Fishing License Information

Fishing Licenses

Fishing licenses are sold by license issuing agents through an electronic point-of-sale (P.O.S.) system. This system brings increased efficiency, more options and easier upgrades for anglers. Fishing licenses are sold online.

A current license, on their person, is required of persons age 16 and over to fish or angle for any species of fish and to take fishbait, baitfish and species of amphibians and reptiles from Commonwealth waters by those legal methods described here.

Fishing is defined as the act of angling, or to catch, take, kill or remove, or the attempt to catch, take, kill or remove, from any waters or other areas within or bordering this Commonwealth any fish by any means or method for any purpose whatsoever. Casting and/or Retrieving, whether by rod, reel and line, or by handline, for oneself or for others, requires a current license, unless specifically exempted by law. See “Assistance to Children" section in General Fishing Regulations for specifics on when a license is required when assisting a child (15 years of age and under).

Obtain Your License:

1. at more than 700 license-issuing agents
2. at county treasurers
3. at PFBC offices
4. at HuntFish PA website

Lost fishing licenses or replacements – A lost fishing license can be replaced at any issuing agent at cost or reprinted online for free. All replacement licenses include permits or privileges previously purchased by the customer. The total cost for a replacement license and previously purchased permits or privileges that were printed on the base license is $6.97.

You qualify for a Resident fishing license if you are a bona fide resident of Pennsylvania.

When purchasing a resident fishing license, you must show positive proof of permanent residency by presenting one of the following documents:

1. valid Pennsylvania driver’s license
2. valid non-driver photo identification card
3. previous year’s Pennsylvania state income tax return showing proof of payment of personal income tax as a resident of Pennsylvania
4. previous year’s local earned income tax return showing tax paid to a Pennsylvania municipality
5. a current Pennsylvania voter registration card

All issued resident fishing licenses will remain valid for the year or years for which issued, regardless of whether the license holder is no longer a bona fide Pennsylvania resident.

National Guard and Armed Forces Reserve licenses are available only at the PFBC and county treasurers to those persons who provide documentation that within the previous 24 months the person was deployed overseas as a member of the reserve component of the armed forces for a period of 60 consecutive days or more or was released early from service because of an injury or disease incurred in the line of duty.

POW licenses are available to persons who provide military documentation stating the person is a former Prisoner Of War. Initial licenses are available only at the PFBC and county treasurers. After providing verification of eligibility, annual licenses may then be obtained at any issuing agent or online.

Senior resident and senior lifetime licenses are available to those persons at anytime during the year in which they will become age 65.

• Persons who possess a Senior Resident Lifetime license dated before January 1, 1991 are not required to purchase a trout permit. However, a Senior Resident Lifetime license holder who purchased a trout permit or a Combination trout/ Lake Erie permit before January 1, 2015, remains exempt from the requirement to purchase a trout permit annually.

Disabled Veterans Licenses – Any disabled veteran who has a disability incurred in any war or armed conflict that consists of the loss of one or more limbs or the loss of use of one or more limbs, or total blindness, or who is 100 percent disabled as certified by the United States Veterans Administration and is a resident of this Commonwealth may obtain a free resident fishing license upon application to the Commission or county treasurers. After providing verification of eligibility, annual licenses may then be obtained at any issuing agent or online.

Disabled Veterans Reduced Licenses – Any disabled veteran who has a disability incurred in any war or armed conflict who is between 60 and 99 percent disabled as certified by the United States Veterans Administration and is a resident of this Commonwealth may initially obtain a reduced fee resident fishing license upon application to the PFBC or county treasurers. After providing verification of eligibility, annual licenses may then be obtained at any issuing agent or online.

Military personnel are required to purchase a fishing license. Those who are stationed in Pennsylvania under permanent change of station (PCS) orders for a duration of 6 months or more, who produce documentation proving the same, qualify for a resident fishing license. All others must obtain a tourist or non-resident license.

Certain active duty military personnel are exempt from Pennsylvania’s fishing license requirement. To be eligible for the military waiver, an angler must be a bona fide Pennsylvania resident, be on active duty, be stationed outside Pennsylvania and be here on authorized leave. While in the act of fishing, the military personnel must carry proof of each of these requirements, such as a Pennsylvania driver’s license, a military ID and valid military orders showing the place of assignment and leave status.

Under the law, a qualifying soldier, sailor, airman or Marine does not receive a free Pennsylvania fishing license. Instead, eligible active duty military personnel can legally fish without a license under the limited circumstances outlined in the law. They must have on their person while fishing evidence of Commonwealth residency, proof of their assignment to a facility outside this Commonwealth and a copy of their orders assigning them to temporary leave.

The law does not exempt military personnel on leave from any other requirements of fishing or boating laws and regulations.

Students from out of state who are attending school in Pennsylvania but who have not become residents of Pennsylvania are not eligible to purchase a resident license and must obtain a tourist or Non-Resident PA Student fishing license.

Social Security Number requirements – Since 1998, federal and state laws require purchasers of a Pennsylvania fishing license to provide their Social Security Number when applying to purchase a fishing license.

Vouchers - A voucher may be purchased as a gift for another individual that can be redeemed for a license and/or permit. A voucher may be redeemed at any issuing agent. The voucher is non-refundable and expires as noted. A voucher is not a fishing license and individuals using a voucher to fish are in violation of the Fish and Boat Code and may be subject to legal action. Individuals wishing to purchase vouchers for holiday presents need to wait until December 1 of that year before purchasing a voucher.

1-Day Tourist and 1-Day Resident licenses – 1-Day Tourist and 1-Day Resident licenses are not valid for fishing during the period from March 15 to April 30 of any year. 1-Day Tourist or 1-Day Resident licenses issued to be used on March 14 will expire at 11:59 p.m. on March 14, regardless of what time the license begins.