Freshwater Sport Fishing License Fees
Sport Fishing Items and Fees
Purchase these items ONLINE or at any LICENSE AGENT or CDFW LICENSE SALES OFFICE.
Note: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) does not accept cash at CDFW’s License and Revenue Branch and regional license counters. Individuals who want to make payments at CDFW’s License and Revenue Branch or a regional license counter can use checks, money orders, or any debit/credit card with the Visa or Mastercard logo.
A resident is any person who has resided continuously in the State of California for six months or more immediately prior to the date of their application for a license or permit, any person on active military duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or auxiliary branch thereof, or any person enrolled in the Job Corps.
Most fees include 5% license agent handling fee and 3% nonrefundable application fee.
365-Day Sport Fishing Licenses
(valid January 1, through December 31, 2023, if purchased between November 15, 2022 and December 31, 2022, or for 365 days if purchased after January 1, 2023)
A sport fishing license is required for any person attempting to take fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians, or reptiles in inland or ocean waters. Additional validations and report cards are required for certain species and areas.
| Title | Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Sport Fishing | $58.58 | Available for any resident 16 years of age or older. |
| Nonresident Sport Fishing | $158.25 | Available for any non-resident 16 years of age or older. |
| Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License - Disabled Veteran | $9.01 at CDFW Offices $9.46 from License Agents | Available for any resident or nonresident honorably discharged disabled veteran with a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability. After you prequalify for your first Disabled Veteran Reduced Fee Sport Fishing License, you can purchase disabled veteran licenses anywhere licenses are sold. |
| Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License – Recovering Service Member | $9.01 at CDFW Offices $9.46 from License Agents | Available for any recovering service member of the US military. After you prequalify for your Recovering Service Member Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License, you can purchase recovering service member licenses anywhere licenses are sold. |
| Reduced Fee Sport Fishing License - Low Income Senior | $9.01 | ATTENTION! The eligibility requirements for low income seniors to obtain a reduced-fee sport fishing license have changed. Effective January 1, 2022, reduced-fee sport fishing licenses will be available for low-income California residents, 65 years of age and older, who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Legal Immigrants (CAPI). The Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License for Low Income Seniorsis only available at CDFW License Sales Offices. |
| Free Sport Fishing License - Low Income Native American | NO FEE | Available for any Native American who is a resident of the State and is financially unable to pay the fee required for a resident sport fishing license. The Free Sport Fishing License for Low Income Native Americans is only available at CDFW License Sales Offices. |
| Free Sport Fishing License - Mobility Impaired, Blind or Developmentally Disabled | NO FEE | Available for a person who is blind, developmentally disabled, or mobility impaired. Your first Free Sport Fishing License must be obtained from the CDFW License and Revenue Branch. Subsequent licenses may be obtained from any license agent. See application for details. |
Short Term Sport Fishing Licenses
| Title | Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|
| One-day Sport Fishing License | $19.18 | Allows a resident or nonresident to fish for one specified day. One-day sport fishing licenses are exempt from the Ocean Enhancement Validation requirement. |
| Two-day Sport Fishing License | $29.42 | Allows a resident or nonresident to fish for two consecutive days. Two-day sport fishing licenses are exempt from the Ocean Enhancement Validation requirement. |
| Ten-day Nonresident Sport Fishing License | $58.58 | Allows a nonresident to fish for ten consecutive days. |
Validations and Report Cards
Report cards are required for any person fishing for steelhead, sturgeon, abalone, spiny lobster, or salmon (salmon in the Klamath, Trinity and Smith Rivers only). Every person fishing for these species must have an appropriate report card, including any person who is not required to have a sport fishing license, such as a child who is under 16 years of age, a person who is fishing from a public pier, and any person who is fishing on a free fishing day.
