Indiana Fishing License Cost (2026-27)
A Indiana resident annual fishing license costs $23. Non-residents pay $60 for an annual license. Short-term, senior, and combination licenses are listed below, plus current trout stamp prices, and where to buy.
A Indiana fishing license is the baseline legal requirement for most anglers on the state's public waters, and Indiana Department of Natural Resources sets the fees, exemptions, and license year. The table on this page reflects the agency's current published prices.
Statewide species rules cover most Indiana waters, but special regulations on individual lakes take precedence where they exist; the official regulations digest is the authoritative reference. Once licensed, the Indiana lake pages on LakeQuality show which waters hold the best quality grades, the clearest water, and improving trends — a data-first way to pick where to fish next.
2026-27 License Fees
| License Type | Resident | Non-Resident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fishing | $23 | $60 | Valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year. Fees exclude tech fee ($1 at retailers/by mail, $3 online plus credit-card processing fee). |
| One-Day Fishing (includes Trout/Salmon) | $10 | $15 | Single-day license; trout/salmon privilege is included, so no separate stamp needed that day. |
| Seven-Day Fishing | — | $35 | Nonresident-only short-term option; residents have no 7-day license. |
| Annual Senior Fishing | $3 | — | Indiana residents at least 64 years old (born after March 31, 1943). Residents born before April 1, 1943 are exempt entirely and may buy a $3 Voluntary Senior Annual Fishing license to support conservation. |
| Senior Fish-for-Life | $23 | — | One-time lifetime fishing license for Indiana residents 64 and older. |
| Annual Hunting & Fishing Combo | $32 | — | Resident-only combination license. |
| Disabled American Veteran (DAV) Annual Hunt/Fish | $2.75 | — | Reduced-fee combined hunting/fishing license for qualifying resident disabled veterans; a 10-year DAV Hunt/Fish is $27.50. |
Trout Stamp
Resident: $11 · Non-resident: $11
Required in addition to a valid fishing license to fish for or take trout or salmon from public waters (anglers 18 and older; exempt under 18 or if born before April 1, 1943). The One-Day Fishing license already includes the trout/salmon privilege.
Who Needs a License?
Anglers under 18 need no fishing license or trout/salmon stamp, and Indiana residents born before April 1, 1943 are fully exempt (carry ID proving age and residency). Residents 64 and older (born after March 31, 1943) qualify for the $3 Annual Senior Fishing license or the one-time $23 Senior Fish-for-Life license; other exemptions include legally blind residents, certain residents with developmental disabilities or in licensed care facilities on supervised outings, owners/lessees (and family) fishing their own farmland, private ponds with owner permission, military personnel on approved leave, and statewide Free Fishing Days (May 10, June 6-7, and Sept. 26 in 2026).
Season & Regulations
Fishing is open year-round for most species in Indiana; annual licenses and stamps run on a license year of April 1 through March 31. The main dated opener is the inland-stream trout season, which begins at 6 a.m. local time on the last Saturday of April (April 25, 2026), and the DNR also offers license-free Free Fishing Days each year.
For complete bag limits, slot limits, and water-specific rules, see the Indiana fishing regulations ↗.
Where to Buy
- Online: https://www.gooutdoorsin.com/ ↗
- In person: Sporting goods stores, bait shops, and county auditor / clerk offices that act as license agents.
- At DNR offices: Any Indiana Department of Natural Resources office.
Source: Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 2026-27.