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Do I need a fishing license in Maryland?
Maryland's license age rule, quoted from Maryland Department of Natural Resources, checked against your age and residency, plus its free fishing days.
The rule in Maryland
Residents and nonresidents 16 and older need a license.
"Individuals under the age of 16 are not required to obtain a license to go fishing recreationally."
Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Maryland Sport Fishing & Crabbing Licenses, checked October 2026.
Fishing License CheckMaryland
It depends on your age.
The rule
Residents and nonresidents 16 and older need a license.
"Individuals under the age of 16 are not required to obtain a license to go fishing recreationally."
Saltwater
"Resident and Non-Resident Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport (annual) License allows an individual to fish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and the state waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic coastal bays and tributaries 365 days from the date of purchase."
Source: Maryland Sport Fishing & Crabbing Licenses, checked October 2026.
Seniors and exemptions
"Resident Senior Consolidated License (available to MD residents only) allows a Maryland resident who is 65 years of age or older or will become 65 years of age in the current calendar year, to fish in the fresh waters of Maryland and in Maryland's tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, Atlantic coast and coastal bays 365 days from the date of purchase."
"Is a resident of MD, on active duty with the armed forces, on leave with official leave orders;"
"The only anglers in Maryland who do not need a Maryland Tidal Fishing License are: ... 2) Waterfront Property owners and their family members"
"is fishing from a licensed charter boat;"
"is fishing from a licensed commercial fishing pier;"
A guide to each state's published rule, not legal advice. Rules change; the linked page is the authority.
- Each state's own rule, quoted
- Residents and visitors
- Free fishing days by date
Fishing in Maryland
23 guides, charters and outfitters listed in Maryland.
By state
Fishing license rules by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Common questions
Fishing license questions
Residents and nonresidents 16 and older need a license. Source: Maryland Sport Fishing & Crabbing Licenses.
It depends on the state. Across the 48 states we have checked, a resident needs one from age 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 depending on the state. Nonresidents often start at a different age. Pick your state in the tool for its exact rule, quoted from the state's own page.
A day or weekend when the state lets anyone fish without a license. 41 of the states we have checked publish them. The next ones: New York, Nov 11, 2026; Oregon, Nov 27 to 28, 2026; North Dakota, Dec 26 to 27, 2026. Size, bag and season limits still apply.
In some coastal states, yes; in others the same license covers both, or saltwater anglers sign a free registry instead. Pick a coastal state in the tool to see its own wording.
Yes. It is free, needs no account, and links every answer to the state page it comes from. Always read the state's current rules before you fish.
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