Utah Fishing License and Regulations
DWR license prices, the 2027 statewide limits beside the 2026 ones, possession, the kokanee closure and emergency changes.
For weighing a catchPiscifun Lip gripper with digital scale27% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Pineview Reservoir: Christopher Eugene Lee, Public domain
Utah fishing license prices from DWR
Both the 2026 and 2027 Utah guidebooks print the same license table, and the DWR fees page matches it. A license lasts 365 days from the day it is bought unless it is a multi-year license.
A 2.2% transaction fee applies to all online and in-person credit/debit card transactions.
Utah residents
| License | Term | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 365-day fishing license (age 11 or younger) | 365 days | not required |
| 365-day fishing license (age 12-13) | 365 days | $5 |
| 365-day fishing license (age 14-17) | 365 days | $16 |
| 365-day fishing license (age 18-64) | 365 days | $40 |
| 365-day fishing license (age 65+) | 365 days | $31 |
| 365-day fishing license for disabled veterans | 365 days | $12 |
| 3-day fishing license (all ages) | 3 days | $19 |
| 7-day fishing license (all ages) | 7 days | $30 |
| Multi-year fishing license (age 18-64) | up to five years | $39 |
| 365-day combination license (age 14-17) | 365 days | $20 |
| 365-day combination license (age 18-64) | 365 days | $44 |
| 365-day combination license (age 65+) | 365 days | $35 |
| 365-day combination license for disabled veterans | 365 days | $28.50 |
| Multi-year combination license (age 18-64) | up to five years | $43 |
| Resident setline permit | $22 |
Nonresidents
| License | Term | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 365-day fishing license (age 11 or younger) | 365 days | not required |
| 365-day fishing license (age 12-13) | 365 days | $18 |
| 365-day fishing license (age 14-17) | 365 days | $44 |
| 365-day fishing license (age 18-64) | 365 days | $120 |
| 365-day fishing license (age 65+) | 365 days | $120 |
| 3-day fishing license (all ages) | 3 days | $44 |
| 7-day fishing license (all ages) | 7 days | $91 |
| Multi-year fishing license (age 18-64) | up to five years | $119 |
| 365-day combination license (age 14-17) | 365 days | $58 |
| 365-day combination license (age 18-64) | 365 days | $190 |
| 365-day combination license (age 65+) | 365 days | $190 |
| Multi-year combination license (age 18-64) | up to five years | $189 |
| Nonresident setline permit | $48 |
Wyoming residents at Flaming Gorge
| Permit | Term | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Flaming Gorge, Utah reciprocal permit (Wyoming residents) | 365 days | $59 |
License prices as printed in the 2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 8 (the 2026 guidebook prints the same prices; checked against the DWR fees page), read November 11, 2026.
Photo of Jordanelle Reservoir: sf-dvs, CC BY 2.0
Utah daily limits in the 2027 guidebook, with the 2026 column
The limits here are from the 2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, which takes effect January 1, 2027; the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook stays in force through December 31, 2026 and differs only where a row says so.
| Statewide row | 2027 daily | 2026 daily | Note as printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baitfish (common carp, fathead minnow, redside shiner, Utah sucker, Utah chub, white sucker) | No limit | same | (NEW) Formerly called "nongame species"; baitfish species are listed on page 20. |
| Black crappie and white crappie (a combined total) | 50 | same | – |
| Bluegill and green sunfish (a combined total) | 50 | same | – |
| Bonneville cisco | 30 | same | – |
| Bullhead | 24 | same | – |
| Burbot | No limit | same | REMINDER: Do not release any burbot you catch. All burbot caught must be immediately killed. |
| Channel catfish | 8 | same | – |
| Community fisheries | 2 | 2 | The limit includes fish of most species. All tiger muskellunge must be released. NEW: There are restrictions for largemouth bass at some waters. See page 39. |
| Crayfish | No limit | same | REMINDER: You may use bait to catch crayfish on waters where bait use is prohibited for fish, as long as none of the lines have hooks attached. |
| Kokanee salmon | See trout limit | same | Kokanee salmon are part of the total trout limit. Anglers may not possess kokanee salmon at any waterbody statewide from Sept. 10 through Nov. 30. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (a combined total) | 6 | same | – |
| Northern pike | 20, only 1 over 36 inches | same | – |
| Native game fish (catch-and-release only) | 0 | same | (NEW) For a list of these catch-and-release-only species, see the information box on page 21. |
| Sacramento perch | 10 | same | – |
| Striped bass | No limit | same | – |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1 over 40 inches | same | – |
| Trout, kokanee salmon and Arctic grayling (a combined total) | 4 | same | Anglers may not possess kokanee salmon at any waterbody statewide from Sept. 10 through Nov. 30. |
| Walleye | 10, only 1 over 24 inches | same | – |
| Whitefish | 10 | same | – |
| White bass | No limit | same | – |
| Wiper | 3 | same | – |
| Yellow perch | 50 | same | – |
| Roundtail chub | 0 | 2 | (NEW) To conserve populations of roundtail chub, a game fish species native to the Colorado River drainage, the statewide limit has been reduced to zero. (page 4) |
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 9 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 7 (in force through December 31, 2026; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
Possession, seasons and youth anglers in Utah
Possession limit means, for purposes of this rule only, two daily limits, including fish in a cooler, camper, tent, freezer, livewell or any other place of storage, excluding fish stored in an individual’s permanent residence.
