A lot of folks are looking for information on how much does a California freshwater fishing license cost. So, in this post, we will answer this question. We will cover everything from the basic information to the various costs associated with the license.
Table of Contents
The Basics
The basic information you need to know about a California freshwater fishing license is that it is required by law and that the annual cost is determined by your residency. The law that mandates the purchase of the license is called the “Freshwater Fishing Law” (A.R.S. §13-2980) and it became effective on August 1, 2010. This law requires that you purchase a license for the season in which you plan on fishing. The license is only valid for the area in which you live. If you are planning on fishing in northern California and southern Oregon, then you will have to buy a license for both areas. The law also allows for an allocation of recreational angling licenses between residents of California (which includes residents of Camp Disagreement and all other agencies under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife), and residents of other states. This is known as a “Out-of-State Angling License” and can only be used in California waters. The information you need to know about how much does a California freshwater fishing license cost is listed below.
Residency
One of the first things you will be asked for on your application for a fishing license is your residency. Your residency determines the dollar amount of your fishing license. The law governing this is called the “Freshwater Fishing Law” and it became effective on August 1, 2010. Under this law, the amount of your license will be determined by your residency and it will be adjusted annually. Your residency can be verified by providing either:
- A current residential address
- A passport
- An acceptable form of identification
- A water bill
- A property tax statement
- A credit card statement
License Class
The other piece of information you need to know about a California freshwater fishing license is its class. All fishing licenses have two classes: non-commercial and commercial. The non-commercial class is for individuals who are taking fish for personal use only and does not involve the sale of the fish caught. The commercial class is for fishers who are making money from the catch and must pay a commercial fishing license fee. The law that governs this is called the “Freshwater Fishing Law” and it became effective on August 1, 2010. It is important to note here that most lakes and ponds do not require a permit to fish in. Only those under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife can require a permit for you to fish in their area. This is usually only done to protect fish habitats and prevent over-fishing. The commercial fishing license requires a $1,000 payment annually and it is non-refundable. The law also allows for an allocation of recreational angling licenses between residents of California (which includes residents of Camp Disagreement and all other agencies under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife), and residents of other states. This is known as a “Out-of-State Angling License” and can only be used in California waters. The information you need to know about how much does a California freshwater fishing license cost is listed below.
Cost
The final piece of information you need to know about a California freshwater fishing license is its cost. The cost of the license will be determined by your residency and it will be adjusted annually after August 1, 2010. The law that governs this is called the “Freshwater Fishing Law” and it became effective on August 1, 2010. There is actually no price listed on the website for the license, as the price is determined by your residency and it changes each year. The cost of the license will be:
- $5 for Out-of-California residents
- $23 for California residents who are not also residents of another state
- $26 for California residents who are also residents of another state
Fishing Types
There are five different kinds of fishing that you can do in California and each one has its own license requirements. These are deep-sea fishing, surf fishing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and gunning. Below you will find a chart that lists the various fees associated with each type of fishing.
Deep-Sea Fishing
If you are a deep-sea fisherman, then you will need to purchase a commercial license that costs $10,000 annually. This type of fishing involves going to incredible waters and bringing back incredible fish. You can’t do this without a boat and a commercial license. You will also need to purchase various gear (including bait and lines) separately. The equipment alone can cost up to $40,000. For this type of fee, you will need to provide a current passport or visa, as well as a credit card. Do not forget to bring your fishing license and a piece of identification with your current zip code on it to the nearest DMV office for a quick and easy verification of your residency.
Surfing Fishing
For surfing fishing, you need to have a recreational license that costs $6.75 annually. This type of fishing is popular along the California coast and involves using a surf rod to catch fish in the ocean. You can get this license from a commercial fishing license agent, as there are no retail outlets for these licenses. The cost of a surf fishing license is usually determined by the weight of the fish that you are catching. The bigger the fish, the higher the cost. If you are doing this for fun and to entertain yourself, then this type of fishing is a great way to go. The only difference between this type of fishing and surf fishing is that the former usually involves using artificial lures (fish hooks and other artificial baits that look like fish) while the latter often just involves using live bait (usually smaller fish, such as sardines or anchovies).
Ice Fishing
To go ice fishing, you need to purchase an annual ice fishing license. This license is good for fishing all year round and it costs $500 annually. This type of license is administered by individual fishing license agents and they are usually located in small towns along the coast. The ice fishing license agent will tell you what areas are open and closed for ice fishing at any given time. It is a very popular winter sport in California and thousands of people go ice fishing every year. The best time to go ice fishing is in the winter months, particularly between December and March. This is when the fish are deep frozen and relatively easy to catch. Ice fishermen use either dip nets or spear guns (which are long poles with a hook at the end) to catch their fish. The equipment alone for this type of fishing can cost up to $500 and it’s range of available lures (baits) can cost even more. This is a popular winter sport in California and thousands of people go ice fishing every year.
Snowmobiling
To snowmobile, you need to purchase an annual snowmobiling license. This license allows you to travel on either a trail or a road and it costs $600 annually. This type of license is also administered by individual fishing license agents and they are usually located in small towns along the coast. The best time to go snomobiling is in the winter months, particularly between December and March. This is when the snow is deep and good for traction. This is a great way to get around since most other modes of transport become useless at that time of year. This is a winter sport in California and thousands of people go snomobiling every year.
Gunning
For gunning, you need a $30,000 permit that is good for the entire year. These licenses are issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and they are only good for hunting water-based game. This type of fishing can only be done in winter and involves using various weapons (including crossbows, long-bows, and cannons) to catch game such as fish and large mammals such as elk and deer. The cost for this is determined by the number of animals you are hunting and the size of the animal you are aiming at. The cost of this license is adjusted annually and it can go up to $30,000.
The various costs associated with a California freshwater fishing license are listed below. This list includes only the costs that you will directly incur. The cost of camping, fishing gear, etc., will be taken into consideration when pricing your license: