A general fishing license in Arizona costs $37 for a resident and $55 for a non-resident. That covers all species in all public waters for 365 days from the date of purchase. The full answer to how much a fishing license costs in Arizona depends on your age, residency, whether you want hunting privileges too, and how many days you actually plan to fish.
License Types and Costs
Arizona sells four main license categories. Every license is valid for 365 days from purchase and is non-transferable and non-refundable.1eRegulations. Arizona Fishing – License and Fee Structure
- General Fishing: $37 resident, $55 non-resident. All fish species, all public waters statewide.
- Combination Hunt and Fish: $57 resident, $160 non-resident. Adds hunting for small game, furbearers, predatory animals, nongame animals, and upland game birds.
- Youth Combination Hunt and Fish, ages 10 through 17: $5, resident or non-resident. Includes migratory birds. Valid until the holder turns 18.2Legal Information Institute. Arizona Administrative Code R12-4-102 – License, Permit, Stamp, and Tag Fees
- Short-term Combination Hunt and Fish: $15 per day resident, $20 per day non-resident. You pick the dates at purchase, and they don’t have to be consecutive.
The youth license is the cheapest way into Arizona fishing. Five dollars gets a young angler the same statewide fishing and hunting privileges an adult resident pays $57 for.
Lifetime Licenses
Arizona residents can buy a lifetime fishing or combination license. Non-residents cannot, and lifetime licenses are only sold in person at an Arizona Game and Fish Department office.1eRegulations. Arizona Fishing – License and Fee Structure
The lifetime general fishing fee is set by the buyer’s age at purchase:
- Ages 0 to 13: $629
- Ages 14 to 29: $666
- Ages 30 to 44: $592
- Ages 45 to 61: $555
- Ages 62 and older: $296
Lifetime fees are subject to change, so confirm the current number with Arizona Game and Fish before you write the check.
Discounts and Free Licenses
Several groups pay less than the standard fee, or nothing at all.
Honorably discharged veterans who have been Arizona residents for at least one year can have the license fee reduced by ten percent for every four years of service. Veterans rated 100 percent service-connected disabled who have lived in Arizona for at least one consecutive year qualify for a complimentary license at no cost.1eRegulations. Arizona Fishing – License and Fee Structure Veterans with a service-connected disability rated below 100 percent can buy a combination license for $42, and Purple Heart recipients pay $28.3Arizona Game and Fish Department. Disabled Veteran License
No license is required at all for:
- Children under 10.
- Blind residents.
- Arizona residents 70 or older who have lived in the state for at least 25 consecutive years, who qualify for a complimentary Pioneer license.
- Anyone fishing a private pond with the owner’s permission.
Arizona also holds one free fishing day each year on the first Saturday of National Fishing and Boating Week, when anyone can fish public waters without a license. The 2026 date is June 6.1eRegulations. Arizona Fishing – License and Fee Structure
Resident vs. Non-Resident Rates
The gap between resident and non-resident pricing is large, especially on the combination license, so residency status matters. Arizona defines a resident as someone domiciled in the state for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying, who does not claim residency in any other state or country.4Arizona Game and Fish Department. Residency Fact Sheet
Active-duty military stationed in Arizona for at least 30 days pay resident rates, as do service members stationed elsewhere who list Arizona as their home of record. Spouses of active-duty members stationed in Arizona also qualify for resident licenses.5Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 17-337 – Hunting and Fishing Licenses; Armed Forces Members
What the Price Covers
Arizona folded several old add-on stamps into the base license, so what you pay is what you pay. Every general or combination license now includes:6eRegulations. 2025 and 2026 Arizona Fishing Regulations
- Trout fishing, with no separate trout stamp.
- Two-pole fishing, with no separate permit.
- Colorado River boundary waters, including Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, and Lake Havasu, without the old California or Nevada stamps.
- Community Fishing waters. The standalone Community Fishing License was discontinued in 2022 and is now bundled in.
Where to Buy
You can buy a license online at the Arizona Game and Fish Department portal at license.azgfd.com and print it right away, at an authorized dealer such as a sporting goods store or bait and tackle shop, or in person at an AZGFD office. Lifetime licenses are only sold at department offices. Applicants must provide a Social Security number regardless of age, which is a federal requirement under the Welfare Reform Act. Bring valid ID and be ready to confirm your residency status.
The Cost of Skipping It
Fishing without a valid license in Arizona is a class 2 misdemeanor.7Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 17-309 – Violations; Classification That carries up to four months in jail, a fine of up to $750, and possible revocation of your fishing privileges. At $37 for a resident license, it is not a close call.