At California's public docks, you can fish without a license. You must still comply with all other laws and regulations in terms of species,. A sport fishing license is required for anyone attempting to catch fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians, or reptiles in inland or ocean waters. Additional validations and report cards are required for certain species and areas.
In California, a sport fishing license is required for anyone 16 years of age or older who attempts to catch fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians, or reptiles in inland or ocean waters (unless fishing at a public dock). In California, anyone 16 years of age or older must obtain a sport fishing license to catch any type of fish (mollusks, reptiles, or amphibians) from the state. Like other fishing regulations, the license requirement is intended to protect fish stocks so that generations of anglers have good fishing opportunities. Once your first free sport fishing license has been issued to you, if you qualify for a disability license, you can renew it at any CDFW licensing agent, at selected CDFW license sales offices, or at line.
In California, any person who has continuously resided in the state for six months or more immediately before the date of their request for a license or permit, anyone who is in active military service, or anyone enrolled in the Job Corps is considered a resident. It's important to note that you don't need a license if you're going to fish from a public dock in ocean waters. Learn more about the different types of licenses available, and then buy a California fishing license online or with a licensing agent, such as at a sporting goods store. Additional resources and information can be found directly on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website. Fishing licenses are considered valid and in use from the time of purchase and fees cannot be refunded.
The rates for sport fishing validations and most report cards are set out in several sections of the Fishing and Hunting Code or in title 14 of the California Code of Regulations. People can also choose not to fish for spiny lobster and have the right to buy a report card after not fishing for lobster for a season. Everyone who catches rainbow trout, sturgeon, abalone, spiny lobster, or salmon (only salmon from the Klamath, Trinity and Smith rivers) must submit report cards. A) A sport fishing license is not required to fish for any purpose other than to make a profit by fishing from a public dock in the state's ocean waters.
This law changed the eligibility requirements for obtaining a reduced-rate sport fishing license for low-income seniors. Since the return rate for most fish labeling projects is 5% or less, many fish must be labeled to gather meaningful information. Section 7151 of the Fishing and Hunting Code authorizes the CDFW to issue free sport fishing licenses to anglers who meet specific criteria. Section 713 of the Fishing and Game Code requires that license fees be adjusted in response to increases (or decreases) in the costs of goods and services using an index called an implicit price deflator.
Any type of fishing license for residents or non-residents can be purchased online through the CDFW website, at a licensing agent located throughout the state, or at one of the 10 CDFW license sales offices. In addition, the state offers two days of free fishing each year so that anglers can practice sport fishing without obtaining a license.
