North Dakota adds a small certificate to every licence, two dollars for residents and five for visitors, so the price on the shelf is never quite the price you pay. Beyond that the structure is refreshingly plain, and the married-couple licence at forty-two dollars is well under two singles. Devils Lake and the Missouri River system carry the state, and one licence covers both.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every North Dakota fishing fee
The licence year runs 1 April to 31 March.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three-day fishing | Visitor | 3 days | $48.00 |
| Ten-day fishing | Visitor | 10 days | $58.00 |
| Senior citizen fishing, 65 and over | Resident | Annual | $10.00 |
| Totally or permanently disabled | Resident | Annual | $10.00 |
| Veteran with 50 per cent service-related disability | Resident | Annual | $10.00 |
| Veteran combined hunting | Resident | Annual | $10.00 |
| Fishing licence, 16 and over | Resident | Annual | $27.00 |
| Married couple fishing | Resident | Annual | $42.00 |
| Combination licence, 16 and over | Resident | Annual | $62.00 |
| Individual season fishing, 16 and over | Visitor | Annual | $68.00 |
| Married couple season fishing | Visitor | Annual | $108.00 |
Prices changed: Resident fishing licence $16 to $25; nonresident $45 to $60. Old and new prices, the date and the law (in force, law effective august 1, 2025; 2026β27 is the first full licence year at the new prices).
Passing through? North Dakota sells no one-day licence. The shortest option for a visitor is 3 days at $53. Compare every state's day licence.
Stamps and add-ons
The base licence is often not the whole ticket. These are the North Dakota extras on top of the base licence, as NDGF lists them.
| Add-on | When you need it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Paddlefish tag | $35.00 for visitors. A regular fishing licence is required as well. | $15.00 |
Do you need a fishing licence in North Dakota?
Yes, from age 16. Residents and visitors both need one from that birthday. What changes is the price, not the requirement.
$29.00 a year if you live in North Dakota, $73.00 if you are visiting.
Who does not need one
- Anglers 15 and under.
- North Dakota residents on military leave.
- Everyone on the state free fishing weekend.
Nobody needs a licence on North Dakotaβs free fishing days (residents only): the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
North Dakota Game and Fish Department sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official NDGF 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 14 North Dakota waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Devils Lake β Ramsey County
- Lake Sakakawea β Dunn County
- Lake Ashtabula β Barnes County
- Lake Tschida β Grant County
- Lake Audubon β McLean County
- Lake Metigoshe β Bottineau County
- Missouri River β Burleigh County
- Lake Darling β Ward County
- Jamestown Reservoir β Stutsman County
- Sheyenne River β Cass County
- Pipestem Reservoir β Stutsman County
- Nelson Lake β Oliver County
All 14 North Dakota waters β
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in North Dakota?
$29.00 for a resident annual all waters licence and $73.00 for a non-resident. Stamps and endorsements cost extra where the species or water calls for one.
Do you need a fishing license in North Dakota?
Yes, from age 16, and it makes no difference whether you live there: residents and visitors both need one, they just pay different prices. $29.00 for a resident annual licence, $73.00 for a visitor. 3 exemptions apply, listed on this page.
What age do you need a fishing licence in North Dakota?
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 North Dakota fishing licence online?
Yes. North Dakota Game and Fish Department sells online and through licence agents.
What is the North Dakota fishing certificate?
A compulsory $2.00 certificate for residents, $5.00 for visitors, bought alongside every licence. Our prices include it.
Is the married couple licence cheaper in North Dakota?
Yes: $42.00 for the pair against $54.00 for two individual resident licences.