Getting ready for the fishing season that is fast approaching in Arizona, I wanted to make sure I had my fishing license. I don’t like being on the Law’s bad side, and want to be able to head to the lake without worrying about being stopped by the game warden and getting an avoidable ticket. But, I wasn’t sure how much it was to buy one. After doing some research, this is what I found.
So, how much does an Arizona fishing license actually cost? Simple answer is that it depends. Based on what type of license that person needs, combination packages, and the duration of the license are the main factors that determine the cost of the license. However, for the average adult resident of Arizona the average cost of an annual fishing license is $37.00.
As mentioned before, there are various types of fishing license based on your needs. In the article below you’ll learn about the different types of license for residents and non-residents, where you can purchase your license, different combinations available, and much, much more.
Arizona Fishing License Prices
In Arizona you’re given the opportunity to choose between fishing license types and packages, some of which can save you quite a bit of money. If you’re a disabled veteran, child/youth, or senior offers significant price reductions!
Below you’ll find a list of all fishing licenses offered in Arizona for both residents and non-residents.
Cost of Fishing Licenses in Arizona
LICENSE | RESIDENT FEE | NON-RESIDENT FEE |
---|---|---|
General Fishing | $37 | $55 |
General Hunting | $37 | Not Available – See Combination |
Combo Hunt & Fish | $57 | $160 |
Youth Combo Hunt & Fish | $5 | $5 |
Short-Term Combo Hunt & Fish | $15/day | $20/day |
Community Fishing | $24 | $24 |
Migratory Bird Stamp | $5 | $5 |
Source: Arizona Game & Fish
Where Can You Purchase Your Arizona Fishing License?
You can purchase your fishing license at a variety of locations and it’s really easy and convenient too!
Below you’ll get all the details about the variations offered.
- Buy online fishing license
- Buy fishing license at authorized License Dealer stores
In Arizona you may qualify to get a complimentary license. Per Game & Fish website:
- Pioneer License – A person must be 70 years of age or older, plus 25 consecutive years as a bona fide Arizona resident immediately preceding application for the license. Additional information.
- Disabled Veteran – A person must show certification from the Veteran’s Administration confirming permanent service connected disabilities rated as 100 percent disabling, plus one or more consecutive years as a bona fide Arizona resident immediately preceding application for license. Additional information.
Lifetime License
Only available to Arizona residence the cost will differ based on type and age. Link.
Arizona Fishing Regulations
Since you’re wanting a fishing license there are some things as a holder you must be aware of. It’s not as easy as buying fishing license and fishing where ever you want for any species of fish. There are laws, guidelines, and regulations you need to follow.
Below are some listed guidelines that must be followed.
General Fishing Regulations
Fishing in any lake, river, creek, stream, or even pond a Arizona fishing license must be owned. Unless you own or get explicit permission to fish a private body of water such as a private farm pond.
In Arizona, you may fish with two poles or lines in all fishing license types. Unfortunately it does not change the daily limit you’re allowed to keep.
How old do you have to be to need a fishing license in Arizona?
Children older than 10, must own a valid fishing license in order to be legally fish in the state of Arizona.
Free Fishing Day
Arizona offers a Free Fishing Day once a year in June. This is designed to introduce someone to fishing and have an enjoyable time outdoors even if it’s for a day.
Where to purchase a fishing license in Arizona?
Arizona allows you to purchase your license online, but it also allows you to store your license as a digital copy on your phone, tablet or other electronic device.
Daily Bag Limit
In Arizona the daily bag limit is defined as “The daily bag limit is the maximum number of fish that may be legally caught and reduced to possession in one day. Once you catch a fish and do not release it, it now counts toward your daily bag limit.”. The duration of the limit lasts for 24-hours (midnight–to-midnight).
Arizona allows anglers to have different types of fish in their possession.
Most fishing waters in Arizona do not have a length limit. However, in the event a length limit is require it is also defined as the tip of the closed mouth to the tip of the tail.
In Arizona, fish can be caught by bow and arrow, crossbow, snare, gig, spear or spear gun, or snagging are valid methods for taking the following fish (unless specific laws prevents it). Below you can catch the following fish by these methods:
- Carp
- Buffalo fish
- Catfish
- Mullet
- Tilapia
- Goldfish
- Shad
Fishing Closures
From time to time you may encounter a fishing closure in Arizona. A fishing closure means it is illegal to fish in that given area during the closure period.
Common closures could be due to:
- Restocking
- Habitat restoration
- Local wildlife breeding programs
- Other studies or programs
Transporting Live Bait & Fish
Transporting live fish or bait that you caught in Arizona is illegal. This includes livewells or other containers, with the exception for licensed/authorized bait dealers.
