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Which fishing license do I need on this charter?

Summary only, last verified . The agency's own regulations control. Not legal advice.

Your license depends on the waters you fish, not the port you leave from.

Whose waters will you fish?

Showing every case. Choose the waters, where you live and your age to narrow it down.

Ohio waters

  • Under 16: No Ohio license needed under 16.
  • Ohio residents 16–64: Ohio resident 1-day license: $14.00. Ohio resident 1-year license: $25.00.
  • Ohio residents 65 and older: Ohio resident senior license: $10.00 for Ohio residents 65 and older born on or after January 1, 1938; residents born on or before December 31, 1937 get a free license.
  • Not an Ohio resident, 16 and older: Nonresident 1-day: $27.04. Nonresident 3-day: $52.00. Nonresident 1-year: $76.96.
  • Ohio's walleye and perch limits apply to anyone fishing Ohio waters or landing fish at an Ohio port.

Buy: Ohio's licensing site · ODNR license page

Pennsylvania waters

  • Under 16: No Pennsylvania license needed under 16. No Lake Erie Permit is needed under 16.
  • 16 and older: On Pennsylvania's Lake Erie waters you need a license plus a Lake Erie Permit, unless you hold a 1-Day Tourist license, which includes it. Lake Erie Permit: $9.97 (Combination Trout/Lake Erie Permit $20.97). 1-Day Tourist license: $31.97, includes the trout and Lake Erie permits (not valid March 15 - April 30). 3-Day Tourist license: $31.97 (add the Lake Erie Permit). 7-Day Tourist license: $39.47 (add the Lake Erie Permit).
  • Pennsylvania residents 16–64: Resident annual license: $27.97. Resident 1-day license: $14.47 (not valid March 15 - April 30); add the Lake Erie Permit.
  • Pennsylvania residents 65 and older: Senior resident annual license: $14.47.
  • Not a Pennsylvania resident, 16 and older: Non-resident annual license: $60.97; add the Lake Erie Permit.

Buy: HuntFish PA · PFBC license prices

New York waters

  • Under 16: No New York license needed under 16.
  • 16 and older: Annual: $25 resident (16-69), $5 resident 70+, $50 non-resident. 7-day: $12 resident, $28 non-resident. 1-day: $5 resident, $10 non-resident. Annual licenses last 365 days from purchase.
  • A New York license doesn't cover the Pennsylvania or Ontario part of Lake Erie.

Buy: DEC licensing site · DEC fishing licenses

Michigan waters

  • Under 17: No Michigan license needed under 17.
  • 17 and older: Annual all-species: $26 resident, $76 non-resident, $11 senior (65+ or legally blind, Michigan residents). Daily all-species: $10 a day (resident or non-resident). Annual licenses run March 1 through March 31 of the next year.

Buy: Michigan DNR eLicense · Michigan DNR license page

Ontario waters

  • U.S. residents: To fish Ontario waters you need an Ontario fishing license and, except with a 1-day license, an Outdoors Card. Non-Canadian residents 65 and older still need them. Non-Canadian residents under 18 may fish without them if they are with someone who holds a valid Ontario license (their fish count toward that person's limit). Fees for non-Canadian residents: 1-day sport license CAD 24.86 (no Outdoors Card needed); 8-day sport CAD 54.38; 1-year sport CAD 83.19; Outdoors Card CAD 8.57; all plus 13% HST.
  • Canada residents: Ontario and other Canadian residents have their own license types and fees. Ontario's license page
  • Crossing into Canadian waters can also trigger border reporting rules. Your captain handles that, but ask.

Buy: Ontario's licensing service · Ontario license fees

We link only to the agencies' own sites. Carry your license while you fish. Ohio accepts a license shown on your phone. Pennsylvania accepts it printed or on your phone.

Questions

Do I need a license if the captain has one?

Yes. Once you reach the license age for the waters you fish, you need your own license; the captain's guide license or permit doesn't cover you. Pennsylvania even makes permitted captains responsible for checking that their customers hold licenses.

The boat leaves from Ohio but fishes Pennsylvania water. Which license?

The license goes by the waters you fish. Fishing Pennsylvania's waters needs a Pennsylvania license and, on Lake Erie, the Lake Erie Permit (or a 1-Day Tourist license).

Can a Pennsylvania charter captain sell me a license?

PFBC can authorize permitted captains to sell 1-day, 3-day and 7-day licenses and the Lake Erie Permit to their customers. Ask your captain.

Do I need an Outdoors Card for one day in Ontario?

Not with Ontario's 1-day license; longer licenses need the Outdoors Card too.

Sources