Maine fishing license fees for 2026
Maine raised fishing license fees in January 2026, the first increase in fifteen years. A resident season license went from $25 to $30 and a non-resident season license from $64 to $83. Many websites are still showing the old figures. The fees below come from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife fee table and exclude the agent fee, which is usually about $2.
Resident fees
| License | Fee |
|---|---|
| Season fishing (age 16+) | $30 |
| 1-day fishing | $18 |
| Combination hunting and fishing | $48 |
Non-resident fees
| License | Fee |
|---|---|
| Season fishing | $83 |
| 15-day fishing | $66 |
| 7-day fishing | $62 |
| 3-day fishing | $30 |
| 1-day fishing | $18 |
Saltwater
| Registration | Fee |
|---|---|
| Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry (online, mail, or DMR office) | $1 |
| Saltwater registry through a license agent | $2 |
The 7-day license is a trap
Look closely at the non-resident short-term fees and one option stands out as poor value. The 7-day license costs $62. The 15-day costs $66. Four dollars separates them, and the 15-day gives you more than twice the fishing.
It goes further. A non-resident 15-day license can be exchanged for a full season license by paying the $17 difference plus the agent fee. So the practical ladder for a visiting angler is $66 for a fortnight, or $83 for the whole calendar year — and the $62 seven-day sits awkwardly between the $30 three-day and the $66 fifteen-day without being the right answer to anything.
If your trip is three days or fewer, buy the 3-day at $30. If it is longer than that, go straight to the 15-day. If there is any chance you will fish Maine twice in the same calendar year, buy the season.
Inland and saltwater are two separate systems
This is where most visitors go wrong. Maine’s inland fishing license, issued by Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, covers fresh water — lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. Tidal and coastal water falls under the Department of Marine Resources, which runs a separate Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry.
The good news is that they overlap in your favor. If you hold a valid Maine inland fishing license, you are exempt from the saltwater registry. You do not need both. The exception is a lifetime license, whose holders still need to register for saltwater each year.
Going the other way, a saltwater registration does nothing for you on fresh water. If you register for $1 to chase stripers and then decide to fish a trout pond, you need an inland license.
Who needs a license
A valid Maine fishing license is required for anyone aged 16 or older to fish inland waters, or to transport fish taken from inland waters. Anyone under 16 fishes without a license, resident or non-resident. There is no minimum age to fish in Maine — the requirement simply begins at 16.
Two exemptions are worth knowing. Maine residents fishing on ten or more contiguous acres of land they own and are domiciled on do not need a license. And on free fishing days, anyone may fish without one, unless their license has been suspended or revoked. Maine’s free fishing days for 2026 are February 14–15 and May 30–31.
One special case catches people out: a non-resident aged 18 to 23 enrolled full-time at a Maine college may qualify for resident-rate licenses. That license cannot be bought online or from an agent — it has to be obtained in person at the IF&W main office in Augusta.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Maine fishing license in 2026?
A resident season fishing license is $30 and a non-resident season fishing license is $83. Short-term non-resident options are $66 for 15 days, $62 for 7 days, $30 for 3 days and $18 for one day. A resident 1-day license is $18. Agent fees of about $2 are added on top.
Do I need a fishing license for saltwater fishing in Maine?
You need to register with the Maine Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry, which costs $1 online or $2 through an agent. If you already hold a valid Maine inland fishing license, you are exempt — the exception being lifetime license holders, who must still register.
Do children need a fishing license in Maine?
No. Anyone under 16 may fish Maine’s inland waters without a license, whether resident or non-resident. The saltwater registry requirement also begins at 16.
When are Maine’s free fishing days in 2026?
February 14–15 and May 30–31, 2026. No license is required on those days, though all other fishing rules still apply and the exemption does not extend to anyone whose license has been suspended or revoked.
Can I upgrade a short-term Maine fishing license?
Yes. A non-resident 15-day license can be exchanged for a non-resident season license by paying $17 plus the agent fee. A resident 1-day license can be exchanged toward a season or combination license by paying the difference plus the agent fee.
Where do I buy a Maine fishing license?
Online through MOSES, the state’s licensing system, which is open around the clock and lets you print at home — an electronic copy on your phone is legally valid. In person, licenses are sold by agents across the state including sporting goods shops, many convenience stores, town clerk offices and turnpike service centers. Note that not all town clerks issue non-resident licenses.
How long is a Maine fishing license valid?
Season licenses run from January 1 to December 31 of the year they are issued, regardless of when you buy. Short-term licenses are valid for the stated number of consecutive days from the date of purchase.
Why did Maine fishing license fees go up?
Fees rose in January 2026 for the first time in fifteen years. The state has said the additional revenue goes directly to the fisheries division of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, with a projected increase of close to $2 million annually.