In Arizona, you need a fishing license once you turn 10 years old. Children 9 and under can fish on public waters without any license or paperwork. The rule applies the same way to residents and visitors, and it kicks in the moment a child hits their tenth birthday.
The Age 10 Rule
Arizona law requires every person to carry a valid license before taking any wildlife, including fish.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 17-331 – License or Proof of Purchase Required That obligation starts at age 10. Below that age, no license is needed on any public water in the state. At 10 and above, an angler must have a license on them and produce it for any game ranger or peace officer who asks.
Residency doesn’t change the age cutoff. A 10-year-old visiting from out of state needs a license the same as a 10-year-old who lives in Phoenix. So does a 60-year-old, unless they qualify for one of the specific exemptions below.
The Youth License for Ages 10 Through 17
Once your child reaches 10, the cheapest option is the Youth Combination Hunt and Fish license. It costs $5 for both residents and nonresidents and covers ages 10 through 17. The license includes all fishing and hunting privileges, plus migratory birds.
Every Arizona fishing license, youth or adult, already includes trout privileges and the right to fish with two poles at once, so there are no separate stamps to buy. All licenses are also valid on Arizona’s portion of the Colorado River and its boundary-water impoundments like Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, and Lake Havasu.2eRegulations. Arizona Fishing – License and Fee Structure A license lasts 365 days from the date of purchase rather than resetting on a calendar year.3Arizona Game and Fish Department. Hunting Licenses
Adult Pricing After Age 17
Once an angler ages out of the youth license at 18, standard pricing applies. A general fishing license is $37 for residents and $55 for nonresidents. Short-term options are also available for visitors who only need a day or two on the water.2eRegulations. Arizona Fishing – License and Fee Structure
When No License Is Needed
A few situations let someone 10 or older fish without buying a license:
- Blind Arizona residents are exempt from the license requirement and hold the same fishing privileges as any licensed angler.4Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 17-335 – Blind Resident Fishing License Exemption
- Residents 70 or older who have lived in Arizona for at least 25 consecutive years can get a free Pioneer License.5Legal Information Institute. Arizona Administrative Code R12-4-201 – Pioneer License
- Arizona residents with a 100 percent service-connected disability rating from the federal government can get a complimentary disabled veteran license after one year of residency.6Legal Information Institute. Arizona Administrative Code R12-4-202 – Complimentary and Reduced-fee Disabled Veterans License
- On Free Fishing Day, held annually on the first Saturday of National Fishing and Boating Week, anyone can fish without a license. In 2025 the date was June 7.7Arizona Game and Fish Department. Arizona’s Free Fishing Day is June 7
Penalties for Fishing Without a License
An angler 10 or older caught fishing without a valid license faces a class 2 misdemeanor.8Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 17-309 – Violations Classification That is a criminal charge, not a citation. A class 2 misdemeanor in Arizona carries up to four months in jail and a fine of up to $750. First-time offenders typically receive a fine, but the conviction stays on the record. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission can also revoke or suspend an existing license and deny the right to obtain a new one after a hearing.
Where an Arizona License Doesn’t Apply
The age 10 rule and the state license go together only on state-managed waters. Tribal nations set their own rules. The Navajo Nation, for instance, requires its own permit for anyone 12 or older, along with a separate watercraft permit for any boat used on Navajo waters.9Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife. Navajo Nation Fishing and Boating Regulations Other tribes such as the White Mountain Apache and San Carlos Apache run their own permit systems. Check directly with the tribal fish and wildlife office before fishing on tribal land.
National parks and other federal lands in Arizona generally follow state fishing regulations, so an Arizona license works there. Individual parks can add restrictions, and when a park rule conflicts with a state rule, the park rule controls.10National Park Service. Fishing in Parks
How to Buy a License
The quickest way to get a license for a child who has just turned 10, or for yourself, is online through the Arizona Game and Fish Department portal at license.azgfd.com. You can purchase and print immediately.11Arizona Game and Fish Department. AZGFD License You’ll need full name, date of birth, residential address, and a driver’s license or state ID number. Licenses are also sold in person at Arizona Game and Fish Department offices and authorized dealers, including sporting goods stores and bait and tackle shops.3Arizona Game and Fish Department. Hunting Licenses