The Great Lakes State of Michigan has several pristine lakes, rivers, and streams brimming with various fish species. In this page, we’ll examine more closely why a fishing license is required, how to get one, and the advantages it offers to fishermen and the protection of Michigan’s stunning aquatic ecosystems. Join us as we travel around Michigan’s rivers, learning about the delights of fishing while preserving and protecting the environment.
Canada Outdoor Card (Fishing licenses must be accompanied with outdoor cards.)
$8.57
Canada Fishing License
$83.19
Ohio Fishing License (Non-residents)
$50.96
Indiana Fishing License (Non-residents)
$60
Combination licenses, resident yearly licenses, nonresident annual licenses, and senior annual permits all come with a $1 extra in Michigan. Further recognizing their service and commitment, full-time, federally employed members of the U.S. military who have retained residence status are eligible for a remission of license costs. This exemption promotes the value of outdoor recreation and environmental care in Michigan while acknowledging and supporting the sacrifices of military members.
Michigan fishing license for seniors
MI Senior License All-Species
Cost
Resident Senior Annual
$11
Resident Senior Daily
$3
Nonresident Senior
$38
Nonresident Senior Daily
$10
How to buy a Michigan fishing license?
1. Online:
Accessing the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website is the simplest method. You may purchase your license online and do other chores, including duplicating a lost license. To buy a license online easily, go to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website.
2. State License Agents:
Michigan provides a list of authorized agents where you may get your fishing license. Visit the License Agents website on Michigan.gov to locate the closest agent and gather the essential information.
3. Department of Natural Resources Customer Service Centers:
Instead of doing your business in person, you may purchase your license at a DNR Customer Service Center close to you. For the locations of these centres, contact the Department of Natural Resources.
Michigan fishing license exemptions
Veterans & Disability
Fishing License Waivers
Fees
Veterans with 100% Disability (Michigan Residents)
Waived
Active-duty Military (Michigan Residents)
Waived
Exemptions for Assisting Minors
Exemptions for Assisting Minors
Details
Help land a fish with a net or their hands
A license is not required if an adult helps a minor use a net or their hands to land a fish.
Help unhook a fish
It is not necessary for the adult to obtain a fishing license in order to help a child unhook a fish.
Set up the fishing rod with gear
Without a fishing license, an adult may assist a minor by putting up the fishing rod and equipment.
Bait the hook
It is not necessary for the adult to obtain a fishing license in order to help a child bait the hook.
Cast the line for young anglers
The parent may throw the line for the child angler without obtaining a fishing license as long as the child continues to actively participate.
License Requirements & Options
Fishing License Requirements
Details
Michigan fishing license age requirement
You need a fishing license to go fishing if you're 17 or older.
Carrying License and ID
It is mandatory that you always have your fishing license with you as well as the form of identification you used to buy it.
Targeting Amphibians, Crustaceans, and Reptiles
When pursuing these species in Michigan's public waterways, a fishing license is necessary.
Minors (Under 17)
Minors must abide by all fishing laws and regulations even if they are not required to get a fishing license.
Assisting Minors
The adult must possess a fishing license if they are assisting a child without a license.
Exemptions for Assisting Minors
A license is not necessary for some actions when an adult is helping a child
Document Requirements
Documents Requirements
Presently valid Michigan driver's license or Michigan identification card
An active license for driving from the state where you now live
DNR Sport card
License Eligibility
Criteria for
Qualification
Resident
Must live in a fixed or permanent residence or domicile in this state with the intention of staying.
Student
Must be a Michigan resident and full-time college student.
U.S. Military
Must be a full-time military member stationed in Michigan or a Michigan resident.
Free Fishing Days in Michigan
Free Fishing Weekends
Start Date
End Date
Fees
Winter Weekend
18-Feb
19-Feb
Waived
Summer Weekend
10-Jun
11-Jun
Waived
Those who don’t fish often but want to try it out may do so for free during the two free fishing weekends the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) promotes. While the summer weekend takes place on June 10 and 11, the winter weekend is on February 18 and 19. Fees are not charged on certain specified weekends, allowing people to cross fishing off their bucket list without paying anything.
All waterways are catch-and-release only, with the exceptions stated.
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
27-May
31-Dec
The Great Lakes are included in the possession season, unless otherwise specified.
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
17-Jun
31-Dec
Possession season is in effect on the St. Clair, Clair, and Detroit rivers.
Muskellunge
Open for Entire Year
Open for Entire Year
All waterways must have a catch-and-release policy.
Muskellunge
3-Jun
15-Mar
All Great Lakes, interior waterways, and the St. Marys River are in possession season, unless otherwise specified.
Muskellunge
3-Jun
31-Dec
Possession season is in effect on the St. Clair, Clair, and Detroit rivers.
Northern Pike & Walleye
Open for Entire Year
Open for Entire Year
Possession season is in effect on the Lower Peninsula Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair, and the Detroit and St. Clair rivers.
Northern Pike & Walleye
29-Apr
15-Mar
Lower Peninsula inland waterways have a possession season.
