Hawaii fishing license: cost, who needs one and how to buy

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Pick your trip and we'll work out the cheapest licenses to buy, including any required stamps.

Prices for 2026. Listed prices are state fees. Online freshwater purchases add a $1 convenience fee; the online marine license may add a processing fee.

How long annual licenses last: Annual freshwater licenses are valid for one year from the date of issue. DLNR does not say whether the annual non-resident marine license runs 365 days or another period. Official source2

Non-residents (visitors)

Residents

• Wahiawa Public Fishing Area entry permit

  Free

  Free. Needed, with a freshwater license, to fish the Wahiawa Public Fishing Area (Lake Wilson, Oahu). Valid for the same period as your license.

  Everyone · fresh water Official source2

• Bottomfish fishing vessel registration

  Free

  Free. Boat owners need it to take or keep Deep 7 bottomfish from a vessel. Runs 1 September to 31 August.

  Everyone · salt water Official source2

• Anyone 8 or under (no freshwater license; non-residents under 15 need no marine license)

  FreshSalt Everyone Official source2

• Active-duty US armed forces members in Hawaii and their spouses and minor children, fishing in the ocean

  Salt Non-residents · check this applies to you Official source23

• Hawaii residents fishing in the ocean (no license or registration needed)

  Salt Residents Official source

• Non-residents under 15 fishing in the ocean

  Salt Non-residents Official source2

• Freshwater anglers not taking introduced game fish (the license covers only bass, bluegill, channel catfish, tucunare, oscar, Kokee trout and the Wahiawa Public Fishing Area)

  Fresh Everyone Official source

Fishing licenses from other states aren't valid in Hawaii.

Hawaii doesn't hold free fishing days. The state's official recreational fishing page lists none. Residents fish the ocean without a license all year. Official source2

Who counts as a resident

For the marine license, a Hawaii resident is someone who has lived and worked in Hawaii for 12 months or more before applying, filed or paid Hawaii income tax for the last tax period, or established domicile in Hawaii (for example a Hawaii driver's license or state ID). DLNR accepts a Hawaii ID, a state tax return or an official document sent to you at a Hawaii address in the last 30 days as proof.

Military

Active-duty US armed forces members in Hawaii, and their spouses and minor children, do not need the non-resident marine license. Military personnel pay the resident price for a freshwater license.

Official source23

Freshwater licenses are sold online (with a $1 convenience fee), at license agents and at DAR offices. The non-resident marine license is sold online only, at fishing.hawaii.gov.

Online

Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources license sales

Phone

808-587-0109

ID needed

Proof of Hawaii residency (such as a Hawaii driver's license or state ID) if you claim to be a resident.

Freshwater licenses: online at freshwater.ehawaii.gov ($1 convenience fee, card only), or in person from a license agent or DAR office with no convenience fee. You must print the freshwater license and carry it. Non-resident marine license: online only at fishing.hawaii.gov (a processing fee may apply); a phone screenshot, PDF or printout is accepted. Marine license help: 808-587-0109 or FishingLicense@hawaii.gov.

Official source23

Hawaii residents do not need a license or registration for recreational ocean fishing. Since 2 May 2024 non-residents 15 and over need a Non-resident Recreational Marine Fishing License.

The freshwater license is needed only to take introduced freshwater game fish (bass, bluegill, channel catfish, tucunare, oscar, Kokee trout) and to fish the Wahiawa Public Fishing Area.

Boats taking Deep 7 bottomfish must hold a free bottomfish vessel registration (BF number), renewed every year.

Yes: everyone who fishes needs their own license.

Non-resident passengers 15 and over on a fishing charter need the non-resident marine license; DLNR advises all non-resident charter passengers to buy one even if they don't plan to fish. Hawaii residents need no license for ocean fishing. DLNR does not mention any pier or guide exemption.

Official source

Statewide Hawaii freshwater and marine rules. Maui and many marine managed areas have extra rules. Bag limits are per person per day where given; many species have a minimum size but no bag limit.

Compare Hawaii with other states

Questions

Sources and checks

Every fact on this page comes from Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources unless it's marked secondary. We use a secondary source only when the official site doesn't show something, and we name it.

Licenses and prices

Checked Nov 4, 2026 (prices for 2026)

Free fishing days

Checked Nov 4, 2026

Seasons and limits

Checked Nov 4, 2026

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