At Flaming Gorge Reservoir an angler may hold only one daily limit, whenever the fish were caught.
Fish throughout the year: Utah has a year-round fishing season for most waterbodies. It runs from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2027.
If you’re under 12 years of age, you do not need a fishing license to fish in Utah. You can fish without a license, use two poles, use a setline and take a full daily limit.
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 6 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
Utah Admin. Code R657-13 (R657-13-19), last changed June 23, 2026 as printed on the DWR rules page, read November 11, 2026.
Utah kokanee closure each autumn
Anglers may not possess kokanee salmon at any waterbody statewide from Sept. 10 through Nov. 30 to protect kokanee during the spawning season.
The closure is printed in both guidebooks, so it applies in 2026 and again in 2027.
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 6 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
The shared rules on Utah community ponds
- The daily limit is 2 fish. (Common carp do not count toward the daily limit.)2027 guidebook
- CLOSED to the possession of tiger muskie. All tiger muskie must be immediately released. (Learn to catch and release them at wildlife.utah.gov/tigermuskies.)2027 guidebook
- Anglers are encouraged to voluntarily release all largemouth bass.2027 guidebook
- (NEW) Anglers must release any largemouth bass caught at seven community fisheries (noted in blue, below).2027 guidebook
- Waters are open to fishing only when the parks are open to the public.2027 guidebook
The 2026 guidebook set the same two-fish limit and tiger muskie release for these ponds.
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 39 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
DWR emergency changes on Utah waters in 2026
- Woods Ranch Pond (Kids Pond)in effect through December 31, 2026
- Canyon View Park Pondended October 1, 2026
- Minersville Reservoirended October 1, 2026
- Otter Creek Reservoirended October 1, 2026
- Palisade Reservoirended October 1, 2026
- Pineview Reservoirin effect through December 31, 2026
- Red Creek Reservoirin effect through December 31, 2026
- Vernon Reservoirended October 1, 2026
- Crouse Reservoirin effect through December 31, 2026
- Nine Mile Reservoirended October 1, 2026
4 of the 10 notices were still in effect when DWR was read on November 11, 2026; each water page quotes its notice in full.
Utah DWR emergency changes on the guidebooks page, read November 11, 2026.
Specific waters, border waters and the 2027 changes
- Rules for specific waters179 guidebook headings
- Border watersBear Lake, Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge
- What changes in 2027native game fish, baitfish and NEW entries
- Free Fishing DayJune 6, 2026; then June 5, 2027
- Utah state records109 DWR record rows
- Protected and prohibited fishrelease lists and nuisance fish
Utah fish named in Utah Fishing License and Regulations, as photographs
Photo: Thomas Quine, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Aszazin, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Argyleist, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Utah license and limit questions
What does a Utah resident adult fishing license cost?
$40 for a 365-day license (ages 18 to 64), the same in the 2026 and 2027 guidebooks.
What does a nonresident pay to fish Utah?
$120 for 365 days, $91 for 7 days or $44 for 3 days.
Do children need a Utah fishing license?
Not under 12. They may fish without one, use two poles and a setline, and take a full daily limit.
How long is a Utah license good for?
365 days from the purchase date, unless it is a multi-year license.
Which guidebook applies right now?
The 2026 guidebook through December 31, 2026; the 2027 guidebook from January 1, 2027.
What is the Utah possession limit?
Two daily limits, excluding fish at your permanent residence; one daily limit at Flaming Gorge.
When is the Utah fishing season?
All year for most waters; the guidebook and the water entries list the exceptions.
Does paying by card cost extra?
Yes, DWR adds a 2.2% transaction fee to card payments online and in person.