| Title | Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Enhancement Validation | $6.74 | Required to fish in ocean waters south of Point Arguello (Santa Barbara County). An Ocean Enhancement Validation is not required when fishing under the authority of a One or Two-Day Sport Fishing License. |
| Second Rod Validation | $18.36 | Allows a person to fish with two rods or lines in inland waters, except for waters in which only artificial lures or barbless hooks may be used. |
| Recreational Crab Trap Validation | $2.73 | IMPORTANT! Beginning November 1, 2021, this validation is required for any person taking crabs with crab traps as defined in CCR, T14, Section 29.80(c). When taking crabs with hoop nets or crab loop traps, this validation is not required. |
| Colorado River Validation | n/a | Discontinued - Anglers who possess either a valid California sport fishing license or a valid Arizona sport fishing license can fish from either shore of the portion of the Colorado River that makes up the California-Arizona boundary. |
| Abalone Report Card | $28.08 | Fishery is currently closed - Required for any person taking abalone from ocean waters north of the center of the mouth of San Francisco Bay. Only one Abalone Report Card may be issued per person each license year. |
| Sturgeon Fishing Report Card | $10.29 | Required for any persons taking sturgeon. Only one Sturgeon Fishing Report Card may be issued per person each year. |
| North Coast Salmon Report Card | $8.13 | Fishery is currently closed* - Required for any person taking salmon in the Smith River System or Klamath-Trinity River System. *In response to the critically low abundance forecasts for California Chinook Salmon stocks, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) adopted emergency regulations at its meeting on May 17, 2023, to close all inland recreational Chinook Salmon fisheries except to federally recognized tribes. The emergency regulations were approved by the Office of Administrative Law on June 19, 2023, and are effective July 1, 2023, through December 28, 2023. For more information about this closure, please visit the Commission's New and Proposed Regulations - 2023 web page. |
| Steelhead Report Card | $9.21 | Required for any person taking steelhead in inland waters. |
| Spiny Lobster Report Card (valid for the entire lobster season). | $11.62 | Required for all persons taking spiny lobster. Report card holders who fail to return their Spiny Lobster Report Card or report their harvest online by April 30, will be assessed a $21.60 non-return fee when they purchase a spiny lobster report card for the following season. |
Lifetime Fishing Licenses
| Title | Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 0-9 | $644.50 | Available to residents of California. Lifetime fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of issuance. Lifetime Fishing Packages must first be purchased from a CDFW License Sales Office. See Lifetime License Information for more detail. |
| Ages 10-39 | $1054.25 | |
| Ages 40-61 | $949.75 | |
| Ages 62+ | $644.50 | |
| Fishing Privilege Package | $435.50 | Includes a Lifetime Second-Rod Validation, Ocean Enhancement Validation, North Coast Salmon Report Card and Steelhead Report Card. The Second-Rod Validation and Ocean Enhancement Validation are valid for 365 days from the date of issuance. |
Duplicate Fees
| Title | Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate Sport Fishing License | $12.96 | Replaces a lost or stolen sport fishing license. |
| Sport Fishing Validation | $3.50 | (Second-Rod, Ocean Enhancement and Recreational Crab Trap) Replaces lost or stolen sport fishing validations. |
| Sturgeon Report Card | $17.51 | Replaces lost or stolen Sturgeon Report Card. Available only at CDFW license sales offices. Sturgeon Fishing Report Card Affidavit (PDF) |
| Abalone Report Card | $20.60 | Fishery is currently closed - Replaces lost or stolen Abalone Report Card. Available only at CDFW license sales offices. |
Online Reporting of Fishing Harvest
After you log in to the Online License Service, select HARVEST REPORTING and follow the instructions to report your harvest.
Online Reporting Availability
| Harvest Report Type | Reporting Dates | Late Reporting* | Program Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abalone Report Card | December 1- January 31 | February 1 - April 1 | Abalone |
| Spiny Lobster Report Card | March 23 - April 30 | May 1 - July 1 | Spiny Lobster Report cardholders who fail to return their Full Season Spiny Lobster Report Card or report their harvest online by April 30, following the close of lobster season, will be assessed a $21.60 non-return fee when they purchase a spiny lobster report card for the following season. |
| North Coast Salmon Report Card | January 1 - January 31 | February 1 - April 1 | Salmon |
| Steelhead Report Card | January 1 - January 31 | February 1 - April 1 | Steelhead |
| Sturgeon Fishing Report Card | January 1 - January 31 | February 1 - April 1 | Sturgeon |
| * Late reporting occurs after the regulatory deadline. | |||
If you have not reported your harvest by the dates listed above, please mail your harvest report card to the address listed on the report card immediately.
