Ohio Fishing Licenses Made Easy

An Ohio Fishing License is very affordable and easy to obtain for residents and visitors alike.

In general a fishing license is required in order to take fish, frogs and turtles from any Ohio body of water other than privately owned water or land for any Ohio resident sixteen years of age or older. One exception to the licensing regulation is the weekend of May 1 and 2, 2010 when Ohio celebrates "Free Fishing Days". No license is required during those two days for Ohio residents.

The annual fishing license fee for Ohio residents is $19 and a reduced fee for those 66 years old and older is $10. A three-day tourist fishing license is available for $19 and an annual non-resident license costs $40. Applicants for resident fishing licenses must have lived in Ohio for at least six months. There is no license fee for Ohio residents born on or before December 31, 1937.

There are three ways to buy an Ohio fishing license.

Buy an Ohio Fishing License at a Participating Vendor
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources provides a vendor finder on its website. Each of the state's 88 counties has at least one vendor. Applicants need to simply type in a zip code, county or city name to find the closest license vendor.

Buy an Ohio Fishing License via Mail Order
To receive an Ohio Fishing License Application in the mail, call 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543).

Buy an Ohio Fishing License Online
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources provides an Internet portal to order, pay for and print a fishing license and receipt. While this method is very convenient, especially for out-of-state anglers, it does have its drawbacks. The ODNR license purchasing website is only available through Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher and Netscape 6.0 or higher. Accepted forms of payment are Visa, MasterCard and Discover. However, a 3% transaction fee will be applied to online license purchases.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has published a simple guide to fishing regulations in the state. This guide includes size and daily limits for several specific bodies of water including the Ohio River, Lake Erie and Pymatuning Lake as well as statewide guidelines. The ODNR website also provides all of the rules and regulations for fishing in Ohio.

An Ohio fishing license provides an additional opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty found all around the state. Dinner might just be waiting in one of Ohio's rivers or lakes!

"The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." - John Buchan, author of The Thirty-Nine Steps

Sources: Ohio Department of Natural Resources