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Indiana

Fishing

Fishing

Fishing Licenses & Fees

2024 License Fees

Fees listed below are valid from April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025.*

Licenses

Resident¹

Nonresident

Resident Apprentice

Annual Fishing

$23

$60

N/A

One-Day Fishing (includes Trout/Salmon)

$10

$15

N/A

Seven-Day Fishing

N/A

$35

N/A

Senior Annual Fishing
(includes Trout/Salmon)2

$3

N/A

N/A

Senior Fish for Life2
(includes Trout/Salmon)

$23

N/A

N/A

Trout/Salmon Stamp

$11

$11

N/A

Annual Hunting and Fishing

$32

N/A

$32

Disabled American Veterans Hunt/Fish

$2.75

N/A

N/A

Disabled American Veterans 10-Year Hunt/Fish

$27.50

N/A

N/A

Who Requires a Fishing License

With a few exceptions, a valid fishing license issued by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is required to fish in public lakes, streams, rivers, tributaries, and boundary waters in Indiana. An individual may not take another individual sport fishing for hire on public waters, including boundary waters like Lake Michigan, without a fishing guide license.

A licensee must hold an ink-signed copy of a license while fishing, signed electronic copies are acceptable. You must present the license to an Indiana Conservation Officer (or any other authorized law enforcement official) upon request. There are fines and penalties for fishing without a license. To legally fish for or take trout and salmon from public waters, you must have a valid trout/salmon stamp and a valid fishing license.

To qualify for resident fishing licenses, a person must have established a true fixed and permanent home and primary residence in Indiana for 60 consecutive days prior to purchasing a license or permit and may not claim residency for fishing, hunting, or trapping in another state or country. All other people are considered nonresidents.

Indiana residents must be at least sixty four (64) years of age to be eligible to buy a Senior Annual or Senior Fish for Life License. The Senior Fish for Life License is valid for the rest of the holder's life and includes the trout/salmon stamp. Indiana residents who were born before April 1, 1943, do not need a fishing license when fishing in Indiana waters.

A fishing license may be revoked if the license holder is convicted of violating fish and wildlife regulations. Any equipment used in the violation of Indiana fish and wildlife laws may be seized for evidence and be confiscated upon conviction.

How to Purchase a License

Online

Go to on.IN.gov/INHuntFish. Online license purchases have a 40 cents per license fee for system support maintenance, and an additional $1 plus 1.96% credit card company fee (Visa, MC, Discover) on each transaction.

In Person

Visit one of more than 500 retailers statewide listed at on.IN.gov/HuntFishLicenseRetailers.

By Mail

Send a check or money order (payable to

DNR) or credit card information (include card number, expiration date, and CVV code) to:

DNR Customer Service, Attention: Licenses

402 W. Washington St.

Indianapolis, IN, 46204

Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Include:

  • The licenses you need and dates for one-day or multi-day licenses
  • Name, date of birth, Indiana Driver’s License number, and Social Security Number (required by IC 14-22-11-3)
  • Complete address, city, state, ZIP code, and phone number
  • Height, weight, sex, color of hair and eyes

By Phone

Call 317-232-4200 or 877-463-6367 (toll-free). Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

License Exemptions

A fishing license and trout/salmon stamp are not required for:

  • Indiana residents born before April 1, 1943. Such residents should carry their valid Indiana Driver's License or other identification to verify age and residency.
  • Residents and nonresidents under age 18.
  • Residents who are legally blind. Proof of being legally blind is not required while fishing.
  • Residents of a state-owned mental rehabilitation facility.
  • Residents of any licensed health care facility in Indiana taking part in a supervised fishing activity sponsored by the facility.
  • Residents who have a developmental disability as defined by IC 12-7-2-61. Proof of the disability is not required while fishing.
  • Fishing in a private pond that does not allow fish entry from or exit to public waters. An angler must have permission from the property owner to fish in that pond.
  • Resident owners or lessees of Indiana farmland who farm that land and their spouses and children living with them while fishing on the farmland they own or lease. This exemption does not apply to land owned by a business, corporation, or partnership unless the shareholders, partners, members, or owners are composed solely of an immediate family and farm that land. Farmland means agricultural land that is devoted to or best adaptable to the production of crops, fruits, timber, or raising livestock, or is assessed as agricultural land for property tax purposes.
  • Some nonresident landowners, while fishing in public waters from the farmland they own, according to the exemptions that their state provides to Indiana residents.

Military/Veterans

Residents of Indiana engaged in full-time military service while on approved military leave are exempt from needing a fishing license; the person must carry leave orders and a valid Indiana Driver's License or voter registration card to prove residency. Nonresident military personnel on active duty and stationed in Indiana may purchase an Indiana resident license. Resident disabled American veterans can get an annual DAV fishing and/or small game hunting license for $2.75 or 10-year license for $27.50 by first completing an application form available from the County Service Officer where they live or by downloading the application at fishing.IN.gov and clicking “Fishing License,” then “Licenses and Permits for Hunters and Anglers with Disabilities."

Mail the completed form to:

DNR Customer Service Center

402 W. Washington St.

Indianapolis, IN 46204