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Fishing Licenses & Where to Buy Them
Who needs a fishing license
Anyone age 16 and older must have a current Georgia fishing license in their possession while fishing in freshwater or saltwater in Georgia. Conservation Rangers may require identification when checking fishing licenses.
Exceptions:
- a fishing license is not required to fish in private ponds (this does not include ponds owned by governments - county, state, or federal).
- a fishing license is not required by a landowner and their immediate family when fishing on their land.
You can buy a fishing license in one of three ways:
- From a license dealer
- By phone
- Purchase online
License Dealers
Georgia fishing licenses are available throughout the state from over 1,000 license dealers. License dealers can be found at major discount retailers, marinas, and sporting goods, bait and tackle, and hardware stores.
Licenses can be purchased in person or by mail from the Department of Natural Resources, License Unit, 2189 Northlake Parkway, Suite 108, Bldg. 10, Tucker, Georgia 30084. Orders by mail must include the applicant's name, address, date of birth, weight and height with the proper payment.
By Phone
Call 1-888-748-6887 (toll free) to purchase your fishing license.
Purchase Online
You can purchase a fishing license online through GreatLodge.com or Permit.com.
GreatLodge.com charges a $1.25 fee per transaction.
Permit.com charges a $3.00 fee per transaction.
A transaction is defined as up to six (6) licenses or one (1) boat registration sold/issued to one individual.
Georgia Fishing Licenses & Fees
Sportsman's License (includes these licenses: Fishing, Trout, Wildlife Management Area, Hunting, Big game, Primitive weapons, and Waterfowl Conservation licenses and H.I.P permit. It does not include the Federal duck stamp):
- Resident - $60.00
- Non-resident - not available
Regular Fishing License:
- Resident - $9.00
- Non-resident - $24.00 (season) $7.00 (7 day)
One-day:
- Resident - $3.50
- Non-resident - $3.50
Trout:
- Resident - $5.00
- Non-resident - $13.00
Combination Fishing & Hunting:
- Resident - $17.00
- Non-resident - not available
Wildlife Management Area (WMA):
- Resident - $19.00
- Non-resident - $73.00
Lifetime Licenses
Never buy a fishing or hunting license again! For a one time price, Georgians can enjoy a lifetime of our state's great fishing and hunting. Lifetime licenses cover all sport fishing and hunting, except for the Federal Duck Stamp and the free Federal Harvest Information Program Permit. Deer hunters also must pick up a Deer Harvest Record from a license dealer prior to hunting each year. Lifetime licenses are valid for the life of the person, even if they move out of Georgia. People who purchase a lifetime license will receive a colorful, plastic license card. Senior (65+) lifetime license holders may purchase the plastic card for a $10 processing fee. You must be a Georgia resident for at least 12 months immediately prior to applying and provide proof of residency in order to be eligible. Lifetime licenses for Georgia resident hunters and anglers cost:
- $200 for infants under age 2
- $350 for youth between the ages of 2 - 15
- $500 for adults age 16 and older
- Free for senior citizens over age 65
Get a lifetime license application (requires Adobe Acrobat) and send it, with your payment, to the address on the application.
Lost Your License?
- If you bought your license over the internet, you can replace it by printing another if you bookmarked your original.
- If you bought your license by telephone, call 1-888-748-6887 for information on replacement.
- If you bought your license at a license dealer, obtain a "Request for Replacement/Refund" form from a license dealer and mail to the License Unit, 2189 Northlake Parkway, Suite 108, Building 10, Tucker, GA 30084. There is a $3 replacement fee for each form submitted.
- To fish immediately, you must purchase a new license and then request a refund for the second license by submitting a "Request for Replacement/Refund" form.
Some good reasons to buy a fishing license
Your purchase of a fishing license helps support the following Fisheries Section programs. If you want to support fisheries management and conservation of Georgia's aquatic resources, buy a fishing license today!
- Management: Fish populations are monitored and managed in over 500,000 acres of reservoirs and small lakes, 12,000 miles of streams and rivers, and over 4,000 miles of trout streams.
- Hatcheries: six warmwater hatcheries produce largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, striped bass, hybrid striped-white bass, and other species to stock into reservoirs, rivers, and ponds; three trout hatcheries stock over 1 million trout into trout streams.
- Public Fishing Areas: over 2,000 acres of water on nine PFAs provide quality fishing for bass, bream, crappie, and catfish. PFAs are "perfect family areas" for family recreation. License sales help build new PFAs!
- Pond Management: guidance is provided to pond owners through consultation and on site visits.
- Boat Ramps: 150 boat ramps are maintained statewide. New ramps are built each year to provide better access for all boaters.
- Aquatic Education: over 30,000 kids and their parents fish at over 500 Kids Fishing Events each year. Many are kids that have not experienced good fishing. Over 1,200 educators are trained and provided teaching materials each year to teach youth about Georgia's aquatic resources.
- Publications: Reservoir and Rivers Fishing Prospects, Small Lakes Open to Public Fishing, Georgia Fish ID book, Pond Management books, Trout Streams of Georgia map, Fishing Regulations book, River maps, and many others are printed and mailed to thousands each year.
- Fish Kills and Pollution: because of Fisheries staff investigations, the culprit is often brought to justice and fined.
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