What will it cost? Calculator
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 license fees. A vendor fee is added to each purchase (the department's license page gives $1 per vendor transaction). The required $4 HMAV is shown separately.
Where these prices come from: Prices from the department's 2026-2027 Fishing Rules and Info booklet. Some older department web pages still show lower prices.
How long annual licenses last: Licenses run from April 1 to March 31 of the following year. Official source
Non-residents (visitors)
| License | Water | Length | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-day fishing license (non-resident) | Fresh | 1 day | $12 | Official source |
| Five-day fishing license (non-resident) | Fresh | 5 days | $30 | Official source |
| Age-limited licenses | ||||
| Non-resident annual fishing license Ages 18+ | Fresh | Annual | $90 | Official source |
| Non-resident junior annual fishing license (12 to 17) Ages 12–17 | Fresh | Annual | $20 | Official source |
Residents
| License | Water | Length | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-day fishing license (resident) | Fresh | 1 day | $12 | Official source |
| Five-day fishing license (resident) | Fresh | 5 days | $30 | Official source |
| Age-limited licenses | ||||
| Resident annual fishing license Ages 18+ | Fresh | Annual | $35 | Official source |
| Resident junior annual fishing license (12 to 17) Ages 12–17 | Fresh | Annual | $5 | Official source |
| Resident senior annual fishing license (65 to 69) Ages 65–69 | Fresh | Annual | $8 | Official source |
| Resident annual fishing license, 70 and older (free) Ages 70+ | Fresh | Annual | Free |
Free, but the license must still be obtained. Official source |
| Special licenses (conditions apply; not used by the calculator) | ||||
| Resident disabled annual fishing license | Fresh | Annual | $8 |
Only for: For New Mexico residents with a qualifying permanent disability. Official source |
| Resident game-hunting and fishing license | Fresh | Annual | $42 |
Only for: Includes hunting (squirrel and game birds other than turkey). Shown for hunters; the calculator quotes the fishing-only license. Official source |
| Resident junior game-hunting and fishing license Ages 12–17 | Fresh | Annual | $15 |
Only for: Includes hunting. Shown for hunters. Official source |
| Resident senior and disabled game-hunting and fishing license | Fresh | Annual | $20 |
Only for: For residents 65 to 69 or with a qualifying disability. Includes hunting. Official source |
| Resident disabled veteran game-hunting and fishing license | Fresh | Annual | $10 |
Only for: For New Mexico resident disabled veterans. Includes hunting. Official source |
Extra stamps and permits
Checked Nov 4, 2026Some of these are required: the calculator adds them automatically.
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Habitat Management and Access Validation (HMAV)
$4Required for residents who needs a license (ages 18–69)
Needed once per license year by anglers 18 and over, unless they hold a free license. Added to the basket automatically with an adult's first purchase.
Residents Official source2
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Habitat Management and Access Validation (HMAV)
$4Required for non-residents who needs a license (ages 18+)
Needed once per license year by anglers 18 and over. Added to the basket automatically with an adult's first purchase.
Non-residents Official source2
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Habitat Stamp
$10Needed by anglers 12 and over to fish on US Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management land (not on private land; not with a free license).
Everyone Official source2
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Second Rod Validation
$10Needed to fish with two rods (age 12 and over). Three rods are never allowed.
Everyone Official source
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Gila Trout Fishing Permit
FreeFree; needed on certain listed Gila trout waters such as Black Canyon, Mogollon Creek and Whitewater Creek.
Everyone Official source
Who doesn't need a license
Checked Nov 4, 2026-
Anyone under 12
Fresh Everyone Official source
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Anglers on tribal reservations or private Class A lakes (no New Mexico license needed; tribal or lake owner permits may apply)
Fresh Everyone · check this applies to you Official source2
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New Mexico resident veterans who are 100% disabled (free license by application to department headquarters)
Fresh Residents · check this applies to you Official source
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Foster families (free license)
Fresh Residents · check this applies to you Official source
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Anyone on New Mexico's free fishing weekends
Fresh Everyone Official source
Fishing licenses from other states aren't valid in New Mexico.
Free fishing days
Checked Nov 4, 2026Dates can move, and some free days are for residents only. Confirm with NMDOW before you go.
Next dates not yet announced. Check the official page.
Two weekends a year, set by the department (2026: June 6 to 7 and September 26 to 27). No license is needed on public waters; bag limits and other rules still apply. 2027 dates not yet announced.
Residents and visitors
Checked Nov 4, 2026- Who counts as a resident
- US citizens domiciled in New Mexico for at least 90 days before applying and not claiming residence elsewhere; legal non-citizens with 90 days' verified residence also qualify. Temporary or seasonal residents whose main home is outside New Mexico do not. (at least 90 days)
- Military
- Military personnel permanently assigned to a New Mexico base (with a commanding officer's letter), and their spouses and dependents in the household, count as residents.
- Students
- Students who have attended a New Mexico school for at least one full term while living in the state count as residents (letter of enrollment needed).
How to buy a New Mexico fishing license
Checked Nov 4, 2026Sold online, by phone on 1-888-248-6866, at department offices and at license vendors.
- Online
- New Mexico Department of Wildlife (formerly Department of Game and Fish) license sales
- Phone
- 1-888-248-6866
Buy online, by phone, at department offices or at license vendors. A $1 vendor fee applies to purchases through a vendor. The department's pages do not say whether a license shown on a phone is accepted.
Fishing on private land needs the landowner's written permission. The Habitat Stamp is not needed on private property.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish became the New Mexico Department of Wildlife in 2026; older documents use the old name.
