North Dakota Fishing License: Requirements, Cost, and Age Limits (2026)
North Dakota requires residents and nonresidents age 16 or older to hold a fishing license plus a separate Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate. An annual purchase is $29 for a resident or $73 for a nonresident; anglers younger than 16 qualify for the youth rules below.
Last verified 7 Sep 2026 against North Dakota Game and Fish — Fishing Licensing Requirements.
| Rule | Answer | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| License required? | Yes Residents and nonresidents age 16 or older need a fishing license. The separate Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate is also required and is purchased once per licensee per fishing year. | North Dakota Game and Fish — Fishing Licensing Requirements | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Resident annual license | USD 27.00 The resident annual fishing license costs $27. A resident who has not already bought the required $2 certificate pays $29 for the two items. | NDGF | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Nonresident annual license | USD 68.00 The nonresident annual fishing license costs $68. A nonresident who has not already bought the required $5 certificate pays $73 for the two items. | NDGF | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Resident married-couple annual license | USD 42.00 The resident married-couple license costs $42, but the certificate is per licensee. If neither spouse already holds one, add two $2 certificates, making the real required total $46 rather than $42. | NDGF | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Resident senior annual license | USD 10.00 A resident age 65 or older pays $10 for the annual fishing license. Add the $2 certificate unless the angler already holds one for the fishing year. | NDGF | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Free Fishing Days | Yes North Dakota residents may fish without a resident license on June 6–7 and December 26–27, 2026. The exemption does not apply to nonresidents or paddlefish. | 2026–28 North Dakota Fishing Proclamation — Free Fishing Days | 7 Sep 2026 |
| License year | fixed The fishing year runs from April 1 through March 31 of the following year. It ends on that fixed date rather than one year after purchase. | 2026–28 North Dakota Fishing Proclamation | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Darkhouse registration 2026 | No North Dakota eliminated its darkhouse-spearfishing registration requirement on April 1, 2026. NDGF's general licensing overview still displays the obsolete registration instruction; the current 2026 change announcement controls this entry. | North Dakota Outdoors — 2026–28 Fishing Regulation Changes | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Mobile proof | accepted A digital image of the fishing license stored on a mobile device is accepted as proof that the license is in the angler's possession. | North Dakota Game and Fish — Fishing Licensing Requirements | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Nonresident married couple | USD 108.00 The nonresident married-couple license costs $108, but the certificate is per licensee. If neither spouse already holds one, add two $5 certificates, making the real required total $118 rather than $108. | NDGF | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Nonresident ten day | USD 58.00 The nonresident ten-day fishing license costs $58. Add the $5 certificate unless the angler already holds one for the fishing year. | NDGF | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Nonresident three day | USD 48.00 The nonresident three-day fishing license costs $48. Add the $5 certificate unless the angler already holds one for the fishing year. | NDGF | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Nonresident under 16 | conditional A nonresident younger than 16 may fish without a nonresident license only while accompanied by someone holding a valid fishing license. The young angler may take and possess a separate limit. | North Dakota Game and Fish — Fishing Licensing Requirements | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Paddlefish tag | USD 15.00 The paddlefish tag costs $15 for a resident or $35 for a nonresident, plus the applicable certificate. It is sold directly rather than by lottery. Anglers age 16 or older also need a base fishing license. The May 1–21 snag season may close early. | 2026–28 North Dakota Fishing Proclamation § A.3-4 | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Required certificate | USD 2.00 The Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate costs $2 per resident or $5 per nonresident and is required in addition to the fishing license. It is per person, not per license, which changes the real married-couple total. | North Dakota Game and Fish — Resident and Nonresident License Prerequisites | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Resident under 16 | Yes A resident younger than 16 may fish without a license and may take and possess a separate limit of fish. | North Dakota Game and Fish — Fishing Licensing Requirements | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Salmon spearing 2026 | allowed Salmon snagging, bow fishing, and spearing are allowed during daylight from September 25 through October 31 on Lake Sakakawea from Garrison Dam upstream to the Highway 23 bridge near New Town, including tributaries only to their first bridge or road crossing. | 2026–28 North Dakota Fishing Proclamation § A.3-5 | 7 Sep 2026 |
| White bass limits 2026 | 30 daily Since April 1, 2026, the statewide white bass daily limit is 30, up from 20, and the possession limit is 60, up from 40. | 2026–28 North Dakota Fishing Proclamation § A.4-2-1 | 7 Sep 2026 |
| White sucker live bait 2026 | allowed Live white suckers are legal bait on the Missouri River System, Lake Audubon, Devils Lake, and Stump Lake. The change is specific to white suckers and these named waters, not a statewide rule for all suckers. | 2026–28 North Dakota Fishing Proclamation § A.2-2-3 | 7 Sep 2026 |
What fee do people forget on a North Dakota fishing license?
