Virginia Fishing License: The Complete Guide for 2025

A fishing trip in Virginia is well worth your  time and your dime. Whether you’re fishing in   the Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, or Atlantic  Ocean, this state was made for anglers. However,   before you set the drag and cast your first line,  you’ll need to pick up a Virginia fishing license. In this video, we’ll address some of your  most common questions regarding getting a   Virginia fishing license. We’ll go over  who needs one, which type of license   you should get, how to get one, and more. And if you’re looking for information on any   neighboring states, or anywhere else in the US, be  sure to check out our licenses playlist as well.  So who needs a fishing license in Virginia? The  short answer is everyone who is 16 and older,   regardless of whether you are a  resident or non-resident. However,   there are some exceptions to this rule.  You don’t need a license if you’re: fishing on a saltwater charter boat,  fishing on private lands that you own, or  have the owner’s permission to fish on,  a resident, active-duty member of  the armed forces on official leave,  a Native American living on a reservation,  or a resident member of a recognized tribe,   fishing in freshwater, if you are legally blind,  aiding a disabled license holder, older than the age of 65, fishing in saltwater,  or of course if you are under 16, fishing  in either freshwater or saltwater. If you don’t fall into at least one of these  categories, that means you need to have a   fishing license on you at all times while fishing.  You can have an electronic copy, printed paper,   or annual hard card, and you’re required to  show it to any officer who may ask to see it.  Ok so now you know you need a fishing license,  but which one should you get? There are many   different types of licenses available based  on things like where and how long you want   to go fishing. The cost of your license  will vary depending on whether you are   a Virginia resident or not, as well as the  length and type of fishing you wish to do. To qualify as a Virginia resident, you  must be at least one of the following:   a bonafide resident of the state  for six consecutive months,  a permanent resident of the  state for at least two months,  a legal voter in Virginia, a member of the US armed forces residing in   Virginia on active duty or stationed in the state, a student enrolled in a bonafide Virginia school,  or an unnaturalized person who owns real estate  and has lived in Virginia for at least five years. As a resident, you have as short as five-day  licenses to four-year licenses available,   and you can get them for either freshwater  or saltwater, or even a combination of   both. The cost of course will depend on  the length and type of license you get. There’s also a variety of special fishing licenses  that you can buy if you’re a Virginia resident,   depending on your specific needs and  circumstances. For example, you have: a Sportsman’s License that allows  you to hunt and fish in freshwater,  a Tidal Boat Sportfishing License which is  a special combined sportfishing license that   gives boat owners a license to fish in saltwater  and freshwater within the borders of Virginia,  a discounted license for residents over  the age of 65, fishing in freshwater,  a Trout Fishing License, and more. If you’re a non-resident, you still have all  the basic fishing licenses available to you   as a normal resident, albeit at a higher cost.  Additionally, you also have access to a single-day   freshwater fishing license, however, if you plan  on doing both hunting and fishing, you’ll need to   buy those separately, as the combination  license is reserved only for residents. There are other special types of  fishing licenses that are available   to both residents and non-residents, such  as Lifetime Licenses. Just keep in mind,   there are different types to choose from depending  on whether you’re a resident or a non-resident. You may also want to pay attention to whether  or not the specific fishing trip you had in   mind requires any additional fees. For example,  when fishing on National Forest lands, you’ll   need to get a National Forest Permit in addition  to your fishing license. If you plan on fishing in   a state forest, you’ll need a State Forest Use  Permit. If you plan on keeping Shad, Herring,   or Mullet, please note that you’ll need a County  Dip Net Permit as well. And last but not least,   fishing at Clinch Mountain, Crooked Creek,  and Douthat State Park will require you to   get a Daily Permit in addition to your license. For more information on the different types of   licenses available in Virginia, as well as their  full price breakdowns, be sure to check out our   full blog article linked in the description.  Keep in mind that these prices may change   from year to year, so it’s also a good idea to  check on the Virginia Department of Wildlife   Resources’ website before purchasing your license. And speaking of purchasing your fishing license,   buying one in Virginia couldn’t be easier. You  can purchase one online at GoOutdoorsVirginia.com   or by downloading the mobile app on your  phone. Just create a customer account and   you’ll see all the different license types  that fit your age and residency status. You can also get your license by  calling the Virginia Department of   Wildlife Resources during their regular  business hours or in-person by visiting   one of the many licensed agents around the state. And if you lose your license, you can  easily get it replaced. Just head over   to GoOutdoorsVirginia.com, select “Manage Your  Account” and “Reprint.” It’s that easy! Another   way to do it is by visiting a retail license  agent or by calling the Headquarters office.  A great benefit of having a Virginia fishing  license is that there are a number of reciprocal   license agreements that the Commonwealth  has with a few of its neighboring states.   For example, there are certain places  along the Virginia-North Carolina border,   such as in Buggs Island and  Gaston, Blue Ridge Parkway,   and New River where both states’ fishing  licenses and permits are honored. Similar reciprocal license agreements exist  between both the District of Columbia and   Maryland for a number of sections of the Potomac  River, including a number of its tributaries. If you’re living along the Tennessee border,  there’s an additional South Holston Reservoir   License that you can purchase along with your  regular freshwater fishing license that allows   you to fish in the Tennessee and Virginia  impounded waters of South Holston Reservoir. If you’d like more information on reciprocal  fishing license agreements, you can head over to   the Virginia Department Wildlife Resources’ main  website and search reciprocal license agreements.  So, just to quickly recap everything you need to  know before you buy your Virginia Fishing License: Everyone 16 and older, resident or  non-resident, must have a valid fishing   license on them at all times while fishing. There are a number of exemptions that exempt   certain individuals from needing a fishing  license, such as fishing on a saltwater charter   boat or on privately owned land, and many more. There are many different types of fishing licenses   available to both residents and non-residents,  based on specific needs and requirements,   such as where, how long, and the  type of fishing you plan on doing.  The same types of licenses are cheaper  for residents than for non-residents,   and residents also have access to hunting  and fishing combination licenses that   non-residents have to buy separately. However, non-residents have access to   a cheaper, one-day fishing license  that isn’t available to residents.  And last but not least, you can buy  a Virginia fishing license online,   by phone, in-person, or by downloading the  GoOutdoorsVirginia mobile app on your smartphone.  And that’s about it. We hope we  were able to answer most of your   questions regarding getting  a Virginia fishing license.   For even more information on license types as  well as full price breakdowns, be sure to check   out our full blog article by clicking on the link  in the description, or just drop us a line in the   comments. And when you’re finally ready to start  planning your trip, head over to FishingBooker.com   or download our app off the Google Play or App  Store and book a Virginia fishing charter today!