Arizona makes youth fishing inexpensive, but the official product is not called a Junior Angler Permit. It is the Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License. The license costs $5 for residents and nonresidents ages 10–17, lasts one year from purchase, and includes fishing at statewide and Community Fishing waters.
Quick Answer
Arizona’s Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License costs $5 for residents and nonresidents ages 10–17. It is valid for one year from purchase and covers statewide fishing, including Community Fishing waters. Children under 10 generally do not need a state fishing license. The license does not automatically end on the holder’s 18th birthday.
Key Takeaways
- The official Arizona youth fishing license costs $5 for both residents and nonresidents ages 10–17.
- The license remains valid for one year from its purchase date; use the expiration date printed on the license.
- Children under 10 and blind Arizona residents generally do not need a state fishing license.
- Licenses are sold online, at Arizona Game and Fish Department offices, and through authorized dealers.
- The license does not override bag limits, protected-species rules, closures, or special regulations for individual waters.
At a Glance
| Time Required | Usually a few minutes online; office and dealer times vary |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Tools Needed | Youth’s customer information, payment method, and a printer or Arizona E-Tag app for license access |
| Cost | $5 for residents and nonresidents ages 10–17 |
Who Qualifies for the Arizona Youth Fishing License?
The Arizona Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License is available to residents and nonresidents who are 10 through 17 years old when they buy it. The price is $5 regardless of residency.
A valid fishing or combination license is generally required for anyone age 10 or older who fishes in publicly accessible Arizona waters. Children under 10 do not need a state fishing license, although all bag limits, closures, legal-method rules, and water-specific regulations still apply.
Blind Arizona residents also do not need to purchase a state fishing license. Separate exceptions apply to qualifying private waters and the state’s annual Free Fishing Day.
Note: Ages 10–17 determine whether the youth can buy this license. Arizona’s published rules state that licenses remain valid for one year from purchase and do not list an automatic cancellation on the holder’s 18th birthday. Follow the expiration date shown on the license.
Residents and nonresidents ages 10–17 pay the same $5 price for an Arizona Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License.
Arizona Youth Fishing License Cost and Privileges
The license costs $5 for both residents and nonresidents. Arizona does not list a lower individual youth tier or a residency discount for this license.
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FISHING LICENSE HOLDER W/ZIP CLOSURE
Fishing privileges
The license allows the holder to take legal fish species statewide, including at Community Fishing Program waters. It also covers other legal aquatic wildlife listed in the regulations. The license includes the ability to fish with as many as two poles or lines at one time, provided the lines remain attended and no special regulation imposes a tighter restriction.
“Statewide” does not mean every fish may be kept at every water. Protected native fish, catch-and-release waters, seasonal closures, bait limits, size limits, and special hook rules remain in force. Review the current Arizona Fishing Regulations before each trip.
Hunting privileges and limits
Because this is a combination license, it also includes privileges for certain small game, fur-bearing animals, predatory animals, nongame animals, migratory birds, and upland game birds. Those privileges do not replace separate tags, stamps, seasons, legal-method rules, or hunter-education requirements that may apply.
Warning: A $5 youth combination license is not a big-game tag. Youth who hunt must follow all hunting-age, hunter-education, draw, stamp, tag, and species rules in addition to holding the license.
Family and youth-group costs
AZGFD does not list a bundled family discount for several individual youth licenses. Each qualifying child may purchase the $5 license separately.
A resident nonprofit organization or governmental entity holding an organized event may qualify for a Youth Group 2-day Fishing License. It costs $25, covers up to 25 youths, and is valid for two consecutive calendar days. It must be obtained through an Arizona Game and Fish Department office.
How Long the Arizona Youth License Is Valid
The license is valid for one year from the purchase date. For example, a license purchased on August 15 remains valid through the expiration date shown for the following August. It does not run only through the end of the calendar year.
Licenses are nontransferable and cannot be returned for a refund or exchange after purchase. Check the youth’s name, birth date, and other information before completing the transaction.
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What happens when the holder turns 18?
Turning 18 does not appear in Arizona’s published fishing regulations as an event that cancels an otherwise valid youth license. A license purchased while the person was eligible should be followed through its printed expiration date. When that license expires, an angler who is then 18 must purchase an appropriate adult fishing or combination license.
