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Pick your trip and we'll work out the cheapest licenses to buy, including any required stamps.
Licenses and prices
Checked Nov 4, 2026Prices for 2026-27. Listed prices are the state fees in 301 KAR 5:022. The department's buying page does not mention extra online fees.
Where these prices come from: Fees from 301 KAR 5:022 (in force from November 6, 2025). A proposed amendment filed in September 2026 keeps the fishing fees the same.
How long annual licenses last: Annual licenses and permits run from purchase to the last day of February; the new license year starts March 1. One-day and seven-day licenses are valid for the dates printed on them. Official source2
Non-residents (visitors)
| License | Water | Length | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-resident statewide annual fishing license | Fresh | Annual | $55 | Official source |
| Non-resident one-day fishing license | Fresh | 1 day | $15 | Official source |
| Non-resident seven-day fishing license | Fresh | 7 days | $35 | Official source |
Residents
| License | Water | Length | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident statewide annual fishing license | Fresh | Annual | $23 | Official source |
| Resident one-day fishing license | Fresh | 1 day | $7 | Official source |
| Resident statewide three-year fishing license | Fresh | 3 years | $55 |
Sold online only. Official source2 |
| Age-limited licenses | ||||
| Senior sportsman's license (residents 65 and over) Ages 65+ | Fresh | Annual | $12 |
Kentucky residents aged 65 or over. Not available before your 65th birthday. Includes: Fishing and hunting privileges in one license. Official source2 |
| Senior lifetime sportsman's license (residents 65 and over) Ages 65+ | Fresh | Lifetime | $180 |
Includes: Fishing and hunting privileges. Valid for life while the holder stays a Kentucky resident. Official source |
| Special licenses (conditions apply; not used by the calculator) | ||||
| Joint married couple statewide fishing license | Fresh | Annual | $42 |
Only for: For a resident married couple; covers both spouses. Official source |
| Disabled sportsman's license | Fresh | Annual | $12 |
Only for: Residents who meet the department's disability requirements. Official source |
| Youth sportsman's license Ages 12–15 | Fresh | Annual | $30 |
Only for: Hunting and fishing package for young residents; under-16s do not need a fishing license. Official source |
| Sportsman's license | Fresh | Annual | $95 |
Only for: Hunting and fishing package; includes a trout permit. The calculator quotes the fishing-only license. Official source |
| Resident combination hunting and fishing license | Fresh | Annual | $42 |
Only for: Includes hunting. The calculator quotes the fishing-only license. Official source |
Extra stamps and permits
Checked Nov 4, 2026-
Trout permit
$10Needed (age 16 or over, unless license-exempt) to keep trout, or to fish the Cumberland River from Wolf Creek Dam to the Tennessee line, its tributaries up to the first riffle, or Hatchery Creek. Included in the sportsman's license.
Everyone · fresh water Official source2
Who doesn't need a license
Checked Nov 4, 2026-
Anyone aged 15 or under (residents and non-residents)
Fresh Everyone Official source
-
Resident landowners and farm tenants, with their spouses and dependent children, fishing their own land
Fresh Residents · check this applies to you Official source
-
Kentucky-resident active-duty military on leave or furlough of more than 3 days
Fresh Residents · check this applies to you · Proof: leave papers Official source
-
Anyone fishing within Mammoth Cave National Park
Fresh Everyone Official source
-
Anglers at a licensed pay lake holding a free permit from the operator
Fresh Everyone Official source
-
Anyone during Free Fishing Weekend (first Saturday and Sunday in June)
Fresh Everyone Official source
Fishing licenses from other states aren't valid in Kentucky, except under the border-water agreements below.
Free fishing days
Checked Nov 4, 2026Dates can move, and some free days are for residents only. Confirm with KDFWR before you go.
- Jun 5–6, 2027 First Saturday and Sunday in June Fresh
Next dates not yet announced. Check the official page.
The rule: First Saturday and Sunday in June.
Annual event for residents and visitors of all ages; no license or permit needed. Size and creel limits still apply, and you still need permission to fish private waters. 2026 dates were June 6-7.
