A Kentucky fishing license costs $24.31 per year for residents and $55 per year for non-residents, with shorter-term and bundled options ranging from $7 for a resident one-day license to $95 for the resident Sportsman’s License that rolls fishing in with hunting permits.
Resident License Prices
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources sets the following resident fees, with the small issuance charge already included in the totals:
- Annual fishing license: $24.31
- 3-year fishing license: $55
- Joint/spouse annual fishing license: $42
- 1-day fishing license: $7
- Annual combination hunting/fishing license: $44.39
- Sportsman’s License: $95 (includes combination hunting and fishing, deer and turkey permits, migratory bird and waterfowl permits, and the trout permit)
- Senior/Disabled Sportsman’s License: $12 for residents 65 or older or those who meet the state’s disability criteria
The Sportsman’s License is the best value for anyone who both hunts and fishes, since buying the same permits separately runs well past $95. The $12 senior and disabled version covers the same bundle. Disability qualification requires verification from an agency such as Social Security, the VA (at least 50 percent service-connected), or the state Workers’ Compensation Board.1Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. License and Permit Fees
To pay resident rates you must have established permanent legal residence in Kentucky and lived in the state at least 30 days. Full-time students enrolled for a six-month term at a Kentucky school and military personnel on permanent assignment here also qualify. Expect to show a Kentucky driver’s license or state ID at purchase.2LaRue County Clerk’s Office. Fishing and Hunting License
Non-Resident License Prices
- 1-day fishing license: $15
- 7-day fishing license: $37
- Annual fishing license: $55
The 7-day license fits a week’s trip. If you’re likely to come back to Kentucky more than once in the same year, the $55 annual pays for itself quickly.1Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. License and Permit Fees
Trout Permit Add-On
If you plan to keep trout, you need a trout permit on top of your fishing license. It costs $10.57 and applies to residents and non-residents alike. The Sportsman’s License already includes it, so holders of that license don’t need to buy the permit separately.1Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. License and Permit Fees
Who Can Skip the Cost
Not everyone has to buy a license. Children 15 and younger can fish Kentucky’s public waters without one. Anglers 16 and up need a valid license.2LaRue County Clerk’s Office. Fishing and Hunting License
Farmland owners can fish on their own property without a license, and the exemption extends to a spouse and dependent children claimed on the federal tax return. Tenant farmers and their families who live and work on the land get the same treatment. The exemption covers only your property, not public waters elsewhere in the state.3Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. Frequently Asked Questions
Kentucky residents serving in the military and home on leave for three or more days don’t need a license, but they should carry military ID and leave paperwork while fishing.4MyArmyBenefits. Kentucky Military and Veterans Benefits
Everyone gets one free weekend a year. On the first Saturday and Sunday in June, anyone can fish public waters without a license or trout permit. Size limits, creel limits, and the rest of the fishing regulations still apply.5Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. Free Fishing Weekend
What Fishing Without One Costs
Fishing without a required license carries a fine between $50 and $500, and a judge can revoke your fishing privileges for the rest of the license year. Even the minimum fine is more than double the cost of a one-day resident license.6Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Revised Statutes 150.990 – Penalties
Where to Buy
Buying online through fw.ky.gov is the quickest route. You get an authorization number right away that works as proof of purchase until any physical documentation arrives. The site takes Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover, and Fish and Wildlife gift certificates.
You can also buy in person at authorized vendors around the state, including sporting goods stores, bait shops, and some county clerk offices, or by phone through KDFWR, which issues an authorization number the same way. Keep that number with you on the water; it’s your proof of a valid license until the physical copy is in hand.