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Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Paul Clayton
Fishing is a popular activity that is undertaken by numerous people across the globe. It could be for commercial purposes or simply a leisurely activity. If you want to dip your toes in fishing, you must know that there are rules and regulations that you must adhere to.
Every country in the world has its set of rules that must be taken care of before one can take their fishing equipment to a waterbody.
By looking at the title of the article, you must’ve gauged that you need to have a license for fishing. Every state in the US has its own set of standards and prices for obtaining a fishing license. This also holds for the state of California.
In this article, we will talk about how much fishing license costs in California, what types of licenses there are, and how you can get them. We will also discuss the multitudinous factors that affect the price of license in that state of California.
If you’re intrigued about it, continue to read on further and know about the fishing license in California.
Table of Contents
Why Is A Fishing License Important in California?
As with any state in the US, California requires its citizens to undertake fishing activities in a regulated manner. By allowing fishing activities through a licensed facility, they intend to keep watchful tabs on the local fish populations.
It doesn’t take long before unguarded fishing activities can negatively impact the fish population in an area. For this reason, California offers its residents and non-residents numerous kinds of fishing licenses as well as report cards.
This aids the fisheries of all sizes to keep a watchful eye on the local fish populations. The information gained from licenses and report cards helps the state sustain and protect every aquatic species by keeping them sustainable.
Is A Fishing License Expensive in California?
You’ll be taken aback to know that California has the most expensive fishing license across the nation. The reason for this is that the money that is obtained through fishing licenses is used by the state to fund fish hatcheries.
It is also utilized for the state’s land and water conservation policies and plans. Due to this reason, California does charge a tad bit higher than the other states.
What Are the Costs of Different Fishing Licenses in California?
The cost of applying for a fishing license in California is dependent on a lot of factors. A couple of the foremost being your age as well as the location. However, given below are handy tables that depict the prices of various fishing licenses offered in California.
| Annual Fishing Licenses | Price |
| License for Resident (Sport) | $49.94 |
| License for Non-residents (Sport) | $134.74 |
| Lowered fees for license | $7.74 |
| Licenses for short-term | Price |
| Sport License for one day (for both residents and non-residents) | $16.20 |
| License for two days (for both residents and non-residents) | $25.10 |
| Sport License for ten days (for non-residents) | $49.94 |
| Report Card | Price |
| Will vary for species as well as the location | From $6.74 to $23.76 |
| Validation | Price |
| For enhancement of oceans | $5.66 |
| For second rod usage | $15.69 |
| For Duplicates | Price |
| Sport License (yearly) | $10.80 |
| Validation for using a second rod | $3.24 |
| Report Card – Sturgeon (only for California Department of Fish and Wildlife license office) | $15.45 |
| For Lifetime Sport Licenses | Price |
| For people aged 9 or below | $550.25 |
| For people aged between 10 – 39 | $889.25 |
| For people aged between 40 – 61 | $810.25 |
| For people aged 65 plus | $550.25 |
| For additional fishing | $372.25 |
Note that there is also an included 5% handling fee charged by the license agent in addition to the basic charge. At the same time, there’s also a 3% application fee that is non-refundable.
If you have an annual license, it will need to be renewed each year on January first. If you plan on undertaking commercial fishing activities, different license fees need to be paid. You can look-up the updates rates on CDFW’s website.
Who Can Use the Reduced-Fee Fishing License Facility?
In case you’re wondering who the ‘Reduced-fee’ fishing license is for, you’ll know now. The state of California has introduced a ‘Reduce-fee’ fishing license for certain people. This is applicable to the following group of persons:
- Disabled veterans
- Low-income senior citizens
- Recovering service members
In addition to these, if you have any mobility impairment such as blindness or any developmental disability, you don’t need to pay the license fees. You will still need to obtain a fishing license but will not be charged for it. It is also applicable for the Native Americans who have low-income.
Which License Is the Most Beneficial?
The kind of license you should opt for entirely depends on your needs and requirements. If you wish to do it casually, going for a temporary license is a good option. However, if you’re keen on doing this activity for a long while, the lifetime license is beneficial.
The lifetime fishing license comes with several advantages. Firstly, you wouldn’t need to get it renewed every year. Secondly, it also offers several fishing privileges for free that last a lifetime. Going for a lifetime license is more fiscally responsible over longer periods and comes with offers.