Renewal and replacement
AZGFD offers license auto-renewal for resident and nonresident youth combination licenses. Review the license type before the renewal date, especially when the holder will no longer qualify for another youth license.
A license purchased online can be reprinted without charge. Current regulations state that other lost licenses may be replaced through a license dealer for a replacement fee.
Pro Tip: Store the license in the Arizona E-Tag app and synchronize it before leaving home. AZGFD says the app can display stored licenses even in areas without cellular service.
Where and How to Buy an Arizona Youth Fishing License
You can buy the license through the AZGFD online licensing system, at an Arizona Game and Fish Department office, or through an authorized statewide license dealer.
Online purchase steps
- Open the AZGFD licensing system. Select the Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License.
- Enter or locate the youth’s customer information. Use the youth’s legal name, date of birth, address, and existing Customer ID when available. A parent or guardian may use AZGFD’s family or dependent-account features.
- Review the license type and dates. Confirm that the youth is age 10–17 and that the selected license costs $5.
- Complete payment. Save the receipt and license number after checkout.
- Keep proof accessible. Print the license or synchronize it with the Arizona E-Tag app before fishing.
Buying at an office or dealer
Department offices and authorized dealers can help process the purchase. Have the youth’s identifying information and existing Customer ID available. Individual dealer procedures can vary, so contact the location before visiting if you need to confirm acceptable documents, payment methods, or business hours.
The license becomes valid according to the date shown on the completed license. All required licenses must be in the angler’s possession while fishing.
Exemptions, Complimentary Licenses, and Special Cases
Several Arizona exceptions may remove the need for a standard youth license or provide another license option.
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Children under 10
Children younger than 10 do not need to purchase a state fishing license. They must still follow the regulations for the water, including daily bag limits, size limits, legal bait and tackle, and protected-species rules.
Blind Arizona residents
Blind residents are exempt from the state fishing-license purchase requirement under the current Arizona regulations.
Private waters
A state fishing license is not required when fishing a private water, tank, or pond with the property owner’s permission. Access and harvest remain subject to the owner’s rules and any other applicable law.
Free Fishing Day
Arizona generally schedules a license-free fishing day during National Fishing and Boating Week. The 2026 event took place on June 6, 2026. A license was not required at participating state and Community Fishing Program waters, but bag limits and all other fishing regulations still applied.
Free Fishing Day coverage can exclude tribal waters, private waters, and certain canals. Check the official annual Free Fishing Day announcement for the current date and covered locations.
Complimentary and reduced-fee special licenses
A qualifying Arizona resident age 70 or older who has lived in the state for at least 25 consecutive years immediately before applying may receive a no-fee Pioneer License. An application and proof of eligibility are required.
A qualifying resident veteran with a permanent, 100% service-connected disability may receive a no-fee disabled-veteran license after providing the required residency and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation. Purple Heart recipients and veterans with other disability ratings may have different reduced-fee options rather than a complimentary license.
These special licenses are separate from the $5 youth license and must generally be processed through an Arizona Game and Fish Department office.
Rules and Regulations for Young Anglers
The youth license gives an angler legal access to fish, but it does not replace the rules for the lake, river, stream, pond, or species being targeted.
- Carry proof of the license. Keep a printed copy or an accessible digital copy in the Arizona E-Tag app.
- Check statewide limits. Review daily bag and possession limits for the species being caught.
- Check the specific water. Special regulations may change the season, size limit, bag limit, bait, hook type, or legal fishing area.
- Attend all fishing lines. Arizona fishing licenses generally allow no more than two poles or lines at once, and they must remain under the angler’s immediate control.
- Release protected fish. Protected native fish that are caught incidentally must be released unharmed as required by the regulations.
- Follow catch-and-release rules. Some waters require artificial lures, single-point barbless hooks, or the immediate release of certain fish.
- Use safe boating practices. Supervise young anglers closely and use properly fitted life jackets when fishing from boats or near hazardous water.
- Do not move live fish between waters. Follow bait and aquatic-invasive-species rules when transporting equipment, water, bait, or fish.
Warning: Free Fishing Day and the under-10 exemption remove only the license requirement. They do not suspend bag limits, closures, protected-species rules, legal-method restrictions, or property-access requirements.
