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Do you need a Georgia fishing license?
Yes. Anglers age 16 and older must have a current Georgia fishing license to fish in fresh or salt water. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Resources Division issues all licenses, trout licenses, and Saltwater Information Program (SIP) registrations.
Children under 16 fish free. Georgia residents who are blind or totally disabled qualify for a free or discounted Honorary License.
How much is a fishing license in Georgia?
A resident annual fishing license costs $15. A resident annual Sportsman's License (combo fishing, hunting, big game) is $65. A resident Trout License add-on is $10.
Nonresidents pay $50 for an annual fishing license, or $10 for a 1-day license plus $3.50 for each additional day. A nonresident Trout License is $25. The Saltwater Information Program (SIP) registration is free but required to fish state saltwater.
Most Georgia price lists leave out the transaction fee: the state adds $3.00 to every online recreational license purchase, so the all-in cost of the standard resident license is $18.00 online, not $15.00. Buying by phone costs $5.00 in fees instead, an optional hard card is $6.00, and renewing before your current license expires earns a $3.00 discount that cancels the fee out.
| License | 2026 fee |
|---|---|
| Resident annual fishing | $15 |
| Resident Sportsman's (fish + hunt + big game) | $65 |
| Resident trout license | $10 |
| Nonresident annual fishing | $50 |
| Nonresident 1-day (+$3.50 per extra day) | $10 |
| Nonresident trout license | $25 |
| Saltwater Information Program registration | Free |
Where to check Georgia lifetime license prices
Georgia sells lifetime fishing and sportsman's licenses with prices banded by age, and the published fee table changes periodically. Check the current lifetime figures at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com before buying, and note the online transaction fee below applies to lifetime purchases too.
Georgia residents born on or before June 30, 1952 qualify for a free lifetime Honorary License. Residents 65 and older born after that date still need a license, at discounted senior rates; check GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com for the current senior prices.
Lifetime licenses are sold through Georgia DNR at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com (opens in a new tab) and never need renewing.
Can you buy a Georgia fishing license online?
Yes. Buy a Georgia fishing license online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com (opens in a new tab) or through the Go Outdoors GA mobile app, and your license is valid immediately; a digital copy is accepted on the water.
Online is the fastest route for the annual resident license and every short-term option, and the same account handles renewals each year.
Where to buy a Georgia fishing license
The fastest route is online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com (opens in a new tab), the official Georgia DNR licensing portal, covered in the section above. You can print your license or store it in the Go Outdoors GA mobile app. You can also call 1-800-366-2661.
In person, licenses are sold at DNR offices, Walmart, Bass Pro Shops, Academy Sports, and more than 800 license dealers statewide. Licenses are valid for 365 days from purchase date.
Georgia free fishing days in 2026
Georgia offers three Free Fishing Days in 2026: Saturday, June 6, Saturday, June 13, and Saturday, September 26. On these days Georgia residents do not need a fishing license or a trout license to fish, per Georgia DNR.
Bag and size limits stay in force on free fishing days, and the waiver applies to Georgia residents only; nonresidents still need a license.
Key Georgia fishing regulations
Largemouth bass have a 5-fish daily limit (no more than 2 under 14 inches on most reservoirs). Striped bass and hybrid limits are 2 per day combined with a 22-inch minimum on Lake Lanier. Crappie limits are 30 per day on most reservoirs.
Trout limits are 8 per day on most streams, with seasonal closures from November 1 to the last Saturday in March on seasonal streams. Year-round trout streams stay open with the 8-fish limit. Delayed Harvest streams are catch-and-release artificial-only from November 1 to May 14.
Saltwater anglers must register with SIP (free) and follow Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission rules for striped bass, red drum (14-23 inch slot, 5-fish limit), and spotted sea trout (13-inch minimum, 15-fish limit).
Best fishing in Georgia
Lake Lanier is Georgia's premier striped bass and spotted bass fishery, with year-round stripers and a healthy population of trophy spots. Lake Hartwell and Lake Sinclair are also top bass destinations, while Clarks Hill (Lake Strom Thurmond) holds big bass and hybrids.
The Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam offers excellent trout fishing year-round. Coastal Georgia (St. Simons, Tybee, Sapelo) produces spotted sea trout, redfish, flounder, and tripletail in the marshes and creeks.
Explore Georgia waters with GilledIt's Georgia directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
A resident annual license is $15, or $18.00 all-in online once Georgia's $3.00 transaction fee is added. A nonresident annual is $50. Add $10 (resident) or $25 (nonresident) for a Trout License. A 1-day nonresident license is $10 plus $3.50 for each additional day.
Anglers age 16 and older need a Georgia fishing license. Children under 16 fish free. Residents born on or before June 30, 1952 qualify for a free Honorary License; those 65 and older born after that date pay discounted senior rates.
Georgia's Free Fishing Days fall on June 6, June 13, and September 26, 2026. On those days residents need neither a fishing license nor a trout license, per Georgia DNR.
SIP is a free annual registration required for all saltwater anglers age 16+ in Georgia. It tracks recreational catch and is included with your standard fishing license.
Yes. Georgia sells lifetime fishing and sportsman's licenses with prices banded by age. The fee table changes periodically, so check the current figures at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com before buying.
Yes. To fish for or possess trout on Georgia trout waters you need a Trout License in addition to your fishing license. It costs $10 resident, $25 nonresident.