Free and Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing Licenses
To qualify for a Free or Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License, anglers must meet the criteria described below.
Disabled Veteran Sport Fishing License – Fee $9.46
Reduced-fee licenses are available for any honorably discharged veteran of the US Armed Forces with a service–connected disability rating of 50% or greater.
To prequalify to purchase a disabled veteran license, submit a letter from the Veteran’s Administration documenting that you were honorably discharged from the US military and have a service–connected disability rating of 50% or greater. After your eligibility has been verified, your customer record will be updated. Once you receive notification from the Department that your customer record has been updated, you will be able to purchase a low cost disabled veteran sport fishing license and/or hunting license anywhere licenses are sold.
Recovering Service Member Sport Fishing License - Fee $9.46
Reduced-fee sport fishing licenses are available for recovering service members. A recovering service member is a member of the Armed Forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy and is in an outpatient status while recovering from a serious injury or illness related to the member’s military service.
Submit a letter from your commanding officer or from a military medical doctor verifying your eligibility as a recovering service member. Please have your commanding officer or military medical doctor include the expected recovery date in your verification letter. The Department will enter this date into your customer profile and allow you to renew your license until this date without submitting another letter from your commanding officer or doctor.
How to Prequalify for a Disabled Veteran or Recovering Service Member License
Send a photocopy of your identification and documentation of eligibility by:
- Mail to any CDFW license sales office
- Fax at (916) 419-7585
- Secure document upload - To upload your documentation, you must request a secure document upload. Send your request for a secure document upload to [email protected]. You will receive a response with a link to upload your documentation securely. DO NOT send your documents via email.
Include:
- Identification -
- Your driver’s license; and
- Your GO ID number (from your previously issued ALDS fishing or hunting license). If you do not have a GO ID number, create a customer record onlineto obtain a GO ID number.
- A letter documenting your eligibility
- Disabled Veterans must submit a letter from the Veteran’s Administration.
- Recovering Service Members must submit a letter from their Commanding Officer or a military doctor.
- Telephone number
- Email address (optional, but may expedite issuance)
- For hunting licenses only - proof of hunter education (Proof is not needed if you purchased a California hunting license after 2011. CDFW will have your hunter education on file.)
Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License for Low-Income Seniors (65 years or older) - Fee $9.01
Fish and Game Code, Section 7150, authorizes CDFW to issue Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing Licenses to anglers who meet specific criteria. Additional validations or cards are required for certain species and must be purchased at the regular fee.
On October 7, 2021, Assembly Bill 817 was signed into law. This law changed the eligibility requirements for obtaining a reduced-fee sport fishing license for seniors with low income.
Effective January 1, 2022, any person 65 years of age or older who is a resident of California and receives benefits through Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pursuant to Section 12200 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Legal Immigrants (CAPI) pursuant to Chapter 10.3 (commencing with Section 18937) of Part 6 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is eligible for a reduced-fee sport fishing license. Verification from the Social Security Administration or Department of Social Services confirming your eligibility for SSI or CAPI is required annually.
How to Apply for a Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License for Low-Income Seniors
Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing Licenses that require Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Legal Immigrants (CAPI) verification must be renewed each year at a CDFW License Sales Office.
Print Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License Application (PDF Form)
Free Sport Fishing Licenses
Fish and Game Code, Section 7151, authorizes the CDFW to issue Free Sport Fishing Licenses to anglers who meet specific criteria. Additional validations or cards are required for certain species and areas and must be purchased at the regular fee.
Free Sport Fishing Licenses are available for anglers who meet any of these criteria:
- Any person, with central vision acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the aid of the best possible correcting glasses, or central vision acuity better than 20/200 if the widest diameter of the remaining visual field is no greater than 20 degrees. Certification of blindness by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist is required. Any person who was issued this license under this criteria through ALDS may renew their licenses at any CDFW license agent, CDFW license sales office or online.