Northern Pike & Walleye
15-May
15-Mar
Possession season in the Great Lakes, inland waterways, and St. Marys River in the Upper Peninsula
Salmon & Trout
Open for Entire Year
Open for Entire Year
Lake St. Clair, the St. Marys River, the St. Clair & Detroit rivers, and the Great Lakes
Salmon & Trout
Open for Entire Year
Open for Entire Year
(Inland) streams of types 3 and 4 and lakes of types B, C, E, and F
Salmon & Trout
29-Apr
30-Sep
Inland streams of Types 1 and 2: Possession and Fishing Season
Salmon & Trout
29-Apr
31-Oct
Type A and Type D lakes: possession and inland fishing season
Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Cisco, Lake Whitefish, Round Whitefish, Smelt, Sunfishes, White Bass, Yellow Perch & Other Species
Open for Entire Year
Open for Entire Year
all waterways are available for fishing
Violations, Fines & Penalties
Violations (Fish)
Section
Revocation of License / Permit
Fines
Imprisonment
1st Offense
41105
Optional
Up to $100 (1st offense)
Up to 60 days (1st offense)
2nd or Subsequent Offense
41105
Optional
$50 - $250
20-90 days
1st Offense
48702a
Required
$500 - $1,000 (plus costs of prosecution)
Up to 93 days, and could result in a fine, imprisonment, or both
2nd or Subsequent Offense
48702a
Required
$1,000 - $2,500 (plus costs of prosecution)
Up to 1 year and could result in a fine, imprisonment, or both
Eat Safe Fish Guides for eating locally caught fish
Event: Eat Safe Fish Guides for eating locally caught fish in 2023
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) updates its Eat Safe Fish Guides for eating locally caught fish in 2023. These standards are based on MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories chemical analysis of fish filets. Mercury, PCBs, PFOS, and PFAS are prevalent in fish, hence particular Michigan water bodies have special fish recommendations. MDHHS educates Michigan residents on safe lake and river fish eating.
Key Points:
- Chemicals like mercury and PCBs are commonly found in fish, along with PFOS and PFAS in some cases, necessitating Eat Safe Fish Guidelines.
- The 2023 guidelines include new recommendations for locally caught smelt, particularly due to elevated PFOS levels.
Smelt Guidelines:
- Lake Huron: 6 servings per year.
- Lake Michigan: 1 serving per month.
- Portage Lake in Houghton County: 1 serving per month.
- Gull Lake in Kalamazoo County: 2 servings per month.
- Higgins Lake in Roscommon County: 4 servings per month.
- Lake Superior (previously issued in May 2022): 1 serving per month.
- Some parts of the Huron River remain on the 'Do Not Eat' fish alert owing to high PFOS levels.
Note:
- The MDHHS Eat Safe Fish guidelines are informative resources and not legally binding regulations.
- MDHHS also provides the Buy Safe Fish Guide to assist in selecting low-mercury seafood from local sources.
- Contact the MDHHS Division of Environmental Health at 800-648-6942.
Regulations in Michigan
Full-time, federal, active-duty U.S. military residents get free fishing licenses. Military ID and duty status are required. Michigan-stationed active-duty military members pay resident rates. Michigan veterans who are completely incapacitated or unemployed may get free licenses. Blind seniors get fishing licenses. Developmentally disabled or older people may fish without a license if accompanied by licensed fishermen. DNR Customer Service Centers sell exemption permits.
Michigan’s interior waterways are everything except the Great Lakes, bays, and connecting waters. This includes the portion of the St. Marys River in the state that connects Lake Superior and Lake Huron, the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and the Detroit River (between the Fort Gratiot Light and the imaginary line extending south of the Windmill Point Light in Wayne County, up to the east-west line through Celeron Island). Lakes, streams, and Great Lakes tributaries are inland waterways.
Species spawning limitations in Michigan limit fishing. These closures protect spawning fish. Closures vary by jurisdiction. Fishing is not allowed in impacted lakes and streams. These limits protect fish during reproduction.
Michigan allows artificial light fishing except for spearing frogs. Lampreys, live carp, goldfish, and gobies are illegal bait. Traps, nets, hook-and-line, and hand-harvesting are unrestricted. Inland lakes, drowned river mouths, the Great Lakes, and their connecting waterways allow drop-shotting, and dip nets may be used in non-trout stream waters for some species. Except in trout streams, gaffs may legally land hooked fish. Hand-net fishing is allowed. Participants are allowed three lines and three hooks for hook-and-line fishing. Burbot sometimes uses hoop nets. Personal use minnows must be utilized in their collection waters. Several species allow hand, rubber, or spring-propelled spearing.
Michigan has unlawful acts. It is illegal to chum with organic material in all stream types, to possess or transport live transgenic organisms or non-native fish, crayfish, or freshwater molluscs, to use red swamp crayfish as bait, to import or transplant live fish without a permit, to buy or sell fish or parts of fish taken under a sport fishing license, to take fish solely for egg removal, to harvest threatened or endangered species without authorization, to harvest or possess fr These laws carry a $10,000 fine.
Each species has its size and daily possession limits. Fisheries and species dictate possession seasons. Five 14-inch largemouth and smallmouth bass each day are allowed. Five 15-inch walleye are permitted. Two 24-inch northern pikes are allowed per person. Channel and flathead catfish must be 12 or 15 inches long. Muskellunge, including tiger muskellunge, must be 42 inches and may only be caught once every license year. Limit 25 yellow perch. Sunfish and white bass have a possession restriction of 25 in any combination of specified species on designated waterways and 10 in inland waters. In certain rivers, Cisco, lake whitefish, and round whitefish have a 10-fish or 5-fish limit. Smelt are allowed two gallons and no size limitations. Other species may be fished year-round regardless of size or ownership. The Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Waters, Sylvania Wilderness Area, Exceptions to General Rules by County, and Inland Trout & Salmon Regulations govern lake sturgeon fishing.
Note: The Michigan regulations website discusses all the rules thoroughly; you may check it out for additional information.
John Lewis, the passionate founder of HuntingSeasons.org, is committed to promoting responsible hunting and a profound love for the wilderness. With years of expertise, his platform serves as a reliable guide for hunting enthusiasts, advocating ethical practices and nature preservation.
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