Directly from Arizona’s Game and Fish website, it is illegal to:
- Release live baitfish or other live fish into any Arizona waters.
- To use or possess any restricted live baitfish while fishing waters prohibiting use of that baitfish.
- To sell live baitfish (or waterdogs) without a Live Baitfish Dealers License.
- To keep or harm any game fish or aquatic wildlife incidentally taken while capturing live baitfish with seines, dip nets, traps or cast nets.
- It is illegal to transport live fish (that you caught), including in live wells or other containers. All fish must be killed or released before transportation from the body of water.
***This does not apply to some live bait or fish that are transported from licensed bait dealers, it also excludes those who bought live bait from an authorized dealer (like a tackle shop) and you’re driving to the lake.
Can I use live worms as bait in Arizona?
Yes, it is legal in Arizona to use worms as live bait.
Is it legal to use corn as bait in Arizona?
Yes, It’s legal to use corn as bait on a hook. Other common baits that are legal to use is salmon eggs, cheese, bread balls, and hotdogs.
Is chumming in Arizona legal?
There was no information found whether it’s legal or illegal. I tried calling the main number listed and a regional office to get my question answered and no one picked up on a Tuesday afternoon at 3:22pm. Grrrrrr. However some forums say it’s legal so take that for what it’s worth.
NOTE: This are just some of the important laws, regulations and guidelines. To get the rest of the details visit Arizona fishing regulation online at: https://www.azgfd.com/fishing/regulations/
Fish You Can Catch in Arizona
Wow, there are a TON of fish you can go after in Arizona! Here’s a list I made up to help you out.
Popular Game Fish/Legal Species and Bag Limit
DAILY BAG LIMITS | |
---|---|
LEGAL FISH | DAILY BAG LIMITS |
Trout (includes rainbow, cutthroat, brown, brook, tiger, Gila and Apache, trout; grayling) | 6 Any combination |
Bass (including largemouth and smallmouth) | 6 Any combination |
Striped Bass | 10 |
Walleye | 6 |
Northern Pike | Unlimited. Immediate kill or release |
Catfish (including channel and flathead) | 10 Any combination |
Crappie (white and black) | Unlimited |
White Amur (grass carp) minimum size 30 inches | 1 |
Roundtail Chub | Catch and release only |
Sunfishes (includes bluegill, redear sunfish, green sunfish and hybrid sunfish) | Unlimited |
All Other Species (except protected native fish): including, but not limited to, white bass, yellow bass, carp, suckers, buffalofish, bullhead, yellow perch and tilapia | Unlimited |
COMMUNITY FISHING PROGRAM WATERS DAILY BAG LIMITS | ||
---|---|---|
FISH SPECIES | LAKES | PONDS |
Trout (includes rainbow, cutthroat, brown, brook, tiger, Gila and Apache, trout; grayling) | 4 | 2 |
Bass (including largemouth and smallmouth). 13-Inch minimum length | 2 | 1 |
Catfish (including channel and flathead) | 4 | 2 |
White Amur (grass carp) minimum size 30 inches | 1 | |
Sunfishes (includes bluegill, redear sunfish, green sunfish and hybrid sunfish) | 10 | 5 |
Protected Species Of Fish in Arizona
“The following native fish are protected statewide and may not be angled for, taken, possessed, pursued or captured”:
- Beautiful shiner
- Bluehead sucker
- Bonytail chub
- Colorado pike minnow
- Desert pupfish
- Flannelmouth sucker
- Gila topminnow
- Gila trout (except Frye Mesa Reservoir, Goldwater Lake and West Fork of Oak Creek)
- Humpback chub
- Little Colorado sucker
- Little Colorado spinedace,
- Loach minnow
- Mexican stoneroller
- Quitobaquito pupfish
- Razorback sucker
- Sonora chub
- Spikedace
- Virgin spinedace
- Virgin roundtail chub
- Woundfin
- Yaqui catfish
- Yaqui chub
- Yaqui topminnow
- Zuni bluehead sucker
Other Arizona Related Fishing Articles
- How Much Does an Arizona Fishing License Cost?
- Best Tackle Shops In Phoenix, Arizona (and Which Ones To Avoid)
- Top 20 Best Places To Fish In Arizona (with pictures)
- Best Bass Fishing Lakes in Arizona (Voted by Local Anglers!)
- Best Trout Fishing Destinations in Arizona (Voted by Local Anglers!)
