Arizona does not sell a discounted fishing-only “3-day license.” Instead, you buy a Short-Term Combination Hunt and Fish License for each date you need. Three selected days cost $45 for a resident or $60 for a nonresident. However, an annual general fishing license costs only $37 for a resident or $55 for a nonresident, making it the cheaper fishing-only choice for a three-day trip.
Quick Answer
Three Arizona short-term license dates cost $45 for residents or $60 for nonresidents. The dates may be nonconsecutive. If you only plan to fish, compare the annual general fishing license first: it costs $37 for residents and $55 for nonresidents, so it is cheaper for a three-day trip.
Key Takeaways
- The Short-Term Combination Hunt and Fish License costs $15 per selected day for residents and $20 per selected day for nonresidents.
- Three dates total $45 for residents or $60 for nonresidents, and the dates do not have to be consecutive.
- For a fishing-only three-day trip, the $37 resident or $55 nonresident annual general fishing license costs less.
- Anglers age 10 or older generally need a license on Arizona’s publicly accessible waters.
- Licenses are available online, at Arizona Game and Fish Department offices, and through participating license dealers.
- Short-term licenses are valid only on the selected dates and are nontransferable and nonrefundable.
Note: The fees in this guide were checked against Arizona Game and Fish Department information available on July 28, 2026. Always review the current license page before paying because fees and regulations can change.
Who Needs a Fishing License in Arizona?
A valid Arizona fishing or combination license is generally required for resident and nonresident anglers age 10 or older who fish publicly accessible waters in the state. Youth under 10 and qualifying blind Arizona residents do not need to purchase a state fishing license.
The license requirement applies when taking legal fish and other aquatic wildlife, including crayfish, frogs, waterdogs, and softshell turtles. Seasons, legal methods, closed areas, and possession limits can differ by species.
Anyone age 10 or older should have the required license in possession before fishing a publicly accessible Arizona water.
Arizona’s regulations also provide an exemption for fishing private waters, tanks, or ponds with the property owner’s permission. Permission to enter the property is still required, and private, tribal, municipal, or concession-managed locations may have separate access rules or fees.
Active-duty military members and, in certain circumstances, their spouses may qualify for resident pricing when stationed in Arizona or when Arizona is listed as the service member’s home of record. Review the current AZGFD residency requirements before selecting a resident license.
Warning: A state fishing license does not override tribal permits, private-property restrictions, posted closures, park entrance requirements, or special regulations for a particular lake, river, or stream.
Short-Term and Daily License Options Explained
Arizona’s short-trip option is officially called the Short-Term Combination Hunt and Fish License. It is priced by the day rather than sold as a specially discounted one-day, two-day, or three-day package.
Residents pay $15 for each selected date, while nonresidents pay $20 for each selected date. You choose the valid date or dates when purchasing the license, and multiple dates do not have to be consecutive.
Short-Term Combination License Rates
The short-term license allows fishing statewide, including Community Fishing Program waters, subject to all closures and special regulations. It also includes certain small-game hunting privileges.
The license does not replace required big-game tags or migratory-bird stamps, and it cannot be used as the qualifying license for an Arizona hunt-draw application.
| License holder | One day | Two days | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona resident | $15 | $30 | $45 |
| Nonresident | $20 | $40 | $60 |
Daily Resident vs. Nonresident Pricing
The short-term privileges are generally the same for residents and nonresidents, but nonresidents pay $5 more for each selected date. Residency affects the price, not the statewide fishing privilege granted by the short-term license.
Do not claim resident pricing merely because you own property, attend school, or are temporarily staying in Arizona. A resident generally must have been domiciled in Arizona for the six months immediately before applying and must not claim residency privileges elsewhere, unless a military provision applies.
Pro Tip: The selected short-term dates may be nonconsecutive. For example, you could buy Friday, Sunday, and the following Saturday instead of paying for every day between them.
Cost Breakdown for a 3-Day Arizona Fishing License
Because Arizona charges for each short-term date, the calculation is simple: three days cost $45 for a resident and $60 for a nonresident.
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Daily Short-Term Rate
- Resident daily price: $15.
- Nonresident daily price: $20.
- Resident three-day total: $45.
- Nonresident three-day total: $60.
- Validity: Only the dates selected at purchase.
- Date arrangement: Selected dates may be consecutive or nonconsecutive.
Resident vs. Nonresident Three-Day Cost
| Option | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term rate per day | $15 | $20 |
| Three short-term dates | $45 | $60 |
| Annual general fishing license | $37 | $55 |
| Annual-license savings at three fishing days | $8 | $5 |
Is the Annual License Cheaper for Three Days?
Yes, when you only need fishing privileges. The resident annual general fishing license costs $37, which is $8 less than three resident short-term dates. The nonresident annual general fishing license costs $55, which is $5 less than three nonresident short-term dates.
