Arkansas vs Louisiana fishing license
For a visitor's annual fresh-water license, Arkansas is $8 cheaper than Louisiana. You need a license from age 16 in Arkansas and from 18 in Louisiana.
- Free
- Official sources first
- Checked monthly
- Independent, not a state website
What visitors pay
Cheapest way for an adult non-resident to cover the trip, including required stamps, worked out from each state's price list. The cheaper state is marked.
| Trip | Arkansas | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh water | ||
| 1 day | $15 | $30 |
| 3 days | $30 | $30 |
| 7 days | $60 | $60 |
| 1 year | $60 | $68 |
| Residents, annual | ||
| Fresh water | $10.50 | $17 |
| Prices for | 2026-27 | 2026 |
Rules side by side
| Arkansas | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|
| License needed from age | 16 | 18 |
| Senior residents | Resident 65 Plus annual fishing license: $3.50 (ages 65+) Resident 65 Plus lifetime fishing license: $10.50 (ages 65+) | No-fee senior hunting and fishing license (resident): Free (ages 87+) Resident senior lifetime hunting and fishing license: $100 (ages 65+) |
| Senior visitors | Normal visitor prices | Normal visitor prices |
| Required stamps | None | None |
| Next free fishing day | Not yet announced | Not yet announced |
| On a charter | Yes: everyone who fishes needs their own license | Yes: everyone who fishes needs their own license |
| License on your phone | Accepted | Accepted |
| Annual licenses last | 12 months from purchase | 12 months from purchase |
| Last checked | Nov 4, 2026 | Nov 4, 2026 |
Full details and sources: Arkansas fishing license · Louisiana fishing license
Shared waters
Neither state lists a special agreement for waters shared with the other. Where you fish decides which license you need.
Limits for fish found in both states
Guide only. Statewide rules; many waters have their own. Check each state's official rules before you keep a fish.
| Fish | Arkansas | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass |
Black bass |
Black bass (largemouth and spotted) |
| Crappie |
bag 30 |
Crappie (black and white) |
| Catfish |
Catfish (except bullhead) |
Blue, channel and flathead catfish |
| Striped bass |
Striped bass and hybrid striped bass |
Striped and hybrid striped bass |
Questions
Is a Arkansas fishing license valid in Louisiana?
No. Each state needs its own license. There's no general agreement between the two states.
Which is cheaper for visitors, Arkansas or Louisiana?
1 day (fresh water): Arkansas $15, Louisiana $30. 1 year (fresh water): Arkansas $60, Louisiana $68.
At what age do you need a fishing license in Arkansas and Louisiana?
You need a license from age 16 in Arkansas and from 18 in Louisiana.