FishKillFlea Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) manages the RI fishing license. The RI fishing license cost is $21 for freshwater (add $6 trout stamp) — the cheapest freshwater license in New England! Saltwater is just $7.
2025-2026 RI Freshwater License Cost
| License | Resident | Non-Resident | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Freshwater | $21.00 | $38.00 | Expires Feb 28! |
| 3-Day Tourist | — | $18.00 | 3 days (NR only) |
| Trout Stamp | +$6.00 | +$6.00 | Required for trout (online $6 / vendor $6.50) |
| Senior 65+ | FREE | — | Permanent |
| Under 15 | FREE | FREE | — |
| 100% Disabled | FREE | — | Certification needed |
| Landowner (own property) | FREE | — | Fish on own land |
RI Saltwater License
| License | Resident | Non-Resident | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Saltwater | $7.00 | $10.00 | Expires Feb 28! |
| 7-Day Saltwater | $5.00 | $5.00 | 7 days |
Reciprocity — Saves Money!
RI honors saltwater licenses from New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine. If you already have one of those, you fish RI saltwater free!
Compare RI With Neighboring States
| State | Res FW Annual | NR FW Annual | Saltwater | Senior Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $28.00 | $55.00 | FREE | 65+ FREE |
| Massachusetts | $40.00 | $60.00 | $10.00 | 70+ FREE |
| New York | $25.00 | $50.00 | FREE (reg only) | 70+ FREE |
Rhode Island at $21 freshwater is the cheapest in New England! The $7 saltwater is extremely affordable for Narragansett Bay stripers and Block Island bluefish. Plus, RI honors neighboring states' saltwater licenses — unique reciprocity!
FAQ
When do RI fishing licenses expire?
February 28 (or 29) — not December 31! This is unique to Rhode Island. Buy new licenses in March. See RI fishing spots.