The short-term combination license may still make sense for one or two days or when you also want its eligible small-game hunting privileges. For a fishing-only trip lasting three or more days, the annual general fishing license is normally the better value at the listed prices.
A three-day short-term combo costs more than Arizona’s annual general fishing license for both residents and nonresidents.
Resident vs. Nonresident Pricing Differences
Residents pay $15 per selected short-term date, while nonresidents pay $20. A three-day outing therefore costs $45 for a qualifying resident or $60 for a nonresident.
Arizona generally defines a resident as someone who has made Arizona their true, fixed, and permanent home for the six months immediately before applying and who does not claim residency privileges in another jurisdiction. A youth residing with a qualifying resident guardian may also qualify under the state definition.
Active-duty service members stationed in Arizona and certain service members or spouses who list Arizona as their home of record may qualify for resident licenses under separate provisions.
Note: Bring or enter accurate identification and residency information. Supplying false residency information to obtain a lower license price can lead to enforcement action.
Where to Buy a 3-Day Fishing License
You can purchase the short-term combination license through the official online system, at an Arizona Game and Fish Department office, or through a participating license dealer.
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Online Purchase and Printable Proof
The official AZGFD online license system is normally the most direct option. Create or locate the customer record, select the Short-Term Combination Hunt and Fish License, choose the valid date or dates, review the information, and pay.
- Enter the license holder’s legal name, date of birth, address, physical description, and identification details.
- Select resident or nonresident status accurately.
- Choose each fishing date needed.
- Review the dates carefully before payment.
- Save or print the issued license and receipt.
Warning: License purchases are generally nonrefundable and cannot be exchanged. Confirm the license type, residency status, and selected dates before submitting payment.
Participating License Dealers
Arizona lists participating license dealers around the state, including sporting-goods retailers, tackle shops, major retailers, and some convenience stores. Dealer services can vary.
AZGFD advised in 2026 that dealers no longer issue traditional paper licenses in the old manner, although many can help customers purchase through the department’s online system. Check the current dealer information or call the location before making a special trip.
A marina, boat launch, bait shop, or recreation site is not automatically an authorized license seller. Verify service before arriving.
Arizona Game and Fish Department Offices
AZGFD offices can assist with license purchases, residency questions, customer-record problems, and special licenses. Bring valid identification and any documents needed to support resident, military, veteran, or complimentary-license eligibility.
- Bring photo identification.
- Bring residency or eligibility documents when applicable.
- Specify every short-term date required.
- Review the printed or digital license before leaving.
- Ask staff about special rules for the waters you plan to fish.
Office locations and contact details are available from the AZGFD agency directory.
Age Exemptions and Youth License Rules
Children under age 10 may fish Arizona’s publicly accessible waters without buying a state fishing license. Youth ages 10–17 may purchase the annual Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License for $5, whether they are residents or nonresidents.
The youth license is a much better value than buying daily short-term licenses for an eligible 10- to 17-year-old. It includes statewide fishing privileges, including Community Fishing waters, along with eligible youth hunting privileges.
The license is available for purchase only to eligible youth ages 10–17. It is issued with its own expiration date and is listed as a one-year license; it should not be described as automatically ending on the holder’s eighteenth birthday.
Qualifying blind Arizona residents are exempt from purchasing the state fishing license. Organizations planning supervised youth fishing events may also qualify for a separate two-day youth group fishing license under the applicable program rules.
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How Long Licenses Are Valid and Renewal Options
Arizona license validity depends on the license type:
- General fishing license: Valid for one year from the purchase date.
- Adult combination hunt and fish license: Valid for one year from the purchase date.
- Youth combination hunt and fish license: Valid for one year from the purchase date shown on the license.
- Short-term combination hunt and fish license: Valid only on the date or dates selected at purchase.
Annual fishing and combination licenses may be eligible for the department’s auto-renewal program. Short-term licenses are not listed as auto-renewal products because they are purchased for specific dates.
Licenses are nontransferable. Keep printed or digital proof available while fishing. A license purchased online can generally be reprinted through the customer’s account if the original copy is lost.
Special, Lifetime, and Complimentary Licenses
Arizona provides several options beyond the daily short-term and standard annual licenses.
- Lifetime licenses: Available only to qualifying Arizona residents. Prices vary by the applicant’s age and the type of lifetime privilege selected.
- Pioneer License: Available to a person age 70 or older who has been a bona fide Arizona resident for at least 25 consecutive years immediately before applying.
- Disabled Veteran License: A no-fee combination license may be available to a qualifying Arizona resident with a permanent 100% service-connected disability.
- Purple Heart benefit: Qualifying Arizona resident Purple Heart recipients may be eligible for a reduced-fee combination license.
- Youth group two-day license: Certain nonprofit organizations and government entities may apply for a group license covering a supervised youth event.
Special and complimentary licenses commonly require supporting documents and may need to be processed through an AZGFD office. Review the department’s special-license information before applying.
