Washington has the most granular licence structure in the country, and the reason is that the state manages a dozen genuinely different fisheries. Freshwater, saltwater, shellfish and razor clams are all priced separately, salmon and steelhead need an endorsement on top, and Puget Sound crab needs its own. The saving grace is that annual freshwater, saltwater and combination licences all include the Discover Pass, which is $51.50 of parking you would otherwise pay for.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Washington fishing fee
The licence year runs 1 April to 31 March.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combination, one day | Resident | 1 day | $14.90 |
| Combination, one day | Visitor | 1 day | $27.05 |
| Combination, two days | Resident | 2 days | $20.98 |
| Combination, two days | Visitor | 2 days | $39.19 |
| Combination, three days | Resident | 3 days | $25.53 |
| Combination, three days | Visitor | 3 days | $48.30 |
| Freshwater, senior resident 70+ | Resident | Annual | $9.59 |
| Saltwater, senior resident 70+ | Resident | Annual | $10.35 |
| Razor clam, annual | Resident | Annual | $17.44 |
| Shellfish and seaweed, annual | Resident | Annual | $21.58 |
| Razor clam, annual | Visitor | Annual | $28.07 |
| Combination, senior resident 70+ | Resident | Annual | $28.83 |
| Freshwater, annual | Resident | Annual | $39.95 |
| Saltwater, annual | Resident | Annual | $40.71 |
| Shellfish and seaweed, annual | Visitor | Annual | $47.39 |
| Combination, annual | Resident | Annual | $74.37 |
| Saltwater, annual | Visitor | Annual | $81.70 |
| Fish Washington, annual Every freshwater, saltwater and shellfish privilege in one. | Resident | Annual | $101.88 |
| Freshwater, annual | Visitor | Annual | $115.85 |
| Combination, annual | Visitor | Annual | $170.00 |
A catch record card is required for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut and Puget Sound Dungeness crab, and everyone must carry one, including anglers under 16. Washington also asks for your social security number at purchase if you are 16 or over.
Prices changed: Licence fees up 38% from July 2025, the first rise since 2011; a new $8.75 Columbia River endorsement from 2026. Old and new prices, the date and the law (carried from 2025, july 1, 2025; new endorsement january 1, 2026).
Passing through? A visitor pays $27.05 for one day here, and the annual works out cheaper after 5 days. Compare every state's day licence.
Stamps and add-ons
The base licence is often not the whole ticket. These are the Washington extras on top of the base licence, as WDFW lists them.
| Add-on | When you need it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia River salmon and steelhead endorsement | Required to fish for salmon or steelhead in endorsement waters. | $8.75 |
| Two-pole endorsement | β | $20.23 |
| Puget Sound crab endorsement | Required to harvest Dungeness crab in Puget Sound. $5.05 with a temporary licence. | $11.89 |
| Catch record card plus halibut | β | $7.59 |
| Discover Pass | Vehicle access to state recreation land. $11.50 for one day. Included with annual freshwater, saltwater and combination licences. | $51.50 |
| Aquatic invasive species prevention permit | β | $24.00 |
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.
Do you need a fishing licence in Washington?
Yes, from age 16. Residents and visitors both need one from that birthday. What changes is the price, not the requirement.
$39.95 a year if you live in Washington, $115.85 if you are visiting, for fresh water. Washington licenses fresh and salt water separately, so check which one your trip needs.
Who does not need one
- Anglers under 15. Youth aged 15 fish free but still need a catch record card for the listed species.
- Everyone on the state free fishing weekend.
Nobody needs a licence on Washingtonβs free fishing days: the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official WDFW 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 24 Washington waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Banks Lake β Grant County
- Cowlitz River β Lewis County
- Yakima River β Benton County
- Westport β Grays Harbor County
- Drano Lake β Skamania County
- Grande Ronde River β Asotin County
- Skagit River β Skagit County
- Rufus Woods Lake β Okanogan County
- Potholes Reservoir β Grant County
- Kalama River β Cowlitz County
- Humptulips River β Grays Harbor County
- Riffe Lake β Lewis County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Washington?
$39.95 for a resident annual freshwater licence and $115.85 for a non-resident. Stamps and endorsements cost extra where the species or water calls for one.
Do you need a fishing license in Washington?
Yes, from age 16, and it makes no difference whether you live there: residents and visitors both need one, they just pay different prices. $39.95 for a resident annual freshwater licence, $115.85 for a visitor. 2 exemptions apply, listed on this page.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Washington?
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 Washington fishing licence online?
Yes. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife sells online and through licence agents.
Do I need separate freshwater and saltwater licences in Washington?
Yes. Washington sells them separately, so fishing both sides means either two licences or the combined option listed in the fee table.
Do I need a catch record card in Washington?
Yes for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut and Puget Sound Dungeness crab, and everyone must carry one including anglers under 16. Paper cards must be returned by the deadline even if you caught nothing.
Is the Discover Pass included with a Washington fishing licence?
With the annual freshwater, saltwater and combination licences, yes. Short-term licences do not include it, so a one-day angler parking on state land pays the $11.50 day rate separately.