The advertised license price leaves out the Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate. Every licensee buys that certificate once per fishing year: $2 for a resident or $5 for a nonresident. A resident annual purchase therefore costs $29 when you need both pieces, not just the $27 license. The comparable nonresident amount is $73, not $68. (North Dakota Game and Fish resident and nonresident fee tables)
The per-person rule creates a larger married-couple surprise. The resident couple license is $42, but two spouses who hold no current certificates pay $46 after adding two $2 certificates. The nonresident couple product is $108; two new $5 certificates make the required total $118. The certificate follows the person, not the shared license. (North Dakota Game and Fish license prerequisites)
Can a visitor use North Dakota’s Free Fishing Days?
No. The 2026 dates—June 6–7 and December 26–27—waive the resident license only. They do not create a nonresident exemption, and they do not cover paddlefish. A visitor should not treat a statewide “free fishing” announcement as a free pass without checking the residency restriction. (2026–28 North Dakota Fishing Proclamation)
Residents younger than 16 fish without a license and keep their own limit. A nonresident younger than 16 also keeps a separate limit but must be accompanied by someone holding a valid fishing license. Anglers who do need a license may carry a digital image on a phone as proof. (North Dakota Game and Fish Fishing Licensing Requirements)
Do I still register before darkhouse spearfishing?
No. North Dakota eliminated the darkhouse-spearfishing registration requirement on April 1, 2026. The general licensing page still shows the old registration instruction, but NDGF’s newer regulation-change announcement says registration is no longer required. This page follows that current 2026 source. (North Dakota Outdoors, 2026–28 Fishing Regulation Changes)
The same update raised the white bass daily limit from 20 to 30 and the possession limit from 40 to 60. It also restored live white suckers as bait on the Missouri River System, Lake Audubon, Devils Lake, and Stump Lake. That is a named-species, named-water rule—not a statewide permission for every sucker species. (2026–28 North Dakota Fishing Proclamation)
Is a paddlefish tag issued by lottery?
No. NDGF sells tags directly online and at Department offices. The tag is $15 for a resident or $35 for a nonresident, plus the applicable certificate; an angler age 16 or older also needs the base fishing license. Snagging is scheduled for May 1–21 but can close early. (North Dakota Game and Fish Paddlefish Snagging Season)
Another 2026 change allows salmon snagging, bow fishing, and spearing in daylight from September 25 through October 31 on the defined Lake Sakakawea segment between Garrison Dam and the Highway 23 bridge near New Town. Check the current proclamation before using those methods outside that segment. (2026–28 North Dakota Fishing Proclamation)
Where to buy the license
- North Dakota Game and Fish licensing Official license requirements, purchase channels, youth rules, and mobile-proof guidance.
- NDGF resident license fees Current resident fishing-license, certificate, senior, married-couple, and paddlefish prices.
- NDGF nonresident license fees Current nonresident annual, short-term, married-couple, certificate, and paddlefish prices.
- 2026–28 North Dakota fishing regulations Current seasons, free-fishing dates, limits, methods, and bait rules.
What if you're fishing across a state line?
Check the rules for the neighbouring state where you'll fish: