fee costs in your state 2025
madbass reply :
I was just wondering what fishermen in other states pay to play. Here in Wis. our fishing license is $20/yr. and boat registration is $10/yr. But this is what I am really interested in-how much are your boat launch fees at the ramp? On average ours are $7-$12 for a fishing boat. There still are some free ones, especially at lakes that are up north or waayyy away from any metro area.
rippin_lips reply :
In NH, the annual lisence is $35. I have never paid to launch my boat and hope I never have to.
dmac14 reply :
Our yearly license is $19, and it costs to launch boats at certain spots. As far as registration I am not sure.
Hammer 4 reply :
In Cali licence is 41, or 43.00..old age sure messes with your memory..lol
Some lakes charge up to 22.00 per person, plus launch fees, around 8.00
on the pay to fish lakes, if you rent a boat, could cost ya over 100.00 to fish for a day, at others with a rental boat (don't own a boat) could be as little as 55.00..
reo reply :
Can't think of a ramp more than $6.00 to launch that I have used or heard of on Lake Erie. MANY are FREE and are very nice to boot. 4 in or close to downtown Cleveland that are free!
burleytog reply :
VA State Freshwater - $18
VA State Trout - $18
VA National Forest Stamp - $4
Boat registration varies by boat length. $27-37/3 years.
Local town reservoirs also require a permit. The cost ranges from $12-20 per body of water.
In a given year, I will pay $100-200 for my fishing licenses. Just this year I've already spent $145 on licenses (VA, TN, KY) and I still need to buy my NC and WV licenses.
DINK WHISPERER reply :
FL freshwater license is $17. I have NEVER payed to launch my boat either! That is BS!!!!!!! >
Hammer 4 reply :
In so.cali..NILIF...it's all about makin $$$$$ >
QuoteFL freshwater license is $17. I have NEVER payed to launch my boat either! That is BS!!!!!!! >
cart7t reply :
Fishing license in MO. is $12 a year.
Cost to launch = nothing at the vast majority of the launch ramps I go to.
Boat Registration fees. = $52 every 3 years.
Trailer license plate = $7.50 a year or a flat $27 for a 3 year plate.
bilgerat reply :
New Jersey
$22.50 fishing license (adult, no trout stamp)
Boat launch fee ??? any guardrail or opening I can get my jon boat in or over.
Jeremy D. reply :
In Alabama its $12 for a license and lauch fees are free most places and if it does cost its never more than 6 bucks
ZeNoob reply :
kansas is $20 for a 2 pole
+$12 for trout
+$5 for 3 pole
and huge fine for catching a trout without the license, or so i been told(never caught one)
BigJohnny reply :
QuoteFL freshwater license is $17. I have NEVER payed to launch my boat either! That is BS!!!!!!! >
Agreed. I dont have a boat, but if I did I wouldn't pay to launch it.
Dock Master reply :
REGISTRATION: I have no idea.
RAMP FEES: Pretty cheap if you have to pay. Lucky for me at my favorite ramp and favorite lake somebody stole the money box so the Army Corps of Engineers just took it down for good so it won't happen again.
FISHING LICENSE: $15.00 a year for freshwater and saltwater.
moby reply :
QuoteI was just wondering what fishermen in other states pay to play. Here in Wis. our fishing license is $20/yr. and boat registration is $10/yr. But this is what I am really interested in-how much are your boat launch fees at the ramp? On average ours are $7-$12 for a fishing boat. There still are some free ones, especially at lakes that are up north or waayyy away from any metro area.
In WI it's $20 /yr for inland lakes, that doesn't include trout stamp, and Great Lakes. Can't remember what those are off the top of my head.
Raul reply :
$30 per year fishing license, but in Mexico it 's Federal, you don 't have to pay per state.
skunked_again reply :
Quotekansas is $20 for a 2 pole+$12 for trout
+$5 for 3 pole
and huge fine for catching a trout without the license, or so i been told(never caught one)
in Johnson County they never fine you for catching a trout without a license enless youre trying to catch them.
tennwalkinghorse reply :
NJ $22.50 Fishing
Boat registration $12.00
Trailer $18.00
Law on books now to raise boat Fee to $68.00 :'( if I heard right
Boat ramp many are free part of your boat registration Fee
smdono reply :
Yeah NJ is that 22.50 plus the additional trout stamp which is another 10.50 
fishfordollars reply :
I have a freshwater/saltwater license only here in Texas and I think I pay 28.00 a year. Boat launching on Rayburn at the corp of engineer ramps are 2.00, but marinas on lake Conroe are now charging 10.00 to launch.
basser89 reply :
Here's the info for MD (resident)
Non-tidal $20.50
Trout stamp $5.00
Tidal $15.00
Boat registration is $20 for 2 yrs (with an outboard bigger than 7.5HP)
Trailer $21 for 2 year (I believe)
Most places I fish, there's no boat ramp fee. Some of the parks that I go have a fee there. There's only 2 places I fish that have a ramp fee and they're $3 & $5 (at least as of last year).
Hopper reply :
TX hunting and fishing combo - $63 a year
TX Boat registration - $50 a year
Mexico fishing license for Amistad - $48+a year(I think it came to 60 or so after fees and Taxes)
and Boat fee for Amistad $40 a year
bowfish12 reply :
Tennessee Hunting/Fishing Combo- they don't split that up-$28
That doesn't include any big game hunting
Sportsmans License- includes all hunting/fishing/trapping-$136
If you have to pay at a ramp which some places ask you to the most I've seen is $25/year, and daily rates of $1.00, but most are public ramps.