- Fishing Lake Pleasant [A Complete Guide - Tips, Spots, Pictures, Everything You Need to Know]
- Fishing Roosevelt Lake [A Complete Guide - Tips, Spots, Pictures, Everything You Need to Know]
- Fishing Saguaro Lake [A Complete Guide - Tips, Spots, Pictures, Everything You Need to Know]
- Fishing Canyon Lake [A Complete Guide - Tips, Spots, Pictures, Everything You Need to Know]
Accessories You’ll Need
Rod –The popularity of fishing is growing and people are becoming much more conscious of different rods that can help them.
Fisherman want best technique specific rod for the money.
Luckily, I wrote several reports article that provides you with detailed information in order for you to make buy the rod for the money, and more importantly which rods to avoid at all costs.
>> What Rods To Use For Bass Fishing? 10 Awesome General Purpose Rods Reviewed
Reel – Having the correct reel to match with your rod is just as important. A good reel should be light and have a buttery smooth drag. There are several great reels on the market, but I recommend the Daiwa Tatula SV/TW baitbasting reel. It’s a great reel packed with great features. So much so it could easily be priced in the mid $200 range.
>>How To Choose A Great Bass Fishing Reel For The Money [and which to avoid at all costs]
Fishing Line – Having a good line is just as important as having a good rod. I recommend fishing with a good fluorocarbon line. Furthermore, it’s super sensitive because it has little to no stretch, and underwater it’s invisible to the bass! If pride or money is on the line I would use Sunline Sniper FC.
>>21 Tips To Choose The Best Fishing Line
Fishing Lures – It’s pretty hard and darn near impossible trying to catch a fish without using some sort of lure or bait. More importantly these baits you should never forget at home or it could lead to a horrible day on the water
>>5 Bass Fishing Lures You Never Want to Leave At Home
Tackle Bag – You can’t carry all your gear in your pockets, so you need a reliable tackle bag to transport it. I wrote a complete review guide, Best Tackle Bag for Fishing, check it out by clicking here. But if you don’t have the time to read the full guide then let me tell you I recommend the Lunker Bag by KastKing.
>>15 Best Tackle Bags For The Money (Tested & Reviewed)
Fishing Pliers – Nothing will ruin a day quicker than getting a hook embedded in your hand, or worse your eye. That’s why I always recommend having good set-up pliers that won’t rust and won’t slip out of your hand. I recommend that KastKing Cutthroat 7” Fishing Pliers.
Landing Net – As you are reeling in that monster fish, you don’t want to injure yourself or knock the fish off the hook by trying to grab it. That’s why I recommend a dependable telescopic landing net.
Fishing Weight Scale – Whether if you’re going to keep your catch or just take a photo of it and brag to your friends it’s important to have an accurate scale. I recommend a scale that has a large LED display like this one fishing scale here.
Wide Brim Fishing Hat – Nowadays, you have to protect yourself against the sun’s harmful rays. Wearing a wide brim hat not only gives you UV protection, but it also keeps you cool. I recommend the Columbia Unisex Bora Bora Booney hat. It fits any size head and it feels really comfortable.
Fishing Sun Shirt – Don’t you stop at only getting head protection, you also need to protect your chest, back, arms, and torso. According to the researchers finding skin cancers on the shoulders and forearms rank within the top-5 locations to get skin cancer*. Avoid any unnecessary UV exposure and stay cool by wearing a UV protective PFG Fishing Shirt by Columbia.
Fishing Gloves – Fishing gloves allow your hands to stay covered from the sun’s harmful rays and stay dry by using a special material. These gloves by Fishaholic offer UPF50+
FAQ
Best time to fish in Arizona?
Fishing in Arizona can be done all year long! But the best time of day to fish is early morning (start 1-hour before sunrise until 2-hours after sunrise), in the early evening (start 1-hour before sunset until 2-hours after sunset), and between 12midnight-2am.
Can I use waterdogs as bait?
Yes, waterdogs work great as bait! Several species of fish will gobble these up!
Can I fish for free in Arizona?
Yes, Arizona offers a Free Fishing Day once a year in June.
Is there a Arizona fishing report available?
Yep, you can check out the Arizona fishing report here.
Is it hard to fish from the shore?
No. Actually it’s really easy if you come prepared.
All you need to do is come with the right equipment, baits, and gear. Plus, you need a little bit on insight on what’s the best way to fish off the bank.
Read more: How To Fish From The Bank [The Official Insanely Easy Blueprint]
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George Servinson
My name is George and I'm been fishing my entire life and love all things outdoors. My passion is helping anyone catch more fish. The newest things I've been doing lately is learning how to break down and clean all my reels, teaching my boy how to kayak fish, and bushcraft wilderness survival.