Maryland splits its water at the tide line. Non-tidal needs one licence, the Chesapeake and the coastal bays another, and the Bay licence is the cheaper of the two by half. The wrinkle for visitors is that the non-tidal non-resident fee is reciprocal: Maryland charges you either $55.00 or whatever your home state charges Marylanders, whichever is higher. The senior consolidated licence no longer bundles the trout stamp, which trips up anglers renewing out of habit.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Maryland fishing fee
Non-tidal licences run by licence year; Bay licences run 365 days from purchase.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-tidal, three days | Visitor | 3 days | $35.00 |
| Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport, seven days | Resident | 7 days | $6.00 |
| Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport, seven days | Visitor | 7 days | $12.00 |
| Non-tidal, seven days | Resident | 7 days | $16.00 |
| Non-tidal, seven days | Visitor | 7 days | $45.00 |
| Senior consolidated sport No longer includes the trout stamp. | Resident | Annual | $12.00 |
| Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport, annual | Resident | Annual | $15.00 |
| Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport, annual | Visitor | Annual | $22.50 |
| Non-tidal, annual | Resident | Annual | $32.00 |
| Bay and coastal sport boat licence | Resident | Annual | $50.00 |
| Non-tidal, annual Or what your home state charges Marylanders, whichever is higher. | Visitor | Annual | $55.00 |
| Bay and coastal sport boat licence | Visitor | Annual | $100.00 |
Maryland DNR does not publish its own fee schedule: the state licensing system points to eRegulations as the official guide, which is what we cite here.
Passing through? Maryland sells no one-day licence. The shortest option for a visitor is 3 days at $35. Compare every state's day licence.
Stamps and add-ons
The base licence is often not the whole ticket. These are the Maryland extras on top of the base licence, as MD DNR lists them.
| Add-on | When you need it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Trout stamp | Required to catch or keep trout in non-tidal water. $30.00 for visitors. | $20.00 |
A trout stamp is an endorsement, not a licence: it is useless without the licence above it. What it costs in every state, and the 26 that require none.
Fishing the coast? The Maryland saltwater licence is a separate purchase with its own fees.
Do you need a fishing licence in Maryland?
Yes, from age 16. Residents and visitors both need one from that birthday. What changes is the price, not the requirement.
$32.00 a year if you live in Maryland, $55.00 if you are visiting, for fresh water. Maryland licenses fresh and salt water separately, so check which one your trip needs.
Who does not need one
- Anglers under 16.
- Everyone on the state free fishing days.
Nobody needs a licence on Marylandβs free fishing days: the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
Maryland Department of Natural Resources sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official MD DNR licensing page 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 13 Maryland waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Potomac River β St. Mary's County
- Ocean City β Worcester County
- Chesapeake Bay (Annapolis) β Anne Arundel County
- Deep Creek Lake β Garrett County
- Patuxent River β Anne Arundel County
- Gunpowder River β Baltimore County
- Susquehanna Flats β Cecil County
- Assateague β Worcester County
- Loch Raven Reservoir β Baltimore County
- Liberty Reservoir β Baltimore County
- Choptank River β Talbot County
- Savage River β Garrett County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Maryland?
$32.00 for a resident annual freshwater licence and $55.00 for a non-resident. Stamps and endorsements cost extra where the species or water calls for one.
Do you need a fishing license in Maryland?
Yes, from age 16, and it makes no difference whether you live there: residents and visitors both need one, they just pay different prices. $32.00 for a resident annual freshwater licence, $55.00 for a visitor. 2 exemptions apply, listed on this page.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Maryland?
From age 16. Anglers under 16 fish without one, though the other rules, bag limits and catch record cards included, still apply to them.
Can I buy a Maryland fishing licence online?
Yes. Maryland Department of Natural Resources sells online and through licence agents. Maryland DNR does not publish its own fee schedule: the state licensing system points to eRegulations as the official guide, which is what we cite here.
Do I need separate freshwater and saltwater licences in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland sells them separately, so fishing both sides means either two licences or the combined option listed in the fee table.
Do I need one licence or two to fish Maryland?
Two if you fish both sides of the tide line. The non-tidal licence covers the freshwater rivers and reservoirs; the Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport licence covers the Bay, its tributaries and the Atlantic coastal bays.
Why might my Maryland non-resident licence cost more than $55?
Reciprocity. The state charges non-residents the higher of $55.00 or what their own state charges a Marylander, so anglers from expensive states pay more.