Charters, guides and piers
Checked Nov 4, 2026Not applicable.
Inland state with no saltwater fishing, so no charter rule applies.
Charter rules depend on the boat and where you fish. Ask the captain, and check NMDOW's rules before you book.
Seasons and limits
Checked Nov 4, 2026Limits change, and many lakes, rivers and coastal areas have their own rules. Check NMDOW's current rules before you keep a fish.
Statewide rules from the 2026-2027 Fishing Rules and Info booklet. Special Trout Waters and many named waters have their own rules. Warm water species: possession limit is twice the daily bag. Trout and kokanee: 10 in possession (24 kokanee in the snagging season).
| Species | Where | Size | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trout and kokanee (brown, brook, rainbow, Gila, kokanee) Fresh | Statewide (regular trout waters) | No minimum | 5 combined (10 in possession), including no more than 2 lake trout and 2 cutthroat | – |
| Special Trout Waters have their own lower limits and tackle rules; some waters (e.g. Tingley Beach) differ. A free Gila Trout Fishing Permit is needed on some waters. Official source2 Trout limits in other states | ||||
| Lake trout Fresh | Statewide | No minimum | 2 (4 in possession), counted within the trout limit | – |
| Official source2 Trout limits in other states | ||||
| Cutthroat trout Fresh | Statewide | No minimum | 2, counted within the trout limit | – |
| Any trout with red slash marks under the jaw counts as a cutthroat. Official source2 Trout limits in other states | ||||
| Kokanee (snagging season) Fresh | Listed waters (Abiquiu, Rio Chama, Navajo, El Vado, Eagle Nest and others) | No minimum | 12 (24 in possession) | October 1 to December 31 (Heron Lake, Willow Creek and Navajo no-wake areas from November 13) |
| Kokanee are the only fish that may be snagged. Official source Salmon limits in other states | ||||
| Largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass Fresh | Statewide | Largemouth and spotted 14" minimum; smallmouth 12" minimum | 5 | – |
| Smallmouth 14" minimum at Conchas and Ute reservoirs. Official source2 Largemouth bass limits in other states | ||||
| Walleye Fresh | Statewide | 14" minimum (per the department's warm water page) | 5 | – |
| Official source2 Walleye limits in other states | ||||
| Catfish (channel, blue, flathead) Fresh | Statewide | No minimum | 15 | – |
| Bullheads and Special Summer Catfish waters excluded. No limit on the Animas and San Juan rivers in San Juan County. Official source2 Catfish limits in other states | ||||
| Crappie Fresh | Statewide | No minimum | 20 | – |
| Official source Crappie limits in other states | ||||
| Northern pike Fresh | Statewide | No minimum | 10 | – |
| Eagle Nest Lake: no limit, and pike may not be returned to the lake. Official source2 Northern pike limits in other states | ||||
| Tiger muskie Fresh | Bluewater and Quemado lakes | 40" minimum | 1 | – |
| Official source Muskellunge (muskie) limits in other states | ||||
| White bass and wipers (hybrid striped bass) Fresh | Statewide | No minimum | 25 combined | – |
| Official source Striped bass limits in other states | ||||
| Striped bass Fresh | Statewide | No minimum | 1 | – |
| No limit on the Animas and San Juan rivers in San Juan County. Official source2 Striped bass limits in other states | ||||
| Yellow perch Fresh | Statewide | No minimum | 30 | – |
| Official source Yellow perch limits in other states | ||||
| Bluegill, sunfish, bullheads and other warm water fish Fresh | Statewide | No minimum | 20 | – |
| Official source Catfish limits in other states | ||||
Compare New Mexico with other states
Neighboring states, side by side: prices, age rules, free days and shared waters.
Questions
Do I need a fishing license in New Mexico?
Yes, if you are 12 or older and fish public waters in New Mexico, unless an exemption applies. No license is needed for: Anyone under 12.
How much is a non-resident fishing license in New Mexico?
For an adult fishing fresh water, the cheapest options for 2026-27 are $16 for one day (One-day fishing license (non-resident), Habitat Management and Access Validation (HMAV) (required)); $58 for seven days (Five-day fishing license (non-resident), 2 x One-day fishing license (non-resident), Habitat Management and Access Validation (HMAV) (required)); $94 for a year (Non-resident annual fishing license, Habitat Management and Access Validation (HMAV) (required)). Listed prices are license fees. A vendor fee is added to each purchase (the department's license page gives $1 per vendor transaction). The required $4 HMAV is shown separately.
Do seniors need a fishing license in New Mexico?
Senior options for residents: Resident annual fishing license, 70 and older (free): Free (ages 70+). Non-resident seniors pay the normal non-resident prices.
How do I get a fishing license in New Mexico?
Buy it from New Mexico Department of Wildlife (formerly Department of Game and Fish): Sold online, by phone on 1-888-248-6866, at department offices and at license vendors.
Sources and checks
Every fact on this page comes from New Mexico Department of Wildlife (formerly Department of Game and Fish) 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 5 source pages
- wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/download/2026-2027-new-mexico-fishing-rules-and-info/?wpdmdl=54201&refresh=6aeba16eec3aa1793827182
- wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/game-fish/cold-water-regulations-2/
- wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/warm-water-regulations/
- www.abqjournal.com/news/free-fishing-weekend-across-the-state-set-for-saturday-sunday/3126699
- www.wildlife.state.nm.us/fishing/licenses-permits/requirements-fees
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