Arizona
Fishing License 2026.

License required?

Yes

Where to apply?

Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) via the official online portal, at AZGFD regional offices (Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson, Pinetop, Kingman, Yuma, Mesa), or at 200+ dealer outlets.

Cost

2026 fees: Resident general fishing $37; Non-resident general fishing $55; Non-resident 1-day $20; Short-term 1-day (res/non-res) $20; Combination hunt/fish (res) $57; Youth (10–17) combo $5. Community Fishing License (urban ponds only, all ages) $24. Colorado River interstate stamp $3. No separate trout stamp.

Validity

365-day rolling license from date of purchase.

Available online?

Yes

Children under 10 fish free without license but limits count against accompanying adult. Community Fishing License (CFL) covers 50+ stocked urban ponds only — cheaper option for city anglers. Urban Fishing Program stocks trout (winter) and catfish (summer) weekly in Phoenix/Tucson metro ponds. Apache and Gila trout (native, threatened) require strict regs — catch-and-release on designated streams.

Closed seasons

Most waters open year-round. Apache Trout recovery streams: catch-and-release only on designated reaches, some closed entirely. Seasonal closures on native-fish streams (Gila, Salt, Verde) April–June for loach minnow spawning.

Catch limits

Trout (statewide default): 6/day, 12 in possession. Largemouth/Smallmouth bass: 6 combined, 13" min on most waters, 10 on Lake Powell. Striped bass (Lake Powell/Mohave): 20/day, no min. Walleye: 4/day. Catfish: 10/day. Apache trout (on open streams): 2/day, 6" min.

Prohibited methods

Snagging, gaffing gamefish, firearms/archery for non-bowfishing-legal species, chumming with non-approved bait. Live baitfish legal on Lake Powell and Mead only — prohibited statewide otherwise.

Catch & Release

Apache trout on recovery streams — mandatory release. Gila trout — mandatory release on native range. Razorback sucker and humpback chub (endangered) — immediate release, no handling.

Urban Fishing Program ponds have 2-trout or 4-catfish limits (tighter than statewide). Two-pole fishing is LEGAL statewide without additional stamp (Arizona is one of few Western states with no two-pole fee). Lake Powell AIS decontamination mandatory.

Best season

March–May (spring bass spawn on Powell/Pleasant/Havasu) and October–November (fall striper blitz, cool-water bass). White Mountain trout lakes peak June–September.

Freshwater

Desert reservoirs on Colorado/Salt/Verde/Gila river systems dominate — hot summer water (85°F+) drives fishing to dawn/dusk. White Mountains (8,000 ft) hold cool-water alpine lakes and streams for Apache and rainbow trout.

Saltwater

Landlocked — no saltwater fishery. Colorado River below Hoover/Davis Dam is the closest thing to a big-water fishery.

Equipment

Bass Pro Shops (Mesa), Cabela's (Glendale), Sportsman's Warehouse (multiple). White Mountains fly shops (Western Drifter, Silver Creek). Lake Powell marinas (Wahweap, Bullfrog) have full tackle.

Fishing guides

Lake Powell striper guides $550–$800/day. Lake Pleasant bass guides $400–$550/day. White Mountain trout guides $350–$500/day.

Transport

Fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) for Pleasant (45 min) / Roosevelt (2 hr) / Havasu (3 hr). Fly Flagstaff or Page for Lake Powell (Page = 1 hr from Wahweap marina). Rental car required for all fisheries.

Safety

Summer heat (110°F+ in desert lakes) is lethal — fish dawn/dusk, carry 1 gal water per person. Monsoon lightning June–Sep. Lake Powell slot-canyon flash floods. Higher-elevation winter snow on White Mountain roads.

License fees

$37 resident / $55 non-resident annual

Guide prices

$350–$800/day

Daily budget

Self-guided budget: $70/day. Guided day: $400–$700/day.