Georgia keeps it simple and cheap: fifteen dollars a year covers fresh and salt water alike, with no separate coastal licence. The one thing visitors miss is the Saltwater Information Program permit, which costs nothing at all and is still compulsory from age sixteen for anyone fishing the coast. Free but mandatory is a combination that catches people out, because nobody expects to register for something that is not being sold to them.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Georgia fishing fee
Annual licences run one year from the date of purchase.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fishing, one day Additional days $1.00 each. | Resident | 1 day | $5.00 |
| Fishing, one day Additional days $3.50 each. | Visitor | 1 day | $10.00 |
| Senior fishing | Resident | Annual | $4.00 |
| Senior sportsman's licence | Resident | Annual | $7.00 |
| Optional youth fishing | Resident | Annual | $10.00 |
| Fishing, annual | Resident | Annual | $15.00 |
| Youth sportsman's licence | Resident | Annual | $15.00 |
| Combination hunting and fishing | Resident | Annual | $30.00 |
| Fishing, annual | Visitor | Annual | $50.00 |
| Youth sportsman's licence, 15 and under | Visitor | Annual | $50.00 |
| Sportsman's licence | Resident | Annual | $65.00 |
| Combination hunting and fishing | Visitor | Annual | $150.00 |
| Sportsman's licence | Visitor | Annual | $400.00 |
| Senior sportsman's lifetime | Resident | Lifetime | $70.00 |
Senior rates apply to Georgia residents born on or after 1 July 1952.
Stamps and add-ons
The base licence is often not the whole ticket. These are the Georgia extras, and missing one is the commonest way to get written up with a valid licence in your pocket.
| Add-on | When you need it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Saltwater Information Program permit | Free but mandatory to fish salt water from age 16. | Free |
Who fishes free in Georgia
- Anglers 15 and under, who need no fishing licence, trout licence or SIP permit.
- Landowners and immediate family fishing on their own land.
- Everyone on the state free fishing days.
Exemptions are narrower than they sound and the burden of proof is on you. Carry whatever document the exemption rests on.
How to buy it
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices. Buying online takes about ten minutes and you can print or screenshot the confirmation immediately.
Official GA DNR licensing page →
We link the agency and never resell licences. If a site charges you a "processing fee" on top of the state fee, you are not on the state's own system.
Where to use it
We track 22 Georgia waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Lake Hartwell — Stephens County
- Lake Lanier — Forsyth County
- Lake Allatoona — Cherokee County
- Clarks Hill Lake — Lincoln County
- West Point Lake — Troup County
- Lake Oconee — Oconee County
- Lake Sinclair — Baldwin County
- Lake Seminole — Decatur County
- Lake Russell — Elbert County
- Toccoa River — Fannin County
- Lake Chatuge — Towns County
- Carters Lake — Murray County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Georgia?
$15.00 for a resident annual all waters licence and $50.00 for a non-resident. Stamps and endorsements cost extra where the species or water calls for one.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Georgia?
From age 16. Anglers under 16 fish without one, though some states still require a catch record card.
Can I buy a Georgia fishing licence online?
Yes. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division sells online and through licence agents. Buy before you rig up and keep the confirmation on your phone: wardens check ramps at dawn.
Do I need a saltwater licence in Georgia?
Not a separate paid one: the fishing licence covers both. But you must hold the free Saltwater Information Program permit from age 16 to fish the coast, and it is enforced.
How do Georgia one-day licences work?
You buy a first day and then add extra days cheaply: $1.00 each for residents, $3.50 for visitors. For a long weekend that often beats the annual.