Print Free Sport Fishing License Application - Blind (PDF Form) - Any person who is a resident of the State and who is so severely physically disabled as to be permanently unable to move from place to place without the aid of a wheelchair, walker, forearm crutches or a comparable mobility-related device. Verification by a licensed physician or a copy of the previous year's free fishing license is required. Any person who was issued this license under this criteria through ALDS may renew their licenses at any CDFW license agent, CDFW license sales office or online.
Print Free Sport Fishing License Application - Mobility Impaired (PDF Form) - Any developmentally disabled person. Certification by a licensed physician or the director of a State regional center is required. Any person who was issued this license under this criteria through ALDS may renew their licenses at any CDFW license agent, CDFW license sales office or online.
Print Free Sport Fishing License Application - Developmentally Disabled (PDF Form) - Any Native American who is a resident of the State and is financially unable to pay the fee required for a resident sport fishing license. Certification of tribal enrollment, a copy of the Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood, or a copy of an official tribal membership or identification card with membership number is required.
Print Free Sport Fishing License Application - Low Income Native Americans (PDF Form)
How to Apply for a Free Sport Fishing License
Complete the appropriate application above and follow the instructions to obtain your first license. All applications will be reviewed and eligibility will be verified prior to license issuance. Allow 15 business days for review and processing of your application. After your first free sport fishing license has been issued, if you qualify for the license based on disability, you may renew your license from any CDFW license agent, CDFW license sales office or online.
Any Native American who has been issued a free low-income sport fishing license must resubmit a new application each year to renew their sport fishing license.
Frequently Asked Questions
365 - Day Sport Fishing Licenses
Q: When can I purchase a 365-day sport fishing license?
A: 365-day sport fishing licenses will go on sale for the first time on November 15, 2022, but will not be valid for use until January 1, 2023. All 365-day sport fishing licenses purchased between November 15 and December 31, 2022, will be valid for use January 1 through December 31, 2023. Licenses purchased after January 1, 2023, will be valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. For example, a license purchased on January 15th would be valid for use through January 14th of the following year.
Q: Will the new 365-day sport fishing licenses be available to residents and nonresidents?
A: Yes. New 365-day sport fishing licenses will be available to residents and nonresidents.
Q: Where can I purchase a new 365-day sport fishing license?
A: 365-day sport fishing licenses can be purchased using any of the following CDFW authorized sales channels:
- Online through CDFW’s Online License Sales and Services,
- Over the telephone through CDFW’s authorized Telephone Sales agent at (800) 565-1458, and
- Through an independent license sales agent authorized by CDFW (such as a local sporting goods store, large discount store, or a bait and tackle shop).
Q: When will CDFW stop selling the older calendar year sport fishing license?
A: 2022 calendar year sport fishing licenses will continue to be available for purchase until December 31, 2022. The last day a 2022 sport fishing license will be valid, regardless of when it was purchased, will be December 31, 2022.
Q: What if I purchase a calendar year license instead of a 365-sport fishing license by accident?
A: Sport fishing license purchases are nonrefundable. All calendar year licenses purchased during 2022 will only be valid through December 31, 2022.
Q: I am currently enrolled in Auto-Renewal and expect to receive my new sport fishing license for the upcoming year sometime in November 2022. How will the new 365-day sport fishing license affect me?
A: If you are currently enrolled in Auto-Renewal, you will receive an email notification prior to the previously scheduled November 15 renewal taking place, letting you know that the renewal will still occur as scheduled but that you will be issued a 365-day sport fishing that will be valid January 1 through December 31, 2023.
If you would prefer to purchase a 365-day sport fishing license sometime later in 2023 to take advantage of the new continuous 365-day validity period, you will need to opt out of Auto-Renewal before November 15, 2022. To opt out of Auto-Renewal, please log in to the Online License Sales and Services web page and select Auto Renewal from the menu, and then select the "Disable Auto-Renewal" button.
