These are the base fees published by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Nonresident freshwater fees can be higher under the reciprocal rule: Maryland charges the higher of its minimum fee or the comparable fee your home state charges. Confirm the final amount on the official Maryland fishing license page before purchasing.
Non-tidal (freshwater)
| License | Resident | Nonresident | Key details |
| Annual non-tidal | $32 | $55 minimum | Nonresident fee is the minimum or the reciprocal fee, whichever is higher. |
| 3-day non-tidal | Not available | $35 minimum | Same reciprocal rule. |
| 7-day non-tidal | $16 | $45 minimum | Same reciprocal rule. |
| Senior Consolidated (65+) | $12 | Not available | Residents 65 or older, or turning 65 this calendar year. No longer includes the trout stamp. |
| Trout stamp | $20 | $30 | Required for trout in designated non-tidal waters, ages 16+. |
Chesapeake Bay and coastal (tidal)
| License | Resident | Nonresident |
| Annual | $15 | $22.50 |
| 7-day | $6 | $12 |
For freshwater, a resident annual license costs $32 and the minimum nonresident annual fee is $55. For tidal waters, annual licenses cost $15 for residents and $22.50 for nonresidents.
Tidal vs. non-tidal: which water are you on?
Maryland splits its rules by water type, and buying the wrong license is easy to do.
Non-tidal freshwater. A non-tidal license covers inland rivers, lakes, and streams without tidal influence. Residents can choose annual or 7-day, and nonresidents can choose annual, 3-day, or 7-day. Anglers 16 and older generally need a trout stamp to catch or possess trout in designated non-tidal waters.
Chesapeake Bay and coastal. The Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License covers eligible recreational fishing in the Bay, its tributaries, state waters of the Atlantic, and designated coastal bays and their tributaries.
The line between tidal and non-tidal runs through rivers, so one river can need two different licenses a few miles apart. Before you drive, find your stop on the Fishbox map to see whether it sits on a tidal stretch or a freshwater one, then buy the license that matches. Confirm the exact boundary with DNR, since it has the final say.
Maryland saltwater angler registration
Not every saltwater angler needs to buy a tidal license. Some can fish under Maryland’s free Saltwater Angler Registration instead. It may apply to eligible anglers in the Chesapeake Bay and tidal Potomac River who aren’t otherwise required to hold a tidal license, such as certain passengers on licensed boats, waterfront property owners and their family members, and people fishing in designated license-free areas.
Registration is free, but it isn’t a universal replacement for a license. Eligibility depends on your circumstances and where you’re fishing. You can register through the Maryland DNR fishing license and registration page.
Maryland fishing license age requirements and exemptions
Anglers aged 16 and older need a valid license unless they qualify for an exemption. Anglers under 16 can fish without a recreational license.
Other exemptions include:
- Designated license-free areas: registration may still be required.
- Eligible military personnel: Maryland residents on active duty and on leave with official orders.
- Certain property owners and family members: people fishing from qualifying waterfront property, subject to registration rules.
- Reciprocal fishing rights: special agreements cover certain waters shared with neighboring states.
Exemptions have specific conditions, so check DNR’s rules before relying on one. Size limits, daily catch limits, and seasons still apply even when no license is needed.
Maryland free fishing days
Maryland generally holds free fishing days on the first two Saturdays in June and on July 4. On those days, eligible anglers can fish tidal and non-tidal waters without the license or stamp normally required. Other fishing rules still apply.
July 4 is a holiday, and popular spots fill early. If you’re planning a family outing, pick two or three options in Fishbox before you leave and check the forecast, so you have a backup if the first spot is crowded or the weather turns.
Where to buy a Maryland fishing license
You can buy online, from an authorized agent, at a DNR regional service center, or by mail. More than 250 authorized sport license agents operate across the state.
Online
- Visit the Maryland Outdoors licensing portal.
- Sign in or create an account.
- Select the license that matches your residency and destination.
- Add any required trout stamp or other permit.
- Complete payment and save or print your license.
Most licenses are available immediately after purchase. You can reprint a lost or damaged license through your account at no charge.
In person
Visit an authorized agent or a DNR regional service center. Check the official license application and purchasing page for locations.
Got your license? Pick your stretch of water
Maryland packs a lot of different fishing into a small state: Bay tributaries, tidal rivers, ocean-side bays, and cold mountain streams in the west, often within a couple of hours of each other.
Fishbox shows the spots near you on one map with the forecast beside them, so you can pick the stretch that fits your license and your day.