website) | Non-residentA licence is required to fish fresh water from age 15. | freshwater | Three-day freshwater fishing licence. | $30.50 |
| Quabbin Reservoir 1-day Fishing(external, opens the official state website)Quabbin Reservoir only. | Resident or visitorA licence is required to fish fresh water from age 15. | freshwater | One-day licence. | $5 |
| Resident Sporting (hunting and freshwater fishing combination)(external, opens the official state website)"A sporting license is a combination hunting and freshwater fishing license. All sporting licenses include 2 antlered deer tags that can be used statewide." | ResidentA discounted Resident Sporting licence exists for ages 65-69 and a free one for age 70 or over. | freshwater | Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026. | $75 |
| Resident Sporting (Age 65-69)(external, opens the official state website)Combination hunting and freshwater fishing licence; includes 2 antlered deer tags. Discounted licences are only available to US citizens. | ResidentResident Sporting (Age 65-69). | freshwater | Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026. | $37.50 |
| Recreational Saltwater Fishing Permit (ages 16-59)(external, opens the official state website)Covers Massachusetts marine waters, including water that flows between the ocean and the first upstream bridge over rivers or streams up to 3 nautical miles from the coastline, and also allows fishing in federal waters from 3 to 200 nm. Reciprocity: a valid Massachusetts permit also covers Maine and Rhode Island regardless of residency, New Hampshire if you are not an NH resident, and Connecticut if you are a Massachusetts resident. | Resident or visitor"Residents & Non-residents (ages 16-59): $10.00". Anglers under 16 need no permit; anglers 60 and over get it free. | saltwater | "Permits expire each year on December 31. You must renew your permit each year." | $10 |
| Recreational Saltwater Fishing Permit (ages 60 and over)(external, opens the official state website)Free but still required: "Anglers over 60 need a free permit if fishing from a private vessel or from shore." Anglers 60+ fishing on a permitted for-hire vessel need no permit at all. | Resident or visitor"Residents and Non-residents (60 and over): free". | saltwater | Permits expire each year on December 31. | No charge |
Resident Fishing (freshwater)(external, opens the official state website)
Inland (fresh) waters only; a separate saltwater permit is needed for marine waters.
- Who
- Resident · Residents 15-17 and 70 or over hold free licences; residents 65-69 pay the discounted rate, so the full-price licence covers ages 18-64.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- All licenses and permits are valid for the calendar year; valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026.
- Price
- $40
Resident Minor Fishing (Age 15-17)(external, opens the official state website)
Massachusetts residents only; a licence is still required even though it is free. Discounted licences are only available to US citizens.
- Who
- Resident · Resident Minor Fishing (Age 15-17).
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026.
- Price
- No charge
Resident Fishing (Age 65-69)(external, opens the official state website)
Discounted licences are only available to US citizens.
- Who
- Resident · Resident Fishing (Age 65-69).
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026.
- Price
- $20
Resident Fishing (Age 70 or over)(external, opens the official state website)
Massachusetts residents only, US citizens only. A licence is still required and must be carried, even though it is free.
- Who
- Resident · Resident Fishing (Age 70 or over).
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026.
- Price
- No charge
First-time applicants must apply on paper: fill out the application for the free licence and submit a Certificate of Blindness from the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, or a doctor's form certifying intellectual disability or paraplegia, by mail to MassWildlife Licensing. Cannot be purchased online the first time. After the first application the licence renews online.
- Who
- Resident or visitor
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid from the date issued until December 31, 2026.
- Price
- No charge
Resident Fishing (3-day)(external, opens the official state website)
- Who
- Resident · A licence is required to fish fresh water from age 15.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Three-day freshwater fishing licence.
- Price
- $20
Non-resident Fishing (freshwater)(external, opens the official state website)
Inland (fresh) waters only.
- Who
- Non-resident · Non-resident minors aged 15-17 hold the cheaper Non-resident Minor Fishing licence.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026.
- Price
- $50
Non-resident Minor Fishing (Age 15-17)(external, opens the official state website)
- Who
- Non-resident · Non-resident Minor Fishing (Age 15-17).
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026.
- Price
- $8
Non-resident Fishing (3-day)(external, opens the official state website)
- Who
- Non-resident · A licence is required to fish fresh water from age 15.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Three-day freshwater fishing licence.
- Price
- $30.50
Quabbin Reservoir 1-day Fishing(external, opens the official state website)
Quabbin Reservoir only.
- Who
- Resident or visitor · A licence is required to fish fresh water from age 15.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- One-day licence.
- Price
- $5
"A sporting license is a combination hunting and freshwater fishing license. All sporting licenses include 2 antlered deer tags that can be used statewide."
- Who
- Resident · A discounted Resident Sporting licence exists for ages 65-69 and a free one for age 70 or over.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026.
- Price
- $75
Resident Sporting (Age 65-69)(external, opens the official state website)
Combination hunting and freshwater fishing licence; includes 2 antlered deer tags. Discounted licences are only available to US citizens.
- Who
- Resident · Resident Sporting (Age 65-69).
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid from the date purchased until December 31, 2026.
