You can now buy a fishing license one of THREE ways:

• From a license dealer (Click here to locate a license dealer near you.)
• Purchase online here
• By phone (Call 1-800-366-2661)

License Dealers

Georgia hunting and fishing licenses are available throughout the state from approximately 400 license agents in many sporting goods stores, marinas, bait and tackle stores, hardware stores, etc. Licenses also may be purchased in person at Department of Natural Resources' Law Enforcement offices statewide. Search here to locate a license dealer in your county.

How long are licenses valid? How has the "license year" changed?

All recreational seasonal hunting and fishing licenses are good for one full year (12 months) from the day that they are purchased. Two year licenses are also available that are valid for two full years (24 months) from the day they are purchased. Prior to February 2004, hunting and fishing licenses expired at the end of the traditional "license year" (March 31) no matter when they were purchased. Commercial licenses (commercial fishing, Wild Animal dealer, wholesale or retail fish dealer, etc) will continue to expire on March 31 of each year. Since there is no longer a "license year" for recreational licenses, license buyers now get more value - not to mention more opportunities to hunt and fish - for their annual or two year license purchase price.

Save money on this or your next license purchase.

If you renew your annual or two-year license before expiration, you will receive a discount on the license fee of $2.75.

Purchase a 2-year license and save money on the license fee compared to purchasing two one-year licenses. With a two-year license, you also save an additional $2.75 by not paying a second transaction fee.

Fill in your email address (optional), and receive a renewal reminder from DNR before your current license expires (renew before expiration and save $2.75).

Note: Click here for full information on residency requirements for license purchases and information on who is required to have a license.

Some good reasons to buy a fishing license

Your purchase of a fishing license helps support the following Fisheries Section programs. If you want to support fisheries management and conservation of Georgia's aquatic resources, buy a fishing license today!

• Management: Fish populations are monitored and managed in over 500,000 acres of reservoirs and small lakes, 12,000 miles of streams and rivers, and over 4,000 miles of trout streams.

• Hatcheries: six warmwater hatcheries produce largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, striped bass, hybrid striped-white bass, and other species to stock into reservoirs, rivers, and ponds; three trout hatcheries stock over 1 million trout into trout streams.

• Public Fishing Areas: over 2,000 acres of water on nine PFAs provide quality fishing for bass, bream, crappie, and catfish. PFAs are "perfect family areas" for family recreation. License sales help build new PFAs!

• Boat Ramps: 150 boat ramps are maintained statewide. New ramps are built each year to provide better access for all boaters.

• Aquatic Education: over 30,000 kids and their parents fish at over 500 Kids Fishing Events each year. Many are kids that have not experienced good fishing. Over 1,200 educators are trained and provided teaching materials each year to teach youth about Georgia's aquatic resources.

• Publications: Reservoir and Rivers Fishing Prospects, Small Lakes Open to Public Fishing, Georgia Fish ID book, Pond Management books, Trout Streams of Georgia map, Fishing Regulations book, River maps, and many others are printed and mailed to thousands each year.

• Fish Kills and Pollution: because of Fisheries staff investigations the culprit is often brought to justice and fined.

Georgia Fishing License Fees