Where Can You Obtain A Fishing License From?
Perhaps the tricky endeavor of starting to fish is finding a place where you get the license from. Moreover, you also need to ensure that the place you get your license from is legitimate and not a money-making trap. However, getting a fishing license in California won’t give you any hassle.
California has at least twenty locations spread across the state that provide a permit to fish legally. You can also directly apply to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. They also provide a handy list of places that can help you locate the nearest license center to you.
If not, tons of businesses have come up in the past to aid you in getting your fishing license.
You should note that you can purchase quite a lot of California’s permits only at specific California Department of Fish and Wildlife locations. So, before leaving to grab a shiny fishing license without any information, research about it.
Ensure about the facts that you look-up online and gather information about what outlet deals with the license you require. It will save your fuel as well as your efforts.
If you don’t wish to waste time and deal with Californian traffic on the way to the Department of Fish and Wildlife outlets, there’s something you can do. You can log in to their official website and apply for a fishing license from the comfort of your couch.
Are There Any Fishing Regulations in California?
Before you get set to head on for your fishing escapade under the Californian sky, you need to stop in your tracks and know the State regulations! To understand the Californian fishing regulations better, we have divided it into three broad sections. They will tell you all about the regulations in detail.
Method of Fishing & Gear Restrictions
In this section, you will find in-detail information about every different kind of gear and items that come into usage while fishing. The first regulation is regarding the Hooks used in fishing.
When you fish in California, the legal way is either with one line and rod. If not, with a single hand line.
Every line that you use for fishing can only have less than four Hooks. In the case of Lures, there can only be a maximum of three. Although, you can attach three Hooks to each Lure.
If you wish to utilize a Backup or Secondary rod, you need to purchase validation. This will let you utilize a secondary or backup rod during fishing but only in unrestricted areas.
Next up, snagging is not permissible by the state. Only the mouth is legally allowed to be hooked for fishing. If you impale a fish anywhere else apart from the mouth, it is deemed as “Snagging.” This practice is strictly prohibited in the state of California.
The statute given by the Californian regulation stands as a strict back-up for the regulations that ban snagging. However, it confuses as to how an involuntary catch of bait happens?
The use of gaffs is also strictly prohibited for usage in the inland waters. They are considered illegal fishing gear. You need to adhere to only the regulated gear while fishing. You must follow all the ordinances and rules that are set for fishing in the state.
You also need to regulate and crosscheck bagging limitations for every waterbody you fish in. There are different bag limits per species for every water body.
You can also read the informative handbook that talks about other fishing regulations in California.
Fishing Hours
Throughout the US, many states have regulations that regulate during which hours are fishing, or another water-based activity is allowed. For California, fishes can be caught either during the day or the night. However, it does have nine specific exceptions.
You need to look out for the posted regulations in the water area near the entryways.
Generally, if you’re still wondering what qualifies as “daytime,” according to the fishing laws, it is clearly stated by the state. Daytime is defined as the time commencing 60 minutes before the sunrise and 60 minutes post the sunset. Nighttime, hence, is the time not part of the given daytime.
Bait Regulations
If you are in California and are looking to fish, there are certain acceptable kinds of baits. These are:
- Mollusks
- Invertebrates
- Fish eggs
- Crustaceans
- Amphibians except for Salamanders
- Treated or Processed foods
Note that none of the species in the above-mentioned categories can be used if they’re threatened, endangered, or are full-protected.
Regulations for Specific Areas
The handbook of regulations will provide you with all the careful details that you must consider while fishing. You must know that every area in California has its set of regulations for fishing. You can find the updated version of the map of such area-wise regulations by the CDFW.
Fishing in an area without following their set of fishing rules can land you in legal troubles. Hence, always make sure to check area-wise regulations before you start your fishing adventures.
Summing Up
Fishing is an enjoyable activity that has enthralled people across the nations. It is done both commercially and also as a form of leisure activity. However, every country and state have a specific set of regulations and rules for fishing. Such rules are to ensure safe and regulated fishing practices.
Something similar can be found in the state of California. You need to abide by their rules for fishing and obtain a fishing license. Follow the rules and regulations to enjoy a hassle-free fishing experience during your holidays!