- Price
- $37.50
Recreational Saltwater Fishing Permit (ages 16-59)(external, opens the official state website)
Covers Massachusetts marine waters, including water that flows between the ocean and the first upstream bridge over rivers or streams up to 3 nautical miles from the coastline, and also allows fishing in federal waters from 3 to 200 nm. Reciprocity: a valid Massachusetts permit also covers Maine and Rhode Island regardless of residency, New Hampshire if you are not an NH resident, and Connecticut if you are a Massachusetts resident.
- Who
- Resident or visitor · "Residents & Non-residents (ages 16-59): $10.00". Anglers under 16 need no permit; anglers 60 and over get it free.
- Water
- saltwater
- Valid for
- "Permits expire each year on December 31. You must renew your permit each year."
- Price
- $10
Recreational Saltwater Fishing Permit (ages 60 and over)(external, opens the official state website)
Free but still required: "Anglers over 60 need a free permit if fishing from a private vessel or from shore." Anglers 60+ fishing on a permitted for-hire vessel need no permit at all.
- Who
- Resident or visitor · "Residents and Non-residents (60 and over): free".
- Water
- saltwater
- Valid for
- Permits expire each year on December 31.
- Price
- No charge
Freshwater and saltwater
Massachusetts 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. DMF answers directly: "Do I need to sign up for the National Saltwater Angler Registry (NSAR) as I did in 2010 (and pay additional fees)? No, NSAR no longer covers you to fish in Massachusetts waters. Your Massachusetts recreational saltwater permit allows you to fish in state and federal waters." Anglers targeting tuna, billfish, swordfish or sharks still need a NOAA Highly Migratory Species permit.
Stamps, endorsements and report cards
- Wildlands Conservation Stamp — "This stamp is added to the first fishing, hunting, or trapping license you buy each calendar year. If you are a Massachusetts resident, there is no Wildlands stamp fee for the second license purchased in a calendar year. If you are purchasing a license as a non-resident, the Wildlands stamp fee will be added to all licenses purchased." It does not apply to the saltwater fishing permit, which is issued by the Division of Marine Fisheries. · $5
Exemptions worth knowing
- "Anglers fishing on permitted for-hire vessels (for example, head boats and/or chartered boats)" do not need a Massachusetts saltwater fishing permit - the vessel's for-hire permit covers them.
- "Anglers who meet the definition of a disabled person in M.G.L. c. 19C" do not need a Massachusetts recreational saltwater fishing permit.
- "Non-residents with a valid CT, NH, or RI recreational saltwater fishing permit" may fish Massachusetts marine waters without a Massachusetts permit - a New Hampshire or Rhode Island permit works provided you are not a Massachusetts resident, and a Connecticut permit works provided you are a Connecticut resident. Still required: The angler must hold and carry the valid Connecticut, New Hampshire or Rhode Island recreational saltwater fishing permit; the reciprocity is conditional on the residency pairing described above.
- "Any person who owns or leases land that is principally used for agriculture and any immediate family members who are domiciled on said land does not need a hunting, fishing, or trapping license to hunt, fish, or trap on that property." Still required: "Permits and stamps are still required" even though the licence is not - so any applicable stamp or permit must still be bought and carried.
- "No license is required to fish any public lake, pond, reservoir, stream, or river in Massachusetts from 12 a.m. Saturday, June 6 until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 7" 2026. "All other regulations, including catch limits, apply during Free Fishing Weekend."
- "For saltwater anglers, 2026 Free Saltwater Fishing Days are May 10 and June 21." No recreational saltwater fishing permit is needed on those days.
Free fishing days
- Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend 2026 (Saturday) — June 6, 2026. No licence is required to fish any public lake, pond, reservoir, stream, or river from 12 a.m. Saturday June 6 until 11:59 p.m. Sunday June 7. All other regulations, including catch limits, apply.
- Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend 2026 (Sunday) — June 7, 2026. Second day of the 2026 Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend.
- Free Saltwater Fishing Day 2026 — May 10, 2026. "For saltwater anglers, 2026 Free Saltwater Fishing Days are May 10 and June 21."
- Free Saltwater Fishing Day 2026 — June 21, 2026. "For saltwater anglers, 2026 Free Saltwater Fishing Days are May 10 and June 21."
Where this comes from
- Primary source
- License types and fees | Mass.gov(external, opens the official state website) — Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and Division of Marine Fisheries
- Retrieved
- July 26, 2026
- Reviewed
- July 30, 2026
- Also consulted
- Who needs a recreational saltwater fishing permit | Mass.gov(external, opens the official state website)
- Who needs a freshwater fishing license? | Mass.gov(external, opens the official state website)
- M.G.L. Chapter 131 Section 11: Licenses; requirements; fees(external, opens the official state website)
- June 6-7, 2026 is Free Fishing Weekend! | Mass.gov(external, opens the official state website)
- Hunting licenses, permits, and stamps | Mass.gov (Wildlands Stamp and agricultural landowner rules)(external, opens the official state website)
- Recreational saltwater fishing regulations | Mass.gov(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 Massachusetts license does not carry its own rules across the border, so if your trip crosses one, check both states.