Residents and visitors
Checked Nov 4, 2026- Who counts as a resident
- You are a resident if you have your permanent home and legal residence in Kentucky and have lived there for the 30 days before you apply. Non-residents who own land in Kentucky still need non-resident licenses. (at least 30 days)
- Military
- US military personnel on permanent assignment in Kentucky count as residents.
- Students
- Full-time students enrolled for at least six months at a Kentucky school count as residents.
Secondary source: Kentucky Revised Statutes 150.010 (FindLaw)2
How to buy a Kentucky fishing license
Checked Nov 4, 2026Sold online, by phone (877-598-2401) and at about 900 license agents. Online buyers get an authorization number instead of a mailed license.
- Online
- Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources license sales
- Phone
- 877-598-2401
- ID needed
- Name, address, date of birth and Social Security number to buy; carry photo ID while fishing.
Online buyers carry the authorization number or a printout of the license plus photo ID. Free reprints from My Profile. Gift certificates can be bought online.
Charters, guides and piers
Checked Nov 4, 2026Yes: everyone who fishes needs their own license.
Anyone 16 or over fishing Kentucky waters needs a license, including on guided trips; the department sets out no charter or guide exemption. Someone who only helps an angler without taking control of the rod does not need one.
Charter rules depend on the boat and where you fish. Ask the captain, and check KDFWR's rules before you book.
Border waters
Ohio River
A Kentucky license is valid on the main stem from a boat or from the Illinois, Indiana or Ohio bank, but not in those states' embayments or tributaries. Bank anglers follow the rules of the state they fish from. Official source
Mississippi River (Missouri side)
A Kentucky license is valid in the main channel, side channels and chutes, but not oxbow lakes, tributaries or flooded backwaters when the Cairo gauge is above 33 feet. Official source
Kentucky Lake (Tennessee portion)
A Kentucky license is valid from Eggner's Ferry Bridge south to the Ned McWhorter bridge, including embayments, except Blood River. Official source2
Dale Hollow Lake (Wolf River arm, Tennessee)
A Kentucky license is valid in the Tennessee part of the Wolf River arm. Official source
Big South Fork of the Cumberland River
A Kentucky license is valid in Tennessee waters from Leatherwood Ford Bridge (TN 297) to the KY 92 bridge at Yamacraw. Official source
Big Sandy and Tug Fork rivers (West Virginia)
A Kentucky license is valid on the main stems from a boat or the West Virginia bank, not in West Virginia tributaries or embayments. Official source
Seasons and limits
Checked Nov 4, 2026Limits change, and many lakes, rivers and coastal areas have their own rules. Check KDFWR's current rules before you keep a fish.
Statewide size and daily creel limits set by KDFWR. Many lakes and streams have special regulations listed in the Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide. Possession limit is twice the daily limit. One fishing day equals one calendar day.
| Species | Where | Size | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth, smallmouth, Kentucky (spotted) and Coosa bass Fresh | Statewide | 12" minimum for largemouth and smallmouth; none for Kentucky and Coosa bass | 6 in total | – |
| Possession limit 12. Many lakes have their own limits. Official source Largemouth bass limits in other states | ||||
| Crappie (black and white) Fresh | Statewide | No statewide minimum | 20 in total | – |
| Possession limit 40. Many lakes, including Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, have their own rules. Official source Crappie limits in other states | ||||
| Redear sunfish Fresh | Statewide | No minimum | 20 | – |
| Possession limit 40. Bluegill and other sunfish are not listed on the statewide table. Official source | ||||
| Rock bass Fresh | Statewide | No minimum | 15 | – |
| Possession limit 30. Official source | ||||
| White bass and hybrid striped bass Fresh | Statewide | No minimum | 15 in total; no more than 5 over 15" | – |
| Possession limit 30. Official source Striped bass limits in other states | ||||
| Striped bass Fresh | Statewide | 15" minimum | 5 | – |
| Possession limit 10. Official source Striped bass limits in other states | ||||
