A Maine resident season fishing license costs $30 for 2026. A nonresident season license is $83, and nonresidents can also buy a 3-day for $30, a 7-day for $62, or a 15-day for $66. Anyone 16 or older needs a license to fish inland waters, or even to transport fish taken from them. The fastest way to buy is online through MOSES, the state’s licensing system, which runs 24/7 and lets you print at home or just show the license on your phone. Under 16 fishes free, no junior license needed. Lifetime licenses run from $8 for residents 70 and older to $900 for a nonresident child, and they are bought by application, not online.
One catch on every price below: the state fee does not include the agent fee, so the checkout total will run slightly higher.
2026 license fees
These are the official MDIFW fees for 2026, pulled from the state fee table. A dash means the license does not appear in that column of the 2026 MDIFW fee table.
| License type | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Season fishing (16 and older) | $30 | $83 |
| 1-day fishing | $18 | $18 |
| 3-day fishing | - | $30 |
| 7-day fishing | - | $62 |
| 15-day fishing | - | $66 |
| Combination fishing and hunting | $48 | $169 |
| Combination fishing and archery | $48 | - |
| Super Pack (eligible Maine residents only) | $212 | Not available |
| Duplicate license | $2 | $2 |
Two of the short licenses are upgradeable, which matters if a trip goes well. A resident 1-day can be exchanged for a season (or combination hunting-and-fishing) license by paying the difference plus the agent’s fee. A nonresident 15-day converts to a nonresident season license for $17 plus the agent’s fee. So if you buy a 15-day in June and decide in July you want the rest of the year, you are not starting over.
If you lose your license, the agent who issued the original will print a duplicate for $2.
Lifetime licenses: the math for kids and seniors
Maine sells lifetime fishing licenses, and at both ends of the age range they beat buying year to year.
- Residents 70 and older: an $8 one-time senior lifetime license covers fishing, hunting, trapping, archery, and many permits for life. If you bought a senior lifetime license before turning 70, the $8 is waived.
- Residents 65 to 69: discounted lifetime fishing licenses step down by age: $50 at 65, $40 at 66, $30 at 67, $20 at 68, $10 at 69. One-time fee, good for life even if you later move out of state.
- Kids: a resident lifetime fishing license is $150 for age 5 and under, $300 for ages 6 to 15. Nonresident youth lifetime licenses run $450 and $900 for the same brackets. At $83 a year for a nonresident season license, the $900 version pays for itself in about 11 seasons.
Those are the only lifetime brackets on the state’s application: residents 15 and under or 65 and older, and nonresidents 15 and under. MOSES does not sell lifetime licenses. Download the resident application or the nonresident application from MDIFW, or call the Lifetime License Program at (207) 287-8000.
Who needs a license
A valid Maine fishing license is required for anyone 16 or older to fish inland waters or to transport fish taken from inland waters. That applies to residents and nonresidents alike, and the transport clause means the person hauling the cooler needs a license too, not just the person who caught them.
The exceptions:
- Under 16. No license, resident or not.
- Free fishing days. See below; two weekends a year.
- Landowners. A Maine resident (and immediate family) may fish without a license in open inland waters on land they legally possess, actually live on, and that totals 10 or more contiguous acres. This does not apply if the person’s license is under suspension or revocation.
- Nonresident college students. A nonresident age 18 to 23 enrolled full-time at a Maine college may qualify for resident-rate licenses. This one is not sold by regular agents; you have to get it at the MDIFW main office in Augusta.
Where to buy
Online: MOSES, the state’s online licensing system, is open 24/7. You can print the license at home, and an electronic copy on your phone is legally valid in place of paper. If you land in Portland at 9 p.m. and want to fish Sebago at dawn, this is how you do it. MOSES cannot issue lifetime, complimentary, or military licenses, or licenses for people from countries other than the U.S. and Canada, and the online agent may add its own fee.
In person: license agents are all over the state: sporting goods shops, many convenience stores, town clerk offices, and the turnpike service centers. The MDIFW office in Augusta sells them too. One wrinkle for visitors: not all town clerks issue nonresident licenses, so a general store or big-box sporting goods counter is the safer bet if you are from away.
The full requirements page lives at maine.gov/ifw if you want the state’s own wording.
Free fishing days in 2026
Maine opens the water to everyone twice in 2026: February 14-15 (ice fishing weekend, conveniently) and May 30-31. On those days any person may fish without a license, unless their license is suspended or revoked. Every other law still applies: bag limits, length limits, closed waters, tackle restrictions, all of it. If you are introducing someone to the sport, these weekends are the zero-cost way in.
Saltwater registration and fishing rules
Two distinctions matter before you fish:
Saltwater registration. A valid Maine freshwater fishing license exempts you from a separate saltwater registry signup, except for a lifetime license. If you hold a lifetime license or no freshwater license, check Maine DMR’s full exemption list before registering. Carry proof of your registration or exemption when fishing salt water or transporting the catch. DMR’s fishing rules still apply when you cast for striped bass at Popham Beach or jig mackerel off a pier.
The rules themselves. A license is permission to fish, not permission to fish anywhere, anyhow. Season dates, bag limits, and special regulations vary water by water; our Maine seasons and regulations guide covers how to read them. To find legal water near you and see what swims in it, start with the Maine fishing map.
The MDIFW fee table, lifetime application brackets, MOSES limits and DMR registry exemptions were checked September 29, 2026. The state can change fees, so treat MOSES checkout as the final word on price.
Common questions
How much is a Maine fishing license in 2026?
A resident season license is $30 and a nonresident season license is $83 for anyone 16 or older. Nonresidents can also buy shorter licenses (a 3-day is $30, a 7-day is $62, a 15-day is $66) and either state gets a 1-day for $18. Agent fees are extra on top of every price.
How much is a lifetime fishing license in Maine?
It depends on age. For Maine residents it is $150 for a child 5 or under and $300 for ages 6 to 15; nonresident children cost $450 and $900. Residents 65 to 69 pay $50 at 65, stepping down $10 a year to $10 at 69, and residents 70 or older pay $8 for a senior lifetime license. Lifetime licenses are bought with the MDIFW application, not through MOSES.
Who can get a Maine lifetime fishing license?
The state lifetime application covers Maine residents 15 and under or 65 and older, and nonresidents 15 and under. The license stays good for life even if the holder later moves out of Maine.
Do kids need a fishing license in Maine?
No. Anyone under 16, resident or not, fishes inland waters without a license. The license requirement starts at age 16.
Can I buy a Maine fishing license online?
Yes. MOSES, the state licensing system on maine.gov, sells licenses 24/7. Print it at home or just show the electronic license on your phone; a warden will accept either. MOSES cannot sell lifetime, complimentary, or military licenses.
Does a Maine fishing license cover saltwater fishing?
A valid Maine freshwater fishing license exempts you from separate saltwater registration, unless it is a lifetime license. Other exemptions include anglers under 16 and passengers on qualifying licensed charter boats. Check Maine DMR's exemption list before registering, and carry proof of your license or other exemption. Saltwater fishing rules still apply.
When are the free fishing days in Maine in 2026?
February 14-15 and May 30-31, 2026. Anyone can fish without a license on those days unless their license is suspended or revoked. Every other rule, from bag limits to closed waters, still applies.