Community Programs and Youth Fishing Opportunities
The Arizona Community Fishing Program includes more than 50 city-park waters in 23 communities. Participating waters offer nearby fishing opportunities and are stocked on seasonal schedules.
Community waters have their own bag limits, which may differ from general statewide limits. Check the signs posted at the lake and the current regulations before keeping fish.
| Resource | What It Provides |
|---|---|
| $5 Youth Combination License | One year of fishing privileges plus qualifying hunting privileges for ages 10–17 |
| 50+ Community Fishing Waters | Convenient park lakes and ponds in 23 participating Arizona communities |
| FishAZ Network | Public clinics, fishing instruction, conservation activities, and selected equipment-loaner support |
| Youth Group 2-day License | A $25 option for qualifying resident organizations taking up to 25 youths fishing |
The FishAZ Network lists public events that teach tackle selection, casting, rigging, fishing safety, conservation, and care of the catch. Some qualifying public events may also use equipment supplied through AZGFD’s loaner program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Arizona youth fishing license expire when the holder turns 18?
Not automatically. Arizona states that licenses are valid for one year from purchase and does not list the holder’s 18th birthday as an early cancellation date. Follow the expiration date printed on the license. After it expires, an angler who is 18 or older must buy an adult license.
Do children under 10 need an Arizona fishing license?
No. Children younger than 10 generally do not need a state fishing license in Arizona. They must still follow all fishing regulations, including bag limits, closures, protected-species rules, and water-specific restrictions.
Are there family or group discounts for multiple youth licenses?
Arizona does not list a bundled family discount for individual youth combination licenses. Each eligible youth license costs $5. A qualifying resident nonprofit organization or governmental entity may instead obtain a $25 Youth Group 2-day Fishing License covering up to 25 youths at an organized event.
Can school or recreation grants pay youth license fees?
Possibly, but this depends on the grant’s allowed expenses and the organization’s purchasing rules. Arizona does not treat grant funding as a separate license discount. An organized program should compare individual $5 licenses with the qualifying $25 Youth Group 2-day Fishing License.
Do youth license purchases support wildlife conservation?
Yes. The Arizona Game and Fish Department states that online hunting and fishing license purchases contribute to its on-the-ground conservation work. The exact use of revenue can vary across agency programs and funding needs.
Are volunteer hours tied to the reduced youth-license price?
No official requirement ties volunteer hours to the $5 youth license. AZGFD offers volunteer and FishAZ opportunities separately, but taking part in those programs is not listed as a condition for receiving the standard youth price.
Is there proof that fee changes alter youth fishing participation?
The official license pages cited here do not provide a causal estimate showing how a specific fee change affects participation. Any claim about price sensitivity should be supported by a named study, survey, dataset, and defined time period rather than a general statement.
Must a young angler carry the license while fishing?
Yes. Required licenses must be in the angler’s possession while fishing. A printed license or a license stored in the synchronized Arizona E-Tag app can provide accessible proof.
Is a license required at a private pond?
Arizona’s regulations state that a fishing license is not required when fishing a private water, tank, or pond with the property owner’s permission. The owner may impose separate access and harvest rules.
Conclusion
Arizona’s official youth fishing option is the Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License. It costs $5 for residents and nonresidents ages 10–17 and remains valid for one year from purchase. Children under 10 generally fish without a state license, while older youth must carry proof and follow every statewide and water-specific rule.
Before heading out, confirm the expiration date, review the regulations for the chosen water, and save a printed or digital copy of the license. Families can also use Community Fishing waters, FishAZ events, and the qualifying two-day group license to make a young angler’s first trip easier.
Sources
- Arizona Game and Fish Department — Fishing Licenses and Regulations — current age requirements, fees, validity, purchase locations, and exemptions
- 2025 & 2026 Arizona Fishing Regulations — license privileges, nontransferability, Free Fishing Day, statewide rules, and special regulations
- AZGFD License Auto-Renewal — eligible youth license types and enrollment process
- AZGFD Youth Group 2-day Fishing License — organizational eligibility, $25 fee, participant limit, and validity
- Arizona Community Fishing Program — participating communities, waters, stocking information, and local fishing access
- Arizona Free Fishing Day 2026 — date, covered waters, exclusions, and continuing regulation requirements
