Oklahoma Fishing License and Regulations
ODWC license prices, who is exempt, the twelve statewide limit rows with their footnotes, tackle rules and the 2026-27 changes.
For weighing a catchPiscifun Lip gripper with digital scale27% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Mountain Fork River: Michael Gras, M.Ed, CC BY 2.0
Who carries an ODWC license and who is exempt
An Oklahoma fishing license is required of all persons 18 or older who take, attempt to take or possess fish or other aquatic dwelling organisms by any method in Oklahoma. Licenses or written evidence of exemption and identification must be carried on your person while fishing. Electronic licenses are allowed. Persons fishing the Red River must have a valid Oklahoma fishing license unless exempt. In addition, persons fishing within Honobia Creek, Three Rivers or Herron Family Wildlife Management Areas, or on Oklahoma Land Access Program areas, must have a valid Land Access Permit, unless exempt. Persons residing in another state who own land in Oklahoma but do not live on that land, and are
Exempt from buying a fishing license, per ODWC: residents 17 or younger; resident landowners and tenants and their families fishing private ponds on that land; permanently disabled non-ambulatory residents. Residents 15 or younger are also exempt from the Lake Texoma permit.
ODWC license requirements and license exemptions, read November 3, 2026.
Oklahoma resident fishing licenses and their 2026 prices
| License | Price | Who | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fishing | $31 | Residents age 18 or older | 365 Days |
| 1-Day Fishing | $11 | Residents age 18 or older | One day of choice (expires at midnight) |
| Lake Texoma | $12 | Allows fishing in both Oklahoma and Texas portions of Lake Texoma. Not valid below the Texoma Dam. | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Annual Combination Fishing & Hunting | $53 | Residents age 18 or older | 365 Days |
| 3-Year Combination Fishing & Hunting | $121 | Oklahomans with six months residency. | Three years from date of issue. |
| Disability 5-year Combination Fishing & Hunting | $20 | For persons who have resided in Oklahoma for at least six months and who are receiving disability benefits. See requirements. | Five years from date of issue. |
ODWC License Options and Fees, read November 3, 2026.
Oklahoma lifetime fishing and combination licenses
| License | Price | Who | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifetime Combination Fishing & Hunting | $1,024 | Oklahomans with six month residency | Lifetime |
| Lifetime Fishing | $375 | Oklahomans with six month residency | Lifetime |
| Senior Citizen Lifetime Fishing | $30 | Oklahomans with six month residency who turn 65 or older during the current calendar year | Lifetime |
| Senior Citizen Lifetime Combination Fishing & Hunting | $60 | Oklahomans with six month residency who turn 65 or older during the current calendar year | Lifetime |
| Disabled Veteran Lifetime Combination Fishing & Hunting (under 60 percent disability) | $200 | Resident disabled veterans with a disability rating of up to 59%, as certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs | Lifetime |
| Disabled Veteran Lifetime Combination Fishing & Hunting (60 percent or more disability) | $25 | Resident disabled veterans with a disability rating of 60 to 100%, as certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs | Lifetime |
ODWC License Options and Fees, read November 3, 2026.
Nonresident fishing licenses sold by ODWC
| License | Price | Who | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresident Annual Fishing | $81 | Nonresidents age 18 or older | 365 Days |
| Nonresident 1-Day Fishing | $26 | Nonresidents age 18 or older | 1 day of choice (expires at midnight) |
| Lake Texoma | $12 | Allows fishing on both Oklahoma and Texas portions of Lake Texoma. Not valid below the Texoma Dam. | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
A nonresident can fish one chosen day for $26 or the year for $81; the $12 Lake Texoma License alone covers the whole lake on both sides of the state line.
Paddlefish, guide, land access and conservation passport fees
| Permit | Price | Who | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paddlefish Permit | free | Required for all persons who fish for paddlefish, regardless of age or residency, including lifetime license holders | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Fishing Guide License | $90 | Required for all persons who assist, accompany, transport, guide, or aid persons in the taking of fish for monetary compensation or other consideratio | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Land Access Permit | $100 | Required for residents ages 18 to 63, and nonresidents of any age, including lifetime license holders to access certain ODWC managed properties (Honob | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Annual Wildlife Conservation Passport | $46 | Required of all persons 18 or older who enter Department owned lands, regardless of residency, unless exempt. Nonresident price $239. | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| 3-Day Wildlife Conservation Passport | $26 | Required of all persons 18 or older who enter Department owned lands, regardless of residency, unless exempt. Nonresident price $51. | Three days of choice |
ODWC License Options and Fees, read November 3, 2026.
