California offers a wide variety of fishing license types to accommodate different needs, from the casual weekend angler to the lifelong fishing enthusiast. Here's a complete breakdown of every license category available through CDFW.

Last verified for the 2026 fishing season. Regulations subject to change.

Resident Licenses

License Type	Price	Duration	Best For
Annual Sport Fishing	$54.00	Calendar Year	Regular anglers
Reduced-Fee (65+ or Disabled)	$8.12	Calendar Year	Seniors, disabled veterans
Lifetime Sport Fishing	$606.75–$1,043.25	Lifetime	Lifelong anglers

Non-Resident Licenses

License Type	Price	Duration	Best For
Non-Resident Annual	$145.94	Calendar Year	Frequent visitors
10-Day Non-Resident	$54.00	10 Days	Extended vacations

Short-Term Licenses

License Type	Price	Duration	Notes
1-Day Sport Fishing	$18.22	Single Day	Available to residents and non-residents
2-Day Sport Fishing	$29.29	2 Consecutive Days	Great value for weekend trips

Lifetime Licenses

California's lifetime fishing license is a smart investment for dedicated anglers. The price varies by age at the time of purchase:

Age at Purchase	Price	Break-Even (vs. Annual)
0–9 years	$606.75	~11 years of annual licenses
10–39 years	$1,043.25	~19 years of annual licenses
40–61 years	$904.50	~17 years of annual licenses
62+ years	$606.75	~75 years of reduced-fee licenses

Additional Stamps & Validations

Certain types of fishing in California require additional stamps in addition to your base license:

Ocean Enhancement Stamp ($5.69): Required for any ocean or bay fishing
Steelhead Report Card ($8.24): Required to fish for steelhead trout
Second Rod Stamp ($16.85): Allows using two rods simultaneously in inland waters
North Coast Salmon Report Card ($7.04): Required for salmon fishing in the Klamath and Smith river systems

Which License Is Right for You?

Fish a few times a year? Consider 1-day or 2-day licenses
Regular weekend angler? The annual resident license at $54 is the best value
Visiting from out of state? The 10-day non-resident license offers the best per-day rate
Lifelong angler? The lifetime license pays for itself within 11–19 years

Not sure if you need one? Check our CA fishing exemptions guide. Get your California fishing license online →