Q: Will sport fishing report cards be valid for 365-days from the date of purchase?
A: No. All report card seasons and validity periods will remain unchanged.
Q: Will I be able to purchase a 365-day license before my current license expires?
A: If you possess a 2022 sport fishing license, you will be able to purchase a new 365-day sport fishing license on or after November 15, 2022. All 365-day license purchases that occur between November 15 and December 31, 2022, will be valid for use January 1 through December 31, 2023.
Starting January 1, 2023, you will be able to purchase a 365-day sport fishing license up to 45 days before your current license expires. For example, if you possess a 365-day sport fishing license that expires on August 1, 2023, you may purchase a new 365-day sport fishing license as early as June 15, 2023. However, the new license will not be valid until the day after your current license expires. This means that your new license will be valid from August 2, 2023, through August 1, 2024.
Q: Will Auto-Renewal continue to be available for the new 365-day sport fishing license?
A: Yes. Auto-Renewal will continue to be available for 365-day sport fishing licenses. After purchasing a new 365-day sport fishing license and enrolling in Auto-Renewal, your license will be automatically renewed and mailed to you approximately 45 days before your current license expires.
For example, if you purchase a 365-day sport fishing license on June 1, 2023, and enroll in Auto-Renewal, your license will be automatically renewed and mailed to you on April 15, 2024. The new license will be valid June 1, 2024, through May 31, 2025.
Q: Will CDFW still sell gift vouchers that can be gifted to other people to redeem for sport fishing licenses? If so, how will they work?
A: Gift vouchers valid for 365-day sport fishing licenses will go on sale for the first time on November 15, 2022, and may be redeemed for a 365-Day Resident Sport Fishing License through December 31, 2023.
If you purchase a gift voucher between November 15 and December 31, 2022, and redeem the voucher by December 31, 2022, you will be issued a 365-day sport fishing license that is valid from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.
Gift vouchers purchased after November 15, 2022, that are redeemed on or after January 1, 2023, will be for a sport fishing license that is valid for 365 days from the date of redemption. For example, if you redeem a gift voucher on January 26, 2023, you will be issued a sport fishing license valid from January 26, 2023, through January 25, 2024.
Q: How long are gift vouchers valid?
A: Gift vouchers purchased between November 15, and December 31, 2022, will be redeemable for a 365-day sport fishing license through December 31, 2023.
Gift vouchers purchased on or after January 1, 2023, will be redeemable for a 365-day sport fishing license for 365 days from the date of purchase. For example, if you purchase a gift voucher on January 26, 2023, the voucher will be redeemable for a 365-day sport fishing license January 25, 2024.
Q: I have a gift voucher that was purchased before November 15, 2022, can I redeem it for a new 365-day sport fishing license?
A: Gift vouchers purchased before November 15, 2022, cannot be redeemed for the new 365-day sport fishing license.
Gift vouchers purchased in 2022, but before November 15, 2022, are redeemable for a 2022 calendar year sport fishing license through December 31, 2022. The redeemed license is valid through December 31, 2022.
Q: How will the new 365-day sport fishing license affect lifetime license holders?
A: Lifetime license renewals, issued on or after January 1, 2023, will be valid 365 days from the date the license is claimed or redeemed. For example, if you claim your lifetime license on March 3, 2023, it will be valid through March 2, 2024.
Q: How will the new 365-day sport fishing license affect the licenses below?
- Free Sport Fishing License - Blind
- Free Sport Fishing License - Developmentally Disabled
- Free Sport Fishing License - Low Income Native American
- Free Sport Fishing License - Mobility Impaired
- Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License - Disabled Veteran
- Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License - Low Income Senior
- Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License - Recovering Service Member
A: All of the licenses above issued on or after January 1, 2023, will be valid for 365 days from the date of purchase.
Q: Will sport fishing report cards be valid for 365-days from the date of purchase?
A: No. All report card seasons and validity periods will remain unchanged.
Q: Will sport fishing validations also be valid for 365-days?
A: Yes. If you purchase a Second-Rod Validation, Sport Ocean Enhancement Validation, or Recreational Crab Trap Validation on or after January 1, 2023, it will be valid for 365 days from the date of purchase.