Raul reply :
QuoteMexico fishing license for Amistad - $48+a year(I think it came to 60 or so after fees and Taxes)
and Boat fee for Amistad $40 a year
The good part is, you don 't have to pay again until next year and you can fish any lake in any state plus all the coastal waters you want with it.
Bama55 reply :
In Mississippi I pay right at $10 for an annual license. At two of the places I fish its $6 to launch a boat. The other places are free.
I fish some in Alabama with my dad and it's $54 for a out of state annual license.
detroit1 reply :
Michigan: All fish except trout- $16. Additional $16 for trout stamp. Boat trailers are a permanent (1 time) fee (don't remember but less than $100), boat registration $12 for 3 yrs. Most of the lakes i fish have no launch fee, and those that do charge are never more than $6 a day. Some of these lakes you can buy a yearly sticker for $20.
DawsonH reply :
Here in Texas its $28 for a license for basic freshwater fishing, 50/ year for boat trailer and $35? every two years for a boat.
bige610 reply :
i am a disabled veteran here in illinois and i just recieved a lifetime hunting and fishing license through the va for free. boat launch fees out here are kinda crazy depending were you go. i live right by the chain and it ranges from 15-30. there are a lot of lakes that you have to be a resident to fish on so that sucks too.
Fish Chris reply :
Okay, in CA, "with the two rod stamp, and Bay Delta Stamp", our license are about $60. I know that's a lot for guys that don't get to fish very much..... but for somebody who fishes as much as I do, that's the best $60 I spend ALL year ! {I certainly feel better about my $60 fishing license, than I do about the $455 registration bill for my truck :-(}
As far as paying to launch / fish, it ususally works like this;
Their is almost always a seperate charge for fishing, then launching, then parking. The couple "pay lakes" I go to add up to $15.50 and $19. Of course the $15.50 one requires a $6 bridge toll, before I even get to the lake..... and then their is the gas in the truck and the boat for the trip....
Put it this way, depending on where I fish, a day of fishing (in my economy 14ft aluminum) usually costs me $35 to $60 a day.
Now here's the thing, for those of you from other states who say > I'd never pay to launch my boat / and or day use fees < Hmmm. Okay.
You should understand that their are a few places I could fish (and sometimes do) which have free launches, and no day use fees. But if you have a specific goal, to catch a giant 19lb + Largemouth, or 9lb+ Smallie, you will either "pay to play" or just flat knock yourself right out of the running.
One more thing to keep in mind.... A guy could fish one of those free lakes in another state, and that lake could be right next to his house..... But if he fishes out of a high performance bass boat, he will still spend more (just in gas for his boat), than myself, traveling 100 miles, and then paying a $19 launch and day use fee.
In any case, yea, fishing is expensive, but it's what I LOVE to do, so therefore, I don't feel as bad paying for it. The stuff that kills me is stupid expensive groceries, insurance bills, registration bills, etc, in other words, stuff I have no choice about paying. They just know they have you by the b####, and I guess that makes it okay for them to rip you off :-(
Fish
ROCbass reply :
In NY $68 for a "super sportsman" license gets you:
Fishing -$19 by itself
Big and small game hunting-$19 by itself
muzzleloader permit-$16 by itself
bowhunting permit-$16 by itself
turkey permit- $5 by itself
total if purchased separately $75
I don't know about launch fees because I only have a canoe and every car top launch I've been to is free
bass or bass ? reply :
In Arizona basic license is $23.50. 2 pole stamp is $6.00. Admission to lakes I normally fish is $5, and $2 per watercraft. No launch fees. Happy fishing.
~B.A.S.S.~N.A.F.C.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~A.M.A.~
Hammer 4 reply :
Fish Chris, I sorta agree, if you think 455.00 is alot, my 03 duramax went up to over 500.00 this year.. >, still our lic fees are higher than everyones..my opinion is that the folks in charge make too much $$$ in our state, thus we up the ying yang for stuff others pay much less for, just my take..sorry for the rant.. 
BassnMan Mike reply :
QuoteIn any case, yea, fishing is expensive, but it's what I LOVE to do, so therefore, I don't feel as bad paying for it.
^^^^^ Yet another Californian that agrees 100%
Besides that everyone knows that Cali has the biggest bass
BassnMan Mike reply :
QuoteFish Chris, I sorta agree, if you think 455.00 is alot, my 03 duramax went up to over 500.00 this year.. >
Put on a camper shell with a bed rug, register as non commercial and subtract at least $100.00 off of your registration. Trust me, I speak from personal experience.
Btech reply :
Here in NC, I paid nothing for my fishing liscense this year the guy forgot to ring it up, my small boat (see avitar) was $30 for 3 years.
I avoid ramps that charge, usualy $12 to launch at them with free ones a mile away. STUPID!
Liscense I believe is $15 / freshwater $5 / trout.
Fish Chris reply :
Hey Bassnman Mike, yes, you are correct about the camper shell deal...... But I spent $1300 on a fiberglass Snugtop bedcover (I love it) because I like to keep the truck look / shape...... + the better visibility from the cab + better security (out of sight, out of mind) factor.
I do think its pretty stupid though, that my truck is "automatically" considered a commercial vehicle :-(
Btech
QuoteI avoid ramps that charge, usualy $12 to launch at them with free ones a mile away. STUPID!
Again, I would agree..... "but only if" the free waters you fish have as good of fishing... for either numbers, or quality, or monsters.... Whatever your goals were for the time being.
I just wouldn't waste my time on a "free" lake, that didn't have the fish I was after.
Peace,
Fish
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