Non-Resident Georgia Fishing License Guide

Where to fish in Georgia, and how much does obtain a non-resident fishing license cost?


Places to Fish

  • Public Fishing Areas
  • Wildlife Management Areas
  • Go Fish Education Center
  • State Parks


If you are a non-resident of Georgia, you might wonder how to buy a fishing license for the state. You may be able to buy a commercial or one-day fishing license. Or you may even be able to get a combination of a hunting and fishing license.

Georgia Non-Resident Fishing License

$50 for an annual fishing license, $10 for a single day, and $3.50 for each extra day.


Depending on the area and activity, additional paid or free permits may be required:

A free Saltwater Information Program (SIP) permit is also needed for saltwater fishing.


The purchased Trout License is extra necessary for mountain trout fishing. There are yearly and temporary fishing license options.

Please read our post about purchasing a Georgia fishing license online for more detailed information.


Landowners

To fish, non-resident landowners in Georgia must get a non-resident fishing license.

Except for non-residents under the age of 16, who may fish or hunt small game without a Georgia license, non-resident family members of a resident landowner must get a non-resident license.

Youth Sportsman’s License (15 years old or younger): 

$50 annual | $20 hunting for one day & $6 for additional days

If you are 15 years old or younger, you don’t need a fishing license or trout permit, a SIP for salt water, a Georgia migrating bird stamp, a federal duck stamp for ducks and geese, and you don’t need a pass or license to enter state WMAs or PFAs.

Young people 15 years of age can obtain a Nonresident Youth Sportsman’s Annual License for $50 that enables large game hunting.

Once kids turn 16, they can still use their young Sportsman’s license to buy the necessary hunting and fishing permits until it expires.

Sportsman’s License: 

$400 per year; $170 for a single day and $70 for each subsequent day.

A Sportsman’s License may be purchased by non-resident hunters aged 16 and up.

All state-paid hunting and fishing rights are included with a sportsman’s license, except for the alligator harvest permit.

Completing an approved hunter education course is required for a sportsman’s license with an annual or longer term.

Cost included in a sportsman’s license:

  • Trout
  • Saltwater
  • Freshwater
  • Big Game
  • Hunting
  • Georgia Migratory Bird Stamp

Other commercial licenses and tapping are not included in the Sportsman’s license. 

This license is available for short-term or annual durations. 

Combined Licenses

Hunting and fishing licenses cost $150 per year, $30 for a single day, and $10 for each subsequent day.

A yearly combination hunting and fishing license is available to non-residents 16 years old or older.

Basic fishing and basic hunting rights are combined under a Combo License.

Completing an approved hunter education course is necessary for Combo Licenses with an annual or longer tenure.

Non-residents with this license who are 15 years of age or younger do not need a large game license to hunt. However, bear, deer, turkey, alligator, and turkey hunters must have a free Harvest Record (Northern Zone only).

This license is offered yearly and short-term.

Apprentice License 

Hunting and fishing licenses for apprentices cost $30 for one day and $10 for each subsequent day.

This license can be bought by anybody at least 16 years old.

You may acquire an unlimited number of one-day apprentice permits. One-day permits can be stacked for up to ten consecutive days.

If you are 16 years of age or older and would want to experience hunting but haven’t finished hunter education (available online or in person), you may get an apprentice license and go hunting!

You are not obliged to have a licensed hunter with you, even though we advise learning to hunt from a mentor or another licensed hunter.

“An individual who has declared Georgia their only state of legal residence, as evidenced by a valid Georgia driver’s license or Georgia identification card with a Georgia address, is referred to as a “Georgia Resident” to buy a recreational hunting and fishing license. This does not include lifetime fishing licenses.”An individual who has declared Georgia their only state of legal residence, evidenced by a valid Georgia driver’s license or Georgia identification card with a Georgia address, is referred to as a “Georgia Resident” to buy a recreational hunting and fishing license. This does not include lifetime fishing licenses.

A person must be domiciled in their fixed, permanent, and primary residence for legal reasons.

A person may own property or home and temporarily reside in numerous states. Still, they may only have one domicile, which prevents them from simultaneously living in more than one state.

Other than lifetime license, honorary, or discounted hunting and fishing, the following non-residents may obtain resident licenses:

  • Military service members who are on active duty full-time and their families.

Must provide Military ID.

  • Non-resident full-time college students who attend a Georgian University while residing there.

Students are required to present a valid Georgia student ID as proof of enrollment.

Georgia’s Free Fishing Days

Georgia celebrates National Fishing and Boating for the first whole week in June. The ideal excuse to get out on the water and enjoy the delights of boating and fishing is National Fishing and Boating Week, a national celebration of fishing and boating.

National Fishing and Boating Week coincide with most states’ free fishing days every year during the first week of June.

How can you participate?

  1. Georgia will host two FREE fishing days during National Fishing and Boating Week.
  2. On National Hunting and Fishing Day, Georgia provides one FREE fishing day!
  3. Numerous kid’s fishing competitions are also being organized this week, particularly on the weekends.

The popularity of fishing is due to a variety of factors.

One of the key advantages is that fishing is a fun way to exercise, unwind, and reduce stress.

An excellent social activity is fishing.

Significant economic and environmental advantages are also present.

If you or your child is new to fishing, bring them to one of these events.

Excellent opportunity to socialize, receive professional counsel, and spend time together.

The ability to laugh, unwind, reconnect, and make memories with friends and family is greatly enhanced by time spent fishing and boating.