General Sport Fishing License Questions
Q: Who needs a sport fishing license?
A: Any person who is 16 years of age or older must possess a valid sport fishing license when taking any fish, shell fish, reptile, or amphibian in California (Fish and Game Code Section 7145). Fish and Game Code Section 86 defines take as: hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill.
Q: Where can I purchase a sport fishing license?
A: Fishing licenses may be purchased ONLINE or at any license agent or CDFW license sales office.
Q: How long is a 365-day sport fishing license valid?
A: 365-day sport fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. For example, if you purchase a 365-day sport fishing license on June 1, 2023, the license will be valid through May 31, 2024.
Q: Do I have to wear my fishing license?
A: No, but your sport fishing license must be in your immediate possession while fishing, except when diving as provided in Fish and Game Code Section 7145.
Q: I noticed my license items this year were printed on gray paper. For the last few years, licenses have been blue, green, or orange. Is a license printed on the gray paper valid?
A: Yes – the gray license you received is printed on official license stock. Blue, green, andorange licenses are valid for the dates specified on the license.
Q: How do I replace a lost or destroyed fishing license?
A: Duplicate sport fishing licenses may be purchased ONLINE or at any license agent or CDFW license sales office. A small fee is charged for each duplicate validation.
If you lose your Sturgeon Fishing Report Card you can obtain a duplicate from CDFW license sales offices only. You must complete a Sturgeon Fishing Report Card Affidavit (PDF Form) and pay the duplicate fee to replace a Sturgeon Fishing Report Card. Duplicate fees are located on the license description page.
Q: Can I laminate my license?
A: No. Licenses should never be heat laminated as this will destroy the license. If exposed to extreme heat, licenses will darken and become discolored. However, a discolored license is still valid as long as the text and signature are readable.
Q: Can I get a refund of my fishing license fee?
A: No. Fishing licenses are considered valid and in use from the time of purchase and the fees cannot be refunded.
Q: Can I purchase a fishing license for my friend?
A: You can if you have all the required information to issue a license to your friend. If you do not have all the information required to purchase a license for your friend, you can purchase a gift voucher that your friend can redeem ONLINE or at any License Agent or CDFW License Sales Office for a sport fishing license.
Q: Can I purchase a Lifetime Fishing License?
A: Yes. California residents may purchase lifetime fishing licenses.
Q: Why do fees for fishing licenses, stamps, and report cards increase in price every year?
A: Sport fishing and hunting license fees are established in California law. The base feesfor sport fishing licenses are established in Fish and Game Code Section 7149.05. Thefees for sport fishing validations and most report cards are established in varioussections of the Fish and Game Code or Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
Fish and Game Code Section 713 requires license fees to be adjusted in response to increases (or decreases) in costs of goods and services using an index called the Implicit Price Deflator. This index is a gauge of the change in the cost of goods and services from year to year.
Generally, the costs of goods and services increase at about two to three percent peryear. However, this is not always the case. Costs can increase dramatically during someyears. For example, the Implicit Price Deflator applied to 2023 license fees jumped to 8.48 percent due to the significant increases in inflation the U.S. economy experienced following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conversely, decreases in the costs of goods and services could result in a negative Implicit Price Deflator percentage and lower license fees.
Q: Is a fishing license required while fishing from a public fishing pier in ocean waters?
A: No, but it must be a public fishing pier. A Sturgeon Fishing Report Card is required to take sturgeon from a public pier in ocean waters. A Spiny Lobster Report Card is required to take spiny lobster from a public pier in ocean waters.
Fish and Game Code, Section 7153
(a) A sport fishing license is not required to take fish for any purpose other than profit by means of angling from a public pier in the ocean waters of the state.
(b) For purposes of this section, ocean waters include, but are not limited to, the open waters adjacent to the ocean and any island; the waters of any open or enclosed bay contiguous to the ocean; the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, with any tidal bay belonging thereto; and any slough or estuary, if found between the Golden Gate Bridge and the Benicia-Martinez Bridge.
A public pier is defined in the sport fishing regulations as a publicly owned man-made structure that has the following characteristics: is connected, above the mean high tide, to the main coastline or to the land mass of a named and charted natural island; has unrestricted free access for the general public; and has been built or currently functions for the primary purpose of allowing angling access to ocean waters (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 1.88)
Additionally, publicly owned jetties or breakwaters that are connected to land, as described above, that have free unrestricted access for the general public and whose purpose it is to form the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor are public piers. Jetties, breakwaters, promenades, sea walls, moles, docks, linings, barriers and other structures that are not the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor, are not public piers.
Even though licenses and validations are not required while fishing from a public pier, all other regulations apply (including minimum size, bag limits, seasons and report card requirements).
Validations and Report Cards
Q: What kind of validations or report cards do I need?
A: In addition to your fishing license, you may need one or more of the following:
- An Ocean Enhancement Validation is required to fish in the ocean south of Point Arguello (Santa Barbara County) (not required with a One or Two-Day Sport Fishing License);
- A Second-Rod Validation is required to fish with two rods or lines in inland waters (two rods or lines may not be used in inland waters in which only artificial lures or barbless hooks may be used);
- A Recreational Crab Trap Validation is required for any person taking crabs with crab traps as defined in CCR, T14, Section 29.80(c). When taking crabs with hoop nets or crab loop traps, this validation is not required;
- A North Coast Salmon Report Card is required by every person* fishing for salmon in the Smith, Klamath and Trinity River systems;
- A Steelhead Report Card is required for every person* fishing for steelhead in inland waters.
- An Abalone Report Card is required by every person* taking abalone from ocean waters between the center of the mouth of the San Francisco Bay and the California-Oregon border;
- A Sturgeon Fishing Report Card is required by every person* fishing for sturgeon in all California waters; and
- A Spiny Lobster Report Card is required by every person* taking spiny lobsters in California ocean waters.
* Every person must have the appropriate report card(s) in possession while fishing; including those who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as individuals under 16 years of age, persons fishing or diving on free fishing days, and anglers fishing from a public pier in ocean waters.
Q: Do I need a Colorado River Special Use Validation to fish in the Colorado River?
A: No. The Colorado River Special Use Validation was discontinued after 2013. If you have a valid California sport fishing license or a valid Arizona sport fishing license, you can fish from either shore of the portion of the Colorado River that makes up the California-Arizona boundary.
Q: Are children required to purchase report cards?
A: Yes, children are required to purchase report cards if they fish for salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity River Systems, abalone, steelhead, sturgeon or spiny lobster.
Q: Can a child who is under 16 years of age use two rods while fishing in inland waters?
A: A child under age 16 may fish with two rods in inland waters, except for those waters where only artificial lures or barbless hooks may be used.
Q: I fish from a public pier in ocean waters and I’m not required to purchase a sport fishing license. Am I required to purchase a report card?
A: Yes. Report cards are required even when a fishing license is not required. While fishing from a public pier for spiny lobster, you must have a spiny lobster report card. While fishing for sturgeon from a public pier in the ocean, you must have a sturgeon fishing report card.
Q: I heard that we are required fill out a report card for abalone and tag them. Can you briefly explain how this works?
A: The Abalone Report Card comes with 18 tags attached to the bottom. Each time you take an abalone, you must make an entry on the report card and on one tag. Immediately upon exiting the water or immediately upon boarding a vessel, whichever occurs first, fill in the month, day, time of catch, and fishing location on the abalone tag, remove and completely detach the tag from the card, and affix it to the shell of the abalone by running a string, line or zip tie through the tag and through a siphon hole of the abalone shell. Carefully read and follow the instructions on the report card as the data collected will be used for fisheries management and to enforce bag limits. You must report your harvest online or return your report card to the address listed on the report card by January 31 of the following year.
More abalone FAQs.
Q: Can you briefly explain the Sturgeon Fishing Report Card and tags?
