If you’re 16 or older and visiting from out of state, an Arkansas non-resident fishing license costs $30 for a three-day trip or $60 for a full year, and you can buy one online, by phone, or at any licensed retailer in a few minutes. Add $20 if you plan to keep trout or fish any of the state’s designated trout waters.
License Types and Fees
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) updated its fee schedule effective June 30, 2025. Non-residents have two base options plus the trout add-on:
- Non-Resident Annual Fishing License (NRF): $60, valid for one year from the purchase date rather than a calendar year.
- Non-Resident 3-Day Trip Fishing License (NT3): $30, covering three consecutive days.
- Non-Resident Trout Permit (TPN): $20, required on top of your base license to keep trout from any Arkansas water or to fish specific trout stretches.
A White River trout trip runs $80 for the year or $50 for three days once you combine the base license with the trout permit. The AGFC previously offered a seven-day option, but the current schedule no longer lists it.
When You Need the Trout Permit
You need the $20 trout permit if you’re 16 or older and either keeping trout from any Arkansas water or fishing on one of these six stretches, even catch-and-release:
- Beaver Lake Tailwater, from Beaver Dam to the boundary signs at Houseman Access
- Lake Greeson Tailwater, from Narrows Dam to the Muddy Fork Road low-water bridge
- Little Red River, from Greers Ferry Dam to the Arkansas Highway 305 bridge
- North Fork of the White River, downstream of Norfork Dam
- White River, from Bull Shoals Dam to the Arkansas Highway 58 bridge at Guion
- Spring River, from 100 yards below Dam 1 at Mammoth Spring State Park down to the mouth of Myatt Creek
The permit is required on these waters regardless of whether a trout ever hits your line. That’s the rule most visiting anglers miss.
What You’ll Need to Buy One
Have your full legal name, mailing address, date of birth, and a basic physical description ready. The AGFC also asks for your Social Security Number, which catches many first-time buyers off guard. Federal and state law require the agency to collect it for child support enforcement, not for tax purposes. A driver’s license number is optional.
If you’ve never been assigned a Social Security Number, the licensing system has an exemption that lets you skip the field. Be ready to explain your situation if you’re buying in person or by phone.
Where to Buy
Four channels all issue a valid license on the spot:
- Online at ar-web.s3licensing.com, available 24 hours a day. You can print or save the license immediately after payment.
- By phone at 833-345-0325 or 501-207-0326 during office hours. The confirmation number serves as proof.
- In person at any AGFC regional office.
- At authorized retailers across the state, including sporting goods stores and bait shops. This is usually the quickest option if you’re already on your way to the water.
Carry It While You Fish
Arkansas law requires you to have a valid license on your person whenever you’re fishing. A game warden can ask to see it at any time, and not having it with you counts as a violation even if you paid for one. Print the license from your online purchase or keep a screenshot on your phone. A phone-purchase confirmation number works as temporary proof, but a printed copy is safer.
Trophy Tags for Paddlefish and Alligator Gar
Two species sit outside the standard license and require separate tags awarded by drawing. Non-residents can apply for both, and a valid base fishing license is still required to use either one.
- Paddlefish Trophy Tag (PFT): for the limited-entry snagging season on the White River above Beaver Lake, April 15 through June 15. Apply March 1–30 for a $5 fee. Winners may harvest up to two paddlefish with a 34-inch minimum eye-to-fork length.
- Alligator Gar Trophy Tag (AGT): required to harvest any alligator gar over 36 inches. Applications open November 1 through December 31 with a $5 fee; the permit itself is free if you’re drawn.
Free Fishing Weekend
Each June, Arkansas holds a free fishing weekend when residents and non-residents can fish anywhere in the state without a license or trout permit. The 2025 event ran from noon Friday, June 6, through midnight Sunday, June 8. All other regulations stay in effect, including daily limits, slot limits, and length limits. The AGFC usually announces the next year’s dates in the spring.
Penalties for Fishing Without a License
Fishing without a valid license in Arkansas is a misdemeanor. Non-residents are penalized under the AGFC’s violation classification system, where court-imposed fines start at $100 and can reach $1,000 or more depending on the severity class, with possible jail time of up to 30 days for lower-level offenses. A court can also suspend or revoke your Arkansas fishing privileges, order community service, and require restitution to the AGFC for the value of any fish illegally taken. For a regular visitor, losing future fishing privileges in the state tends to sting more than the fine itself.