Fish and Game Code Section 70 defines "Resident" as any person who has resided continuously in the State of California for six months or more immediately prior to the date of their application for a license or permit, any person on active military duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or auxiliary branch thereof, or any person enrolled in the Job Corps established pursuant to Section 2883 of Title 29 of the United States Code.

Fish and Game Code Section 86 defines "Take" as hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill.

Fees for licenses that are available from license agents include 5% license agent handling fee.

Annual Sport Fishing Licenses

Description

Resident Sport Fishing

Required for a resident to take fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians or reptile in inland or ocean waters. Additional stamps and report cards are required for certain species and areas.

Nonresident Sport Fishing

Required for a nonresident to take fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians or reptile in inland or ocean waters. Additional stamps and report cards are required for certain species and areas.

Short Term Sport Fishing Licenses

Description

One-day Sport Fishing License

Allows a resident or nonresident to take fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians or reptiles in inland or ocean waters. Additional stamps or report cards are required for certain species or areas. One-day sport fishing licenses are exempt from the Ocean Enhancement Stamp and Bay-Delta Sport Fishing Enhancement Stamp requirements.

Two-day Sport Fishing License

Allows a resident or nonresident to take fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians or reptiles in inland or ocean waters. Additional stamps and report cards are required for certain species and areas. Two-day sport fishing licenses are exempt from the Ocean Enhancement Stamp and Bay-Delta Sport Fishing Enhancement Stamp requirements.

Ten-day Nonresident Sport Fishing License

Allows a nonresident to take fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians or reptile in inland or ocean waters for ten consecutive days. Additional stamps and report cards are required for certain species and areas.

Stamps and Report Cards

Description

Bay-Delta Sport Fishing Enhancement Stamp

Required for  anglers to fish in the following waters:

• The tidal waters of San Francisco Bay and Delta - The areas east of Golden Gate Bridge and into the San Francisco and San Pablo bays, and Carquinez Strait.

• The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta - This includes all rivers, sloughs, canals, cuts, forebays, and flooded islands within the area south of Interstate 80, west of Highway 99, north of I-580, I-205, and I-120, and east of I-680. This area includes the Cosumnes River west of Highway 99.

• The Sacramento River below Keswick Dam, the Feather River below Oroville Dam, the Yuba River below Englebright Dam, the American River below Nimbus Dam, the Cosumnes River west of Highway 99, the Mokelumne River below Camanche Dam, the Calaveras River below New Hogan Dam, the San Joaquin River below Mendota Dam, the Stanislaus River below Goodwin Dam, the Tuolumne River below LaGrange Dam, and the Merced River below Crocker-Huffman Dam.

An online map of the waters where a Bay-Delta Sport Fishing Enhancement Stamp is required can be viewed on the Department's web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Administration/Permits/BayDeltaStamp/Range.asp.  A Bay-Delta Sport Fishing Enhancement Stamp is not required when fishing under the authority of a One or Two-Day Sport Fishing License.

Ocean Enhancement Stamp

Allows an angler to fish in ocean waters south of Point Arguello (Santa Barbara County).  An Ocean Enhancement Stamp is not required when fishing under the authority of a One or Two-Day Sport Fishing License.

New for 2008
Second Rod Stamp

Allows an angler to fish with two rods or lines in inland waters, except for waters in which only artificial lures or barbless hooks may be used.

Colorado River Stamp

Allows an angler to fish from a boat or other floating device on the Colorado River or adjacent waters forming the California-Arizona border.

Abalone Report Card

Required for all persons taking abalone from ocean waters north of the center of the mouth of San Francisco Bay, including persons who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as persons who are under 16 years of age, persons who are fishing from a public pier and persons who are fishing on free fishing days.

Sturgeon Fishing Report Card

Required for all anglers taking sturgeon, including persons who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as persons who are under 16 years of age, persons who are fishing from a public pier and persons who are fishing on free fishing days.

New for 2008
Klamath-Trinity Salmon Report Card

Required for all anglers taking salmon in the Klamath-Trinity River System, including persons who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as persons who are under 16 years of age, and persons who are fishing on free fishing days.

Steelhead Report Card

Allows an angler to fish for steelhead in inland waters, including persons who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as persons who are under 16 years of age, and persons who are fishing on free fishing days.

New for 2008
Spiny Lobster Report Card

Required for all anglers taking spiny lobster beginning September 27, 2008, including persons who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as persons who are under 16 years of age, persons who are fishing from a public pier and persons who are fishing on free fishing days.

Lifetime Fishing Licenses

Description

Available to any resident.  Lifetime fishing licensees receive an annual sport fishing license each year for life. 

Fishing Privilege Package

Lifetime licensees who purchase the Fishing Privilege Package receive a Bay-Delta Sport Fishing Enhancement Stamp, a Second-Rod Stamp, an Ocean Enhancement Stamp, a Klamath-Trinity Sport Salmon Report Card and a Steelhead Report Card.