A: The Sturgeon Fishing Report Card comes with three tags. You must record each sturgeon that you keep or release on your Sturgeon Fishing Report Card. When you keep a sturgeon, you also must complete and attach a sturgeon tag to the sturgeon. Carefully read and follow the instructions on the report card as the data collected will be used for fisheries management and to enforce bag limits. You must report your harvest online or return your report card to the address listed on the report card by January 31 of the following year.
Q: Where is the North Coast Salmon Report Card required?
A: The North Coast Salmon Report Card is required to fish for salmon in the Smith, Klamath and Trinity Rivers and all of their tributaries. It is not required to fish for salmon in the ocean or other river systems.
Q: Can you briefly explain the Spiny Lobster Report Card Non-Reporting Fee?
A: Any person who does not return their Spiny Lobster Report Card by April 30 following the spiny lobster season will be required to pay a $21.60 non-return fee when they purchase their Spiny Lobster Report Card in the following season. Individuals may alternatively choose not to fish for spiny lobster and would then be eligible to purchase a report card after sitting out one lobster season.
Q: When and where should I return my report cards?
A: All report cards must be reported by January 31 of the following year, except the spiny lobster report card which is due by April 30. You can either report your harvest online or return your report card to the address listed below:
- Abalone Report Card must be returned to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, 32330 N. Harbor Drive, Fort Bragg, CA 95437;
- North Coast Salmon Report Card must be returned to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Klamath River Project, 5341 Ericson Way, Arcata, CA 95521;
- Spiny Lobster Report Card must be returned to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Lobster Report Card, 3883 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA 92123;
- Steelhead Report Card must be returned to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Steelhead Fishing Report and Restoration Card, PO Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244; and the
- Sturgeon Fishing Report Card must be returned to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sturgeon Fishing Report Card, PO Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244.
Free and Reduced-Fee Licenses
Q: Can I get a free or low-cost fishing license?
A: Eligible low-income seniors, who are at least 65 years of age, and honorably-discharged veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 50 percent, may qualify for a Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License.
The CDFW also offers Free Sport Fishing Licenses to persons who are blind; low-income American Indians; developmentally disabled persons; and residents who are so severely physically disabled that they are permanently unable to move from place to place without the use of a wheelchair, walker, forearm crutches, or a comparable mobility-related device. Proof of eligibility for all free and reduced-fee licenses is required.
You can find more information about reduced-fee and free fishing licenses on the CDFW's Free and Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing License Information website or by contacting your nearest CDFW License Sales Office.
Q: How do I replace a lost Reduced-Fee or Free Sport Fishing License?
A: You can go to any License Agent or CDFW License Sales Office and purchase a duplicate sport fishing license, or you can purchase a duplicate through the Online License Service. A small fee is charged for each duplicate validation.
General Information
Q: There are often in-season regulation changes for groundfish. How can I find out about these changes if I do not have a computer?
A: To assist anglers without internet access, the CDFW has developed and implemented the Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations Hotline at (831) 649-2801. Using a touch tone keypad, anglers can now get the latest regulations information over the phone; with a cell phone, it's even possible to get this information while at sea.
Q: Where can I ask questions about marine sport fishing?
A: If you cannot find the answer to your marine sport fishing question on the CDFW's Marine FAQs website, you may contact [email protected].
Q: Why does CDFW attach tags to fish?
A: Biologists tag fish for many reasons, including:
- To follow fish movement over time and to ascertain migration patterns.
- To discover habitat preferences for fish at different ages, or reproductive stage.
- To determine how fast fish grow.
- To get information on fish mortality and population size.
Each species has a unique life history so researchers must tag individuals of the species in which they are interested. Since the return rate for most fish tagging projects is 5% or less, many fish must be tagged in order to gather meaningful information.
Q: What should I do with the tag found on the fish I caught?
A: The CDFW asks that you follow the instructions found on our Fresh Water Fish Tagging Information website or the Marine FAQs.
Q: How do I find out when the next good low tide is or how low the tide will be?
A: Most boating and tackle stores have inexpensive or free tide-books. You can check the tide predictions in the daily newspaper for the area you are interested in or check online.