| Walleye, sauger and their hybrids Fresh | Statewide | 14" minimum | 6 in total | – |
| Possession limit 12. Official source Walleye limits in other states | ||||
| Muskellunge Fresh | Statewide | 30" minimum | 1 | – |
| Possession limit 2. Official source Muskellunge (muskie) limits in other states | ||||
| Chain pickerel Fresh | Statewide | No minimum | 5 | – |
| Possession limit 10. Official source | ||||
| Channel catfish Fresh | Statewide | No limit under 28" | Unlimited under 28"; 1 fish 28" or longer | – |
| Possession limit 2 fish of 28" or more. Official source Catfish limits in other states | ||||
| Blue and flathead catfish Fresh | Statewide | No limit under 35" | Unlimited under 35"; 1 of each species 35" or longer | – |
| Possession limit 2 of each 35" or more. Official source Catfish limits in other states | ||||
| Rainbow trout Fresh | Statewide | No minimum | 8 | – |
| Possession limit 16. A trout permit is needed to keep trout. Official source Trout limits in other states | ||||
| Brown trout Fresh | Statewide | 16" minimum | 1 | – |
| Possession limit 2. Trout permit needed to keep trout. Official source Trout limits in other states | ||||
| Cutthroat trout Fresh | Statewide | 20" minimum | 1 | – |
| Possession limit 2. Official source Trout limits in other states | ||||
| Brook trout Fresh | Statewide | Catch and release only | 0 | – |
| Catch and release only, except the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam and upper Hatchery Creek (special rules). Official source Trout limits in other states | ||||
Compare Kentucky with other states
Neighboring states, side by side: prices, age rules, free days and shared waters.
Questions
Do I need a fishing license in Kentucky?
Yes, if you are 16 or older and fish public waters in Kentucky, unless an exemption applies. No license is needed for: Anyone aged 15 or under (residents and non-residents).
How much is a non-resident fishing license in Kentucky?
For an adult fishing fresh water, the cheapest options for 2026-27 are $15 for one day (Non-resident one-day fishing license); $35 for seven days (Non-resident seven-day fishing license); $55 for a year (Non-resident statewide annual fishing license). Listed prices are the state fees in 301 KAR 5:022. The department's buying page does not mention extra online fees.
Do seniors need a fishing license in Kentucky?
Senior options for residents: Senior sportsman's license (residents 65 and over): $12 (ages 65+); Senior lifetime sportsman's license (residents 65 and over): $180 (ages 65+). Non-resident seniors pay the normal non-resident prices.
When is the next free fishing day in Kentucky?
Jun 5–6, 2027 (First Saturday and Sunday in June). Annual event for residents and visitors of all ages; no license or permit needed. Size and creel limits still apply, and you still need permission to fish private waters. 2026 dates were June 6-7.
How do I get a fishing license in Kentucky?
Buy it from Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources: Sold online, by phone (877-598-2401) and at about 900 license agents. Online buyers get an authorization number instead of a mailed license.
Do I need a license to fish on a charter in Kentucky?
Yes: everyone who fishes needs their own license. Anyone 16 or over fishing Kentucky waters needs a license, including on guided trips; the department sets out no charter or guide exemption. Someone who only helps an angler without taking control of the rod does not need one.
Sources and checks
Every fact on this page comes from Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife 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 2026-27)
- Free fishing days
- Checked Nov 4, 2026
- Seasons and limits
- Checked Nov 4, 2026
All 9 source pages
- apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/301/005/022/
- fw.ky.gov/Fish/Pages/Reciprocal-Hunting-and-Fishing-Agreements.aspx
- fw.ky.gov/Licenses/Pages/How-to-Buy-Licenses-and-Permits.aspx
- fw.ky.gov/More/Pages/FAQ.aspx
- fw.ky.gov/News/Pages/Kentucky-free-fishing-weekend-is-June-6&7-2026.aspx
- fw.ky.gov:443/Fish/Pages/Species-Sizes-and-Limits.aspx
- www.eregulations.com/kentucky/fishing/license-permit-fees
- www.tn.gov/twra/news/2025/10/28/new-reciprocal-fishing-agreements-with-tennessee-and-kentucky-now-in-effect.html
- Kentucky Revised Statutes 150.010 (FindLaw) secondary
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