The twelve ODWC daily and size rows for 2026-27
| Species | Daily | Size | Footnotes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and/or Smallmouth Bass | 6 (combined) | 1 (one) over 16 inches | A |
| Spotted Bass | no daily limit | no size limit | A |
| Channel and/or Blue Catfish | 15 (combined) | Only 1 Blue Catfish over 30 inches | B |
| Flathead Catfish | 5 | no size limit | B |
| White and/or Black Crappie | 37 (combined) | no size limit | – |
| Striped Bass | 5 (except Lake Texoma) | no size limit | C |
| Striped Bass Hybrids | 20 | Only 5 fish over 20 inches | C |
| White Bass | no daily limit | no size limit | – |
| Trout | See trout regulations | no size limit | C |
| Walleye, Sauger and/or Saugeye | 6 (combined) | 14 inch minimum | – |
| Paddlefish | See paddlefish regulation | no size limit | C, D |
| Alligator Gar | 1 | no size limit | D, E |
All species not listed, except shad and species of special concern I and/or II, have no daily or minimum size limits.
Limits as printed on the ODWC statewide daily and size limits page (2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations (ODWC); PDF), read November 3, 2026.
What footnotes A to G on the Oklahoma chart say
- In rivers and streams: black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted): six combined per day, only one of which may be a smallmouth bass. Largemouth and smallmouth bass must be 14 inches or longer. No size limit on spotted bass.footnote A
- For noodling limits, see Method of Take.footnote B
- Release of paddlefish, trout, striped bass and/or striped bass hybrids caught and placed on a stringer, in a livewell, or otherwise held in possession is prohibited statewide (no culling).footnote C
- Harvest of alligator gar and paddlefish must be reported within 24 hours via E-Check at wildlifedepartment.com. For any other fish species of special concern in category I or II such as black buffalo and shovelnose sturgeon (see Title 800:25-19-6) there is a daily limit of 1 and harvest must be reported. Harvest must be reported to the Wildlife Department’s Fisheries Division at (918) 683-1031.footnote D
- Alligator gar may be caught by use of rod and reel, trotline, and throwline. Alligator gar taken by bow and arrow, gigs, spears, or spearguns cannot be released. The attempt to take or harvest alligator gar is prohibited statewide May 1-31.footnote E
- It is unlawful to take or possess more than 25 nongame bait fish in rivers or streams, except for shad, of which 200 may be taken or possessed.footnote F
- Species of special concern, limit one (1), harvest reporting required (405) 521-3721Fish Species of Special Concernfootnote G
Limits as printed on the ODWC statewide daily and size limits page (2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations (ODWC); PDF), read November 3, 2026.
Fish Oklahoma law counts as game fish
Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass; black and white crappie; rainbow and brown trout; sauger, saugeye and walleye; white, hybrid and striped bass; blue and channel catfish. Species not listed are nongame fish.
ODWC general fishing regulations, read November 3, 2026.
Rods, trotlines, juglines, limblines and yo-yos in Oklahoma
- Rod and Reel: A person may use up to seven rods while fishing unless restricted further under "Public Fishing Waters" special regulations.method of take
- Trotline/Throwlines: Trotlines/throwlines are restricted to no more than three lines and 100 hooks per person. Persons fishing trotlines or throwlines must release all fish on their lines except those held in possession for their daily limit, before leaving the trotline or throwline.method of take
- Jugline: Juglines are restricted to no more than five hooks per line and 20 juglines per person. A legal jugline is a vertical line suspended from a nonmetallic or nonglass floating device, drifting free or anchored, and has:method of take
- Limbline: Limblines are restricted to no more than two hooks per line and 20 limblines per person. A legal limbline is a line attached to a limb, branch, other natural object, or non-metallic manmade material and has:method of take
- Yo-Yo: Yo-yos are restricted to no more than 20 per person and shall:method of take
- Bow and Arrow: Bowfishing may be used to take nongame fish only, throughout the year in all waters unless restricted under the "Public Fishing Waters" special regulations. Fish taken by this method count towards the daily bag limit, and any carcasses or remains shall be properly disposed of. Legal bowfishing is restricted to:method of take
- Gig, Grabhook, Spear and Speargun: Gigs and spears are legal for taking nongame fish and white bass only. Grabhooks (handheld hook, handheld pole of natural or man-made material, or rope with a single hook attached used in the initial taking of a fish) are prohibited in all state waters. Spearguns used by scuba divers are legal for taking nongame fish, blue and channel catfish. Fish taken by this method count towardsmethod of take
- Gigs, spears and spearguns shall:method of take
- Gigs shall be lawful year-round in rivers and streams in Delaware and Mayes counties, unless restricted under "Public Fishing Waters" special regulations.method of take
- Snagging: Snagging, the dragging of one single hook or one treble hook attached to a fishing line through the water to impale fish, shall be lawful in all waters year-round for nongame fish only unless restricted under "Public Fishing Waters" special regulations. Only one rod or pole per angler is allowed while snagging. Snagging prohibited from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the areas east of I-35 and north of I-40, except thmethod of take
ODWC method of take, read November 3, 2026.
