Penalties & Fines — Page 2

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

50 guides · Page 2 of 3

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

MO fishing penalties: $50–$1,000. MDC (800) 392-1111. Crappie 30/day! Bass 6. Trout 4.

Missouri

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

Montana fishing penalties: $50–$1,000. TIP-MONT (800) 847-6668. Bull trout C&R only, brown trout 5 daily.

Montana

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

Nebraska fishing penalties: $50–$500. Operation Game Thief (800) 742-7627. Walleye 4, musky 1/36″, bass 5/12″.

Nebraska

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

NV fishing penalties: $50–$1,000. NDOW (800) 992-3030. Unlimited stripers at Lake Mead! Trout 5/day.

Nevada

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

NH fishing penalties: $50–$1,000. NHFG (603) 271-3361. Lake trout 2, salmon 2, striper 1/28″.

New Hampshire

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

NJ fishing penalties: $50–$200+. NJ DEP (877) WARN-DEP. Strict saltwater slot limits for striped bass (1 at 28"-<31").

New Jersey

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

NM fishing penalties: $50–$1,000. San Juan Quality Water 1 fish/20″. Gila trout catch-and-release only.

New Mexico

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

NY fishing penalties: Up to $250 + mandatory surcharges + per-fish fines. DEC ECO TIP: 1-844-DEC-ECOS. Striped Bass slot limits are strict.

New York

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

NC fishing penalties: $35-$250 + massive $160 court costs! Report to 1-800-662-7137. Red drum coastal slot limits are strict.

North Carolina

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

ND fishing penalties: $50–$1,000. NDGF RAP (800) 472-2121. Walleye 5, perch 20, paddlefish 1.

North Dakota

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

OH fishing penalties: $75–$500+. ODNR TIP (800) POACHER. Lake Erie walleye limits (4-6 depending on season) strictly enforced.

Ohio

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

OK fishing penalties: $100–$1,000. ODWC (800) 722-3888. Crappie 37/day! Texoma striper 10/day!

Oklahoma

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

Oregon fishing penalties: Class A violation $110–$440, wild steelhead violations to $6,250, TIP hotline.

Oregon

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

Pennsylvania fishing penalties: fines for no license ($75–$150), regulation violations, gear seizure, and how to report poaching.

Pennsylvania

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

RI fishing penalties: $50–$500. DEM (401) 222-3070. Striper 1/28″, tautog 3/16″. Block Island rules.

Rhode Island

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

SC fishing penalties: $50-$250 + massive $150+ court processing fees! Report poachers to 1-800-922-5431. Crappie limit is 20.

South Carolina

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

SD fishing penalties: $100–$1,000. GFP TIP (888) 683-7224. Walleye 4 daily, paddlefish 1/season.

South Dakota

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

TN fishing penalties: $50-$250 + massive $150+ court costs! Report poachers to 1-800-831-1174. Crappie limit is 15 on major lakes.

Tennessee

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

TX fishing penalties: $25-$500 + Game Warden court costs! Never harvest an oversized Red Drum without your specific tag. Bass limit is 5.

Texas

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

Utah fishing penalties: Class B misdemeanor $100–$750, regulation violations, UTiP hotline.

Utah

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

VT fishing penalties: $50–$1,000. Game Warden TIP (800) 752-5378. Brook trout 12, salmon 2.

Vermont

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

VA fishing penalties: $50 + massive $100+ court processing fees! Report poachers to 1-800-237-5712. Trout limit is strictly 6.

Virginia

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

Washington fishing penalties: misdemeanor fines $150–$500, wild steelhead $5,000, WDFW hotline.

Washington

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

WV fishing penalties: misdemeanor $20–$500 + 10-100 days jail. Equipment confiscation. Report: (304) 558-2784.

West Virginia