The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that a new fishing license season begins Friday, April 1, which coincides with the new regulation cycle. All 2015 fishing licenses are good through Thursday, March 31.Anglers have five options to choose from when making their purchase. All fishing licenses are good for all species.
Resident annual – $26
Non-resident annual – $68
Senior annual (for residents age 65 or older) – $11
24-hour (resident or non-resident) – $10
72-hour (resident or non-resident) – $30
Those interested in targeting lake sturgeon and/or muskellunge also will need to obtain free fishing and harvest tags from their local license retailer.
Residents and non-residents also can purchase the Hunt/Fish combo license for $76 and $266, respectively, that consists of a base license, an annual fishing license and two deer tags. There is also a Hunt/Fish combo license available to senior residents for $43. A base license is not required when just purchasing a fishing license.
Michigan’s fishing licenses bring revenue into the state that is invested into the state’s fisheries. That investment provides greater access to world-class fishing opportunities, improves fisheries habitat in inland lakes and streams, and increases the health and quantity of fish stocked in the state.
The DNR Fisheries Division depends primarily on angler dollars (through license sales and federal excise tax dollars for fishing tackle) to manage the state’s fisheries. Buying a fishing license, even for those who don’t plan to fish, can make a big difference to the future health of Michigan’s prized freshwaters.
There are two simple ways to purchase a fishing license in Michigan:
Visit a local license retailer or DNR Customer Service Center and make a purchase in person.
Use the E-License system to buy a license online 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Just visit mdnr-elicense.com on your computer, smartphone or tablet to get started.
For more information on fishing in Michigan, visit michigan.gov/fishing.
