Hawaii licenses fresh and salt water separately, and in the sea the answer turns on where you live. Residents fish the ocean with no licence and no registration. Visitors aged 15 and over have needed the Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License since 2 May 2024, sold only online by the Division of Aquatic Resources. Fresh water, of which the state has little, needs the Freshwater Game Fishing License from age 9 for residents and visitors alike. Size, bag, season and area rules apply to everyone.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Hawaii fishing fee
The freshwater licence year runs 1 July to 30 June. The non-resident marine licence is sold for one day, seven days or one year.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License, one day Ages 15 and over; sold only online; plus an online processing fee. | Visitor | 1 day | $20.00 |
| Freshwater, seven-day tourist | Visitor | 7 days | $10.00 |
| Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License, seven days Ages 15 and over; sold only online; plus an online processing fee. | Visitor | 7 days | $40.00 |
| Freshwater game fishing, minors aged 9-15 | Either | Annual | $3.00 |
| Freshwater game fishing, resident or military, 16 and over | Resident | Annual | $5.00 |
| Freshwater game fishing, non-resident | Visitor | Annual | $25.00 |
| Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License, one year Ages 15 and over; sold only online; plus an online processing fee. | Visitor | Annual | $70.00 |
| Freshwater, thirty-day tourist | Visitor | 30day | $20.00 |
Hawaii licenses fresh and salt water separately. In the sea only non-residents pay: the Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License, from age 15, sold only online. Size, bag, season and area rules apply to everyone.
Passing through? A visitor pays $20 for one day here, and the annual works out cheaper after 2 days. Compare every state's day licence.
Do you need a fishing licence in Hawaii?
It depends on where you fish and whether you live in Hawaii. In fresh water everyone needs the Freshwater Game Fishing License from age 9. In the sea, residents need no licence, while non-residents aged 15 and over need the Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License, required since 2 May 2024 and sold only online.
$5.00 a year if you live in Hawaii, $25.00 if you are visiting, for fresh water. Hawaii licenses fresh and salt water separately, so check which one your trip needs.
Who does not need one
- Hawaii residents fishing in the sea: there is no resident marine licence or registration.
- Non-residents under 15 fishing in the sea.
- Active-duty members of the US armed forces stationed in Hawaii, with their spouses and minor children, fishing in the sea.
- Anglers under 9 fishing in fresh water.
Hawaii has no free fishing day. Why, and what applies instead.
How to buy it
Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official DAR licensing page β
DAR on the non-resident marine licence β
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 12 Hawaii waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Kona β Hawaii County
- Kaneohe Bay β Honolulu County
- Hilo Bay β Hawaii County
- Maalaea Bay β Maui County
- Hanalei Bay β Kauai County
- Kailua Bay β Honolulu County
- Waianae Coast β Honolulu County
- Waimea Bay β Honolulu County
- Nawiliwili Bay β Kauai County
- Kaunakakai β Maui County
- Kewalo Basin β Honolulu County
- Kahului Harbor β Maui County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Hawaii?
$5.00 for a resident annual freshwater licence and $25.00 for a non-resident. Short-term licences cost less and are listed in full above.
Do you need a fishing license in Hawaii?
It depends. Residents fish the sea with no licence. Non-residents aged 15 and over need the Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License for ocean fishing ($20 a day, $40 for seven days, $70 a year, plus an online processing fee), and anyone from age 9 needs the Freshwater Game Fishing License to fish for game fish in fresh water.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Hawaii?
From age 9. Anglers under 9 fish without one, though the other rules, bag limits and catch record cards included, still apply to them.
Can I buy a Hawaii fishing licence online?
Yes. Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources sells online and through licence agents.
Do I need separate freshwater and saltwater licences in Hawaii?
Yes. Hawaii sells them separately, so fishing both sides means either two licences or the combined option listed in the fee table.
Do visitors need a fishing licence to fish the sea in Hawaii?
Yes, from age 15: the Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License costs $20 for a day, $40 for seven days or $70 for a year, plus an online processing fee, according to DAR. Active-duty military stationed in Hawaii and their spouses and minor children are exempt.
Do Hawaii residents need a saltwater licence?
No. DAR says recreational ocean fishing is free for residents and has no registration; a Hawaii driverβs licence or state ID shows residency if you are asked.
What does the Hawaii freshwater licence cover?
Freshwater game fishing in the stateβs reservoirs and streams. It is $5.00 for a resident or military angler, $25.00 for a visitor, and $3.00 for minors aged 9 to 15. The marine licence does not cover fresh water.