Penalties & Fines

Fines and penalties for fishing without a license in every US state.

50 guides · Page 1 of 3

AL Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Wardens & Creel Limits (2026)

AL fishing penalties: $50-$250 + massive $150+ court processing fees! Report poachers to 1-800-272-4263. Black Bass limit is 10.

Alabama

AK Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Fines & Bag Limits (2026)

Alaska fishing penalties: $150–$5,000. Wildlife Troopers (907) 269-5509. King 1-2/day, sockeye 3-6, halibut 2.

Alaska

AZ Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Fines & Creel Limits (2026)

AZ fishing penalties: $100–$500+. AZGFD OGT (800) 352-0700. Bass 6, Trout 6. Mead striper limit 20.

Arizona

AR Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Fines & Creel Limits (2026)

Arkansas fishing penalties: $100–$1,000. AGFC Hotline (800) 482-9262. Crappie 30 daily, bass 6, trout 5.

Arkansas

California Fishing Without a License — Penalties & Fines (2026)

California penalties for fishing without a license: fine ranges, misdemeanor classifications, equipment seizure, and how enforcement works.

California

CO Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Wardens & Creel Limits (2026)

CO fishing penalties: $50-$200 + massive CPW surcharge fees! Strict rules apply to Gold Medal waters. Standard trout limit is 4.

Colorado

CT Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Fines & Creel Limits (2026)

Fishing license CT penalties: $50–$500. CT DEEP TIP Line (800) 842-4357. Striper 1 fish/28″, bluefish 3, fluke 4/19″.

Connecticut

DE Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Fines & Creel Limits (2026)

Fishing license Delaware penalties: $25-$500. DNREC (302) 739-9913. Striper 1/28″, flounder 4/19″, bluefish 3.

Delaware

FL Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Wardens & Creel Limits (2026)

FL fishing penalties: $50 + massive $200+ court costs! Multiple offenses = Misdemeanor. Snook & Tarpon limits are incredibly strict.

Florida

GA Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Wardens & Creel Limits (2026)

GA fishing penalties: $75-$250 + massive $150+ court processing fees! Report poachers to 1-800-241-4113. Bass limit is 10.

Georgia

HI Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Fines & MPA Rules (2026)

Hawaii fishing penalties: $100–$10,000. MPA violations severe! DOCARE (808) 643-3567. Ahi no limit.

Hawaii

ID Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Fines & Creel Limits (2026)

Idaho fishing penalties: $75–$1,000. Citizens Against Poaching (800) 632-5999. Steelhead 3/season, trout 6 daily.

Idaho

IL Fishing Without a License — Penalties & Fines (2026)

Illinois fishing penalties: Class B misdemeanor, fines $75–$500, and IDNR poaching hotline.

Illinois

IN Fishing Without a License — Penalties & Fines (2026)

Indiana fishing penalties: Class C infraction $75–$500, regulation violations, DNR hotline.

Indiana

IA Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Fines & Creel Limits (2026)

Iowa fishing penalties: $50–$1,000. DNR TIP (800) 532-2020. Walleye 5/15″, catfish 8, crappie 25, musky 1/30″.

Iowa

KS Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Fines & Creel Limits (2026)

Kansas fishing penalties: $100–$500. Operation Game Thief (877) 426-3843. Creel limits: walleye 5, bass 5, crappie 50.

Kansas

KY Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Wardens & Creel Limits (2026)

KY fishing penalties: $50-$500 + Class A Misdemeanor! Report poachers to 1-800-25-ALERT. Crappie limit is 20, Bass is 6.

Kentucky

LA Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Wardens & Creel Limits (2026)

LA fishing penalties: $50-$250 + massive parish court processing fees! Report poachers to 1-800-442-2511. Sac-a-lait (crappie) limit is 50.

Louisiana

ME Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Fines & Creel Limits (2026)

Maine fishing penalties: $50–$1,000. Warden Service (800) 452-4664. Brook trout 5, salmon 1-2, stripers 1/28″.

Maine

MD Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Fines & Creel Limits (2026)

MD fishing penalties: $50–$1,000. DNR Police (800) 628-9944. Rockfish 2/slot, blue crab 1 bushel/5″.

Maryland

MA Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Fines & Creel Limits (2026)

Massachusetts fishing penalties: $50-$500. Environmental Police (800) 632-8075. Striper 1/28″, trout 3/12″.

Massachusetts

MI Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Restitution & Creel Limits (2026)

MI fishing penalties: $50–$500+ AND restitution costs! DNR RAP (800) 292-7800. Great Lakes salmon limit is 5. Walleye 5.

Michigan

MN Fishing Without a License — Penalties & Fines (2026)

Minnesota fishing penalties: fines for no license ($100–$300), regulation violations, and TIP hotline.

Minnesota

MS Fishing Without a License — Penalties, Wardens & Creel Limits (2026)

MS fishing penalties: $100-$250 + massive $150+ court processing fees! Report poachers to 1-800-BE-SMART. Crappie limits vary strictly by lake.

Mississippi