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

What will it cost? Calculator

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

Prices for 2026. 2026 prices from ODFW's fee schedule, which says they include the agent fee.

How long annual licenses last: Annual licenses are valid January 1 to December 31; the next year's go on sale December 1. Official source23

Non-residents (visitors)

Residents

Some of these are required: the calculator adds them automatically.

• Ocean Endorsement (annual)

  $9

  Required for everyone with annual, 7 days licenses (ages 18+) fishing salt water

  Fishing the ocean from beaches, jetties or boats, or spearfishing. Not needed if only taking salmon, steelhead or shellfish. Included with Youth, Pioneer and Disabled Veteran licenses. Daily version $4.

  Everyone · salt water Official source

• Combined Angling Tag (resident)

  $69

  Fishing for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or Pacific halibut, at any age. Included with one-, two- and three-day licenses. Youth tag $5.

  Residents Official source

• Combined Angling Tag (non-resident)

  $89

  As the resident tag. Included with one-, two- and three-day licenses.

  Non-residents Official source

• Hatchery salmon and steelhead harvest tag

  $43

  Keeping more hatchery salmon or steelhead once the Combined Angling Tag is full.

  Everyone Official source

• Two-rod validation

  $34

  Fishing with two rods where allowed. Not needed under 12.

  Everyone · fresh water Official source

• Columbia River Basin Endorsement

  $9.75

  Fishing for salmon, steelhead or sturgeon in the Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream and its tributaries. $11.75 if bought separately; daily $1.

  Everyone · fresh water Secondary source: Oregon sport fishing regulations (eRegulations)

• Shellfish license (resident annual)

  $13

  Taking shellfish such as crab and clams, age 12 or over.

  Residents · salt water Official source

• Shellfish license (non-resident annual)

  $37

  Taking shellfish, age 12 or over. Non-resident 3-day shellfish license $25.

  Non-residents · salt water Official source

• Anyone under 12 (a Combined Angling Tag is still needed for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut)

  FreshSalt Everyone Secondary source: Oregon sport fishing regulations (eRegulations)

• Oregon residents fishing on land they own, or an immediate family member's land where they live (not for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut)

  Fresh Residents · check this applies to you Secondary source: Oregon sport fishing regulations (eRegulations)

• Disabled veterans (free combination and shellfish licenses)

  FreshSalt Residents · check this applies to you Secondary source: Oregon sport fishing regulations (eRegulations)

• Anyone taking only crayfish or bullfrogs

  Fresh Everyone Secondary source: Oregon sport fishing regulations (eRegulations)

• Anyone, on Oregon's free fishing days (no license or tags needed)

  FreshSalt Everyone Secondary source: Oregon sport fishing regulations (eRegulations)

Fishing licenses from other states aren't valid in Oregon, except under the border-water agreements below.

2027 dates not yet announced.

The rule: Several days a year, set by ODFW.

No license, tags or endorsements needed. All other rules apply.

Secondary source: Oregon sport fishing regulations (eRegulations)

Who counts as a resident

You count as an Oregon resident if you have physically lived in Oregon for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying. Owning property or paying property tax in Oregon does not make you a resident.

Military

Members of the uniformed services who are Oregon residents, and their spouses and dependent children, are treated as residents. Non-resident members of the uniformed services can also buy resident licenses (except controlled hunt tags).

Students

Non-US citizens attending an Oregon school on a foreign exchange program can be treated as residents. The law has no general rule letting out-of-state college students buy resident licenses.

Official source

Sold online through MyODFW, in the app and at license agents.

Online

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife license sales

App

MyODFW

License on your phone

Accepted

Buy online through MyODFW, at an ODFW office that sells licenses or at a license agent. Licenses can be shown in the MyODFW app; keep your phone charged, as you must be able to show it to Oregon State Police. You can't carry someone else's electronic license on your phone. Short (1 to 7-day) licenses bought by guest checkout can't go in the app and must be printed. Licensing help: 503-947-6101.

Official source2

One angling license covers fresh and salt water; shellfish need a separate shellfish license.

Yes: everyone who fishes needs their own license.

Oregon law requires everyone who fishes to hold a valid angling license unless exempt, and there is no exemption for charter boat passengers or guided clients, so each angler 12 or over needs their own license and any tags or endorsements (daily licenses are available for short trips).

Official source

Border waters

• Columbia River and nearby ocean (Washington)

  On the Columbia River where it forms the Oregon-Washington border, and in the ocean within three miles of shore between Cape Falcon (Oregon) and Leadbetter Point (Washington), either a valid Oregon or Washington license is accepted. If you are not a Washington resident, you still need an Oregon license to land fish or take shellfish by boat in Oregon. Official source2

• Snake River (Idaho)

  Either a valid Oregon or Idaho license is accepted on the Snake River where it forms the Oregon-Idaho border, but not on the other state's shoreline, sloughs or tributaries. Official source

Oregon sets freshwater rules by zone (Willamette Zone shown as an example) plus a Marine Zone. Many waters have exceptions, and salmon, halibut and bottomfish rules change in season. Varies by species and zone; see the regulations.

Compare Oregon with other states

Neighboring states, side by side: prices, age rules, free days and shared waters.

• Oregon vs California
• Oregon vs Idaho
• Oregon vs Nevada
• Oregon vs Washington

Questions

Sources and checks

Every fact on this page comes from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 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

Spotted something out of date? Tell us.