Rules, Regulations, and What the License Covers
The Short-Term Combination Hunt and Fish License allows the take of legal aquatic wildlife statewide, including at Community Fishing waters. Covered aquatic wildlife includes legal fish species, crayfish, frogs, waterdogs, and softshell turtles, subject to open seasons, legal methods, and applicable limits.
The short-term combination license also provides eligible small-game, fur-bearing-animal, predatory-animal, nongame-animal, and upland-game-bird privileges. Separate tags or stamps may still be required for regulated hunting activities, and the short-term license is not valid when applying for an Arizona hunt draw.
The license grants a legal privilege to fish; it does not cancel bag limits, protected-species rules, closures, property restrictions, or water-specific regulations.
A separate Arizona trout stamp, two-pole stamp, or Colorado River stamp is no longer required. A valid Arizona fishing or combination license includes trout privileges, simultaneous fishing with two poles or lines, and specified reciprocal Colorado River privileges.
- Check the statewide bag and possession limits.
- Review the special regulations for the exact body of water.
- Observe bait, hook, artificial-lure, size, and catch-and-release restrictions.
- Do not target protected native fish.
- Carry the required license while fishing.
- Obtain any separate tribal permit, park pass, access authorization, or boating document that applies.
The Fish & Boat AZ map can help locate waters and identify special regulations, stocking information, and access details. Anglers remain responsible for confirming the primary regulations before fishing.
Free Fishing Days and Other License Exemptions
Arizona’s 2026 Free Fishing Day occurred on Saturday, June 6, 2026. AZGFD waived the state fishing-license requirement at state waters and Community Fishing Program waters for that day.
Bag limits, size limits, legal-method rules, closures, and other fishing regulations still applied. The 2026 waiver did not apply to private or tribal waters or to Central Arizona Project canals; location-specific rules remained in force.
The next Free Fishing Day should not be assumed until AZGFD publishes its official date. Check the department’s event announcements before planning a license-free trip.
Other exemptions include:
- Youth under age 10.
- Qualifying blind Arizona residents.
- Fishing private waters, tanks, or ponds with the property owner’s permission.
- Activities covered by an applicable special group permit or complimentary license.
Note: A license exemption does not create a right to enter private property and does not waive tribal, park, boating, access, bag-limit, or protected-species rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upgrade a three-day license to an annual license mid-trip?
AZGFD does not publish a guaranteed upgrade or fee-credit process for short-term licenses. Purchased licenses generally cannot be refunded or exchanged. You may buy an annual license separately, but do not assume the short-term payment will be credited toward it.
Are trout or two-pole stamps required?
No. Arizona no longer requires separate trout, two-pole, or Colorado River special-use stamps for ordinary fishing privileges. A valid general fishing or combination license covers trout and simultaneous fishing with two poles or lines, subject to water-specific rules.
Do the three selected fishing days have to be consecutive?
No. You select the valid date or dates when purchasing a short-term combination license, and multiple dates do not have to be consecutive.
Is an annual license cheaper than three short-term days?
Yes, for fishing-only privileges at the listed prices. Three short-term dates cost $45 for a resident or $60 for a nonresident, while annual general fishing licenses cost $37 and $55.
Do pier or bank-fishing areas require a different state license?
Arizona does not list a separate statewide pier or bank-fishing license. The normal fishing-license rules apply. A park, marina, tribal authority, concession, or property manager may separately require an entrance pass, parking payment, tribal permit, or access fee.
Can I purchase a license for someone else online?
A license may be purchased as a gift for another person when the system permits it, but the buyer must use the actual license holder’s accurate identity, residency, and personal information. The issued license is nontransferable.
Are refunds available for unused short-term dates?
Generally, no. AZGFD states that purchased licenses cannot be returned for a refund or exchange. Review every selected date before completing the transaction and contact the department promptly if a purchase contains an administrative error.
Conclusion
Three Arizona short-term combination license dates cost $45 for a resident or $60 for a nonresident, and the dates may be nonconsecutive. Before buying, compare the annual general fishing license: at $37 for residents and $55 for nonresidents, it is cheaper for a three-day fishing-only trip. Purchase through AZGFD or a participating dealer, carry the license while fishing, and check the current rules for each water.
Sources
- Arizona Game and Fish Department — Fishing Licenses and Regulations — current license fees, age requirements, exemptions, and purchase methods.
- Official Arizona Fishing Regulations — License and Fee Structure — privileges, selected-date rules, private-water exemption, license validity, and fee table.
- Official Arizona General Statewide Fishing Regulations — trout, two-pole, Colorado River, protected-species, and general fishing rules.
- Arizona Game and Fish Department — Hunting Licenses — combination-license privileges, residency rules, draw limitations, and complimentary licenses.
- Arizona Game and Fish Department — License Auto-Renewal — eligible annual licenses and renewal procedures.
- Arizona Game and Fish Department — 2026 Free Fishing Day — event date, covered waters, exclusions, and continuing fishing regulations.
