Yes, you need a fishing license in Michigan if you are 17 or older and plan to fish in public waters, whether you live in the state or are visiting. The rule applies to fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and reptiles, and it kicks in the moment you turn 17 during the license season, which runs April 1 through March 31.
Who Has To Have a License
Every angler aged 17 and up must carry a valid license while fishing Michigan’s public waters. Residents and nonresidents are treated the same on this point. If you have a birthday during the season that moves you from 16 to 17, you need a license from that day forward.
You also have to carry the identification you used to buy the license. A Michigan Conservation Officer or other law enforcement officer can ask to see both at any time, and failing to produce a valid license on request is a civil infraction with a fine of up to $150, even if the license exists and you simply left it at home.1Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 324.43560
One point trips up parents and grandparents regularly. An unlicensed adult can help a child fish by rigging a rod, baiting a hook, casting, netting, or unhooking a fish. The child has to stay the active angler. The moment the adult is doing the fishing while the child watches, that adult needs a license.
Who Is Exempt
Children 16 and Under
Kids 16 and under can fish anywhere in Michigan without a license. All other rules still apply, including bag limits and size restrictions. Families who want a younger angler to have their own license can buy an optional youth license for $2.2Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Fishing and Hunting License Information
Free Fishing Weekends
Twice a year, Michigan drops the license requirement for everyone. For 2026, the winter weekend is February 14–15 and the summer weekend is June 13–14. Both inland waters and the Great Lakes are covered. Bag and size limits still apply.
Disabled Veterans and Active-Duty Military
Michigan waives license fees for residents who are veterans rated 100% permanently and totally disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or rated as individually unemployable.3Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 324.43537 Active-duty military who keep Michigan residency also qualify for a free license.4Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations
Developmental Disability and Licensed Homes for the Aged
Fees are waived for Michigan residents with a developmental disability as defined in the state’s mental health code. Residents of a licensed home for the aged can get a special DNR permit to fish without a license, as long as they fish in a group accompanied by at least one licensed adult. Those permits are issued at DNR Customer Service Centers.4Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations
Private Ponds
No license is required to fish a private pond that sits entirely on private land and has no connection to public waters. Species protection rules still apply.
What a License Costs
Fees for the 2026 season include a $1 conservation education surcharge.2Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Fishing and Hunting License Information
- Resident annual all-species: $26
- Nonresident annual all-species: $76
- Daily all-species (resident or nonresident): $10 per day
- 24-hour license: $105Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 324.43533 – 24-Hour or 72-Hour Fishing License
- 72-hour license: $305Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 324.43533 – 24-Hour or 72-Hour Fishing License
- Resident senior (65+) or legally blind resident: $113Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 324.43537
- Youth (16 and under, optional): $2
A resident hunt/fish combination license costs $76 and bundles a base hunting license, two deer licenses, and an annual all-species fishing license. The nonresident combo is $266, and the senior combo is $43.2Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Fishing and Hunting License Information
The 2026 season began April 1, 2026, and licenses are valid through March 31, 2027. New licenses usually go on sale in early March.6Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Ready for Spring Fishing? 2026 Michigan Fishing Licenses Now Available
Penalties for Fishing Without One
Fishing without a license is a misdemeanor. Fines run from $25 to $250 plus court costs, and a judge can impose up to 90 days in jail.1Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 324.43560 First-time offenders without other violations usually pay a fine and court costs, but the misdemeanor stays on the record.
Having a valid license and failing to show it on request is treated differently. That is a civil infraction, not a misdemeanor, with a maximum fine of $150.1Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 324.43560
How To Buy One
Michigan residents need a valid Michigan driver’s license or a state ID from the Secretary of State. Nonresidents need a valid driver’s license from their home state.
- Online through the DNR licensing portal at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses, which also handles auto-renewal.
- In person at authorized retailers such as sporting goods stores and bait shops, or at a DNR Customer Service Center.
- Through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish mobile app, which stores an electronic copy you can show to a conservation officer.
An electronic copy on a phone counts, so you do not need a paper version if your device is charged and accessible on the water.