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Rhode Island

Freshwater Fishing

Freshwater Fishing

License Information

License Type

Fee
(online)

Fee
(vendor)

Resident (or current member of the armed forces)

$21.00

$23.00

Combination (Hunting & Fishing)

$38.00

$40.00

Non-resident

$38.00

$41.00

Non-resident tourist (three (3) consecutive days)

$18.00

$21.00

Resident Trout Conservation Stamp

$5.50

$6.00

Non-resident Trout Conservation Stamp

$5.50

$6.00

Fishing License Information

  1. A fishing license is required of any person 15 years of age or older wishing to catch or take fish in any freshwater stream or pond in the state (except as noted below).
  2. A fishing license can be obtained on-line at RIO.RI.GOV, from authorized agents such as bait and tackle shops, retail department stores, as well as some city and town clerk offices.
  3. RI fishing licenses are reciprocal with Connecticut only for Beach Pond, Killingly Pond, Hazard Pond, and Peck Pond, and with
    Massachusetts for Wallum Lake.
  4. The fishing license must be available and shown upon request.
  5. The fishing license expires on the last day of February annually.
  6. The fishing license will be revoked for violation of fishing laws.
  7. A fishing license is not required of minors younger than fifteen (15) years of age.
  8. A fishing license is not required of any blind person.
  9. A fishing license is not required of landowners or for members of their families when fishing from property on which they are domiciled.
  10. A free, special, permanent license may be obtained by any veteran of the armed forces who currently has a 100% disability rating or by any individual who is 100% permanently disabled.
  11. A free, special, permanent license may be obtained by any resident over 65 years of age.

Trout Conservation Stamp

  1. A Trout Conservation Stamp is required of any person wishing to keep or possess a trout, salmon, or charr caught in Rhode Island waters or to fish in a “catch & release” or in a “fly fishing only” area.
  2. A Trout Conservation Stamp can be obtained on-line at RIO.RI.GOV, from authorized agents such as bait and tackle shops, retail department stores, as well as some city and town clerk offices. Collector Trout Conservation Stamps can be purchased at DEM Office of Boating Registration and Licenses.
  3. A Trout Conservation Stamp proof of purchase must be available and shown upon request.
  4. The Trout Conservation Stamp expires on the last day of February annually.
  5. A Rhode Island Trout Conservation Stamp is NOT required of the following:
    1. Minors younger than fifteen (15) years of age.
    2. Any resident or non-resident over 65 years of age.
    3. Any person with a 100% disability.
    4. Landowners or members of their families when fishing from property on which they are actually domiciled.
    5. Any person possessing trout taken from a lake or pond which shares a border with a neighboring state.
    6. Any person possessing privately-owned trout caught in privately-owned ponds.

Methods of Fishing

  1. Unless otherwise specified, only a rod and reel or other hand-held and hand-operated device shall be used to catch fish in the fresh waters of the state. At no time shall a person place, operate, or superintend more than two (2) of these devices for the purpose of catching fish, except as noted below, and no more than three (3) hooks may be attached to each device.
  2. Suckers, fallfish, and carp may be taken by snares, spears, or bow and arrow.
  3. For the purpose of fishing through the ice, up to five (5) lines with a single hook on each, personally attended, and held by any device designed for that purpose (tip-up), may be used. See Exception #14 for Beach Pond, and Exception #15 for Killingly and Hazard Pond, page 5.
  4. Freshwater minnows, not including the young of any species of game fish, may be taken for bait with minnow traps, dip nets, and seines not greater than four feet (4 ft.) deep by eight feet (8 ft.) long and having a square mesh size not larger than one-fourth inch (1/4 in.) in any waters of this State. This regulation does not supersede minimum size limits of the fish listed in regulations or current alewife/blueback herring regulations as detailed in the Diadromous Fisheries section found on page 10.

Free Fishing Days - May 4th and 5th, 2024

Neither a Freshwater Fishing License nor a Trout
Conservation Stamp will be required by residents or non-residents on the 4
th and 5th of May 2024.

Find your next adventure with your Rhode Island hunting and fishing license!

DEM is proud to offer convenient access to hunting and fishing licenses directly through our expanded online system or in-person at your local vendors. It’s now easier than ever to purchase Rhode Island hunting and fishing licenses, permits, tags and stamps, so you can get outdoors and enjoy the many recreational opportunities made possible through conservation and management of Rhode Island’s natural resources. Visit RIO.RI.GOV to access frequently asked questions and purchase your license today.