Things ODWC lists as unlawful for Oklahoma anglers
- Fish without carrying a license (mobile app or physical copy) or written evidence that you are exempt.unlawful
- Fish upon the land of another without consent of the owner, lessee or occupant of that land. Anglers must obtain permission to enter any posted or occupied land or land primarily devoted to farming, ranching or forestry purposes. Nothing in this guide shall be interpreted as permitting fishing or allowing access into any area, public or private, without permission from the owneunlawful
- Catch fish that are dead or die as a result of angling from any waters of the state, and not remove those fish and bury or burn them, except nothing will prevent anglers from returning fish remains, meaning any fish that has been filleted or has had the entrails removed, to lakes and reservoirs (any fish that does not meet length requirements must be returned to the water immedunlawful
- Dispose of dead fish, fish remains, or fish carcasses into waters of this state within 100 yards of a boat ramp, or designated swimming area except where an official fish cleaning station has been provided or where fish cleaning is specifically authorized.unlawful
- Sell, barter or trade fish, frogs or turtles, except with a commercial license.unlawful
- Enter, swim, wade, operate a boat or a float or floating device in any safety zone (the water area below any dam for a distance of 50 yards from base of the dam).unlawful
- Use, operate or park vehicles not registered for use on public roadways under Vehicle Code 47 O.S. 1971, 15-101 through 15-114, on lands owned or managed by the Wildlife Department.unlawful
- Possess fish, or parts thereof, taken by another person without written information which includes the taker’s customer ID number, date taken, and number and kind of fish, plus name and address of person receiving those fish.unlawful
- Use and/or place into lakes and reservoirs of this state any container, including but not limited to drums, cans, tubs, boxes or barrels which attract, entice or lure fish into an open cavity within the container.unlawful
- Use or possess any controlled and/or dangerous substance as defined in 63 O.S., Section 2-101 on any lands or waterways subject to the control of the Wildlife Department.unlawful
- Use Jet Skis, jet boats and other similar nonpropeller-driven watercraft in the upper Illinois River above the confluence with Barren Fork Creek.unlawful
- Take fish from the trotline, throwline, jugline or limbline of another person without permission from that person.unlawful
ODWC general fishing regulations, read November 3, 2026.
Oklahoma fishing rules ODWC changed for 2026-27
- Echota and Stunkard access areas on the upper Illinois River were added to the list of Department Fishing Areas and will now be managed under those regulations. See Department Fishing Areas for more information.change
- The special area 18" size limits for walleye, saugeye, and sauger in Shell and Bluestem lakes have reverted to the statewide 14" limit. See Statewide Daily & Size Limits for more information.change
- The 14" minimum for spotted bass in Blue River Public Fishing Area has reverted to the statewide black bass limits for rivers and streams. See Public Fishing Areas: Special Regulations for more information.change
- The list of restricted aquatic species was updated. See Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) for more information.change
- Rules for the legal establishment of recirculating aquaculture systems were developed. Contact Fisheries Division for more information (405) 521-3721.change
- Crappie bag limits have changed for several public fishing areas. Eufaula and Atoka are 20 crappie per day. Boomer, Dahlgren, Holdenville, Purcell, Shell, Wewoka, and all "Close To Home" waters have no daily bag limit for crappie (see Close to Home Fishing Regulations and Public Fishing Areas: Special Regulations).change
- Cast net rules applied to certain rivers and streams.change
ODWC regulation changes, read November 3, 2026.
Buying an ODWC license online, by app or from a vendor
gooutdoorsoklahoma.com, the Go Outdoors Oklahoma app, license vendors and Department headquarters (paddlefish permit page); CASH is not accepted at ODWC field offices.
- Free fishing daysJune 5-6, 2027
- Paddlefish rulesthe free permit
- Species of special concernone a day, reported
- Trout areasbarbless hooks and area limits
Photographs of the species in Oklahoma Fishing License and Regulations
Photo: kmitschke, CC BY 2.0
Photo: schizoform, CC BY 2.0
Photo: ted_rocket, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0 1.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Oklahoma license and limit questions, answered from ODWC
Who needs an Oklahoma fishing license?
Anyone 18 or older who takes or tries to take fish in Oklahoma, unless exempt; residents 17 and younger do not buy one.
What does an Oklahoma resident annual fishing license cost?
$31, good for 365 days; a resident 1-day license is $11.
How much is an ODWC license for a visitor from another state?
$81 for the annual license or $26 for one day of choice.
Does ODWC sell a lifetime license for anglers turning 65?
Yes: the Senior Citizen Lifetime Fishing license is $30 for residents of six months who turn 65 or older during the year.
What is the Oklahoma black bass limit?
6 (combined) a day; 1 (one) over 16 inches, combined for largemouth and smallmouth; spotted bass have no statewide limit. Rivers and streams follow footnote A.
What crappie limit does ODWC set?
37 (combined) a day; no size limit for white and black crappie combined.
What is the catfish limit?
15 (combined) a day; Only 1 Blue Catfish over 30 inches for channel and blue catfish combined.
Is there a size limit on walleye and saugeye?
6 (combined) a day; 14 inch minimum, combined for walleye, sauger and saugeye.
Do I need a guide license to take paying clients fishing?
Yes; ODWC requires a fishing guide license ($90), and it does not replace the guide's own fishing license.