Arizona makes fishing affordable for young anglers, but the state’s official product is not called a Junior Angler Permit. It is the Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License. This guide explains who needs it, what the $5 license covers, how long it lasts, where to buy it, and which rules still apply.
Quick Answer
Arizona anglers ages 10–17 can buy a Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License for $5, whether resident or nonresident. Children under 10 and blind Arizona residents do not need a state fishing license. The license lasts one year, covers statewide fishing and Community Fishing waters, and must be carried while fishing.
Key Takeaways
- Ages 10–17: The official Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License costs $5 for residents and nonresidents.
- Under age 10: No Arizona state fishing license is required, but all fishing and access rules still apply.
- Validity: The license has a one-year term. An online or Department-office buyer may select a start date within the period allowed by current rules.
- Coverage: The license covers legal fish species statewide, including Community Fishing Program waters, subject to closures and special regulations.
- Hunting: Big-game hunting requires a separate permit-tag, and some young hunters must complete hunter education.
At a Glance
| Official License | Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License |
| Eligible Age | 10 through 17 at the time of purchase |
| Cost | $5 for residents and nonresidents |
| License Term | One year from the applicable start date shown on the license |
| Where to Buy | Online, at an Arizona Game and Fish Department office, or through a participating license dealer |
| Under Age 10 | No state fishing license required |
Who Qualifies for a Youth Fishing License in Arizona?
Arizona residents and nonresidents who are 10 through 17 years old can purchase the state’s $5 Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License.
A child younger than 10 does not need to purchase an Arizona state fishing license. Blind Arizona residents are also exempt from the state fishing-license requirement. These exemptions do not remove bag limits, possession limits, closures, legal-method rules, or property-access requirements.
Arizona’s $5 youth license is available to both residents and nonresidents ages 10–17.
The youth license is based on the applicant’s age when the license is obtained. A valid license does not automatically disappear on the holder’s 18th birthday. Follow the start and expiration dates printed on the issued license. After that license expires, an angler who is 18 or older must purchase the appropriate adult license to continue fishing.
The license belongs to the named youth. It cannot be transferred to another child, sold, exchanged, or returned for a refund.
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Cost, Fishing Privileges, and Youth Hunt Permit-Tags
The Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License costs $5 for an Arizona resident and $5 for a nonresident. There is no separate lower-cost youth fishing-only license listed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
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What the $5 License Includes
For fishing, the youth combination license allows the take of legal fish species statewide, including at Community Fishing Program waters. It also includes trout privileges and allows the angler to use up to two poles or lines at the same time, unless a special rule for that water says otherwise.
The combination license also grants certain small-game and bird-hunting privileges. However, it does not replace a required big-game permit-tag, nonpermit-tag, federal waterfowl stamp, or other species-specific authorization.
Warning: The $5 license alone does not authorize a youth to take deer, elk, javelina, turkey, or other big game. A valid permit-tag or nonpermit-tag is also required. A hunter younger than 14 must complete an approved hunter-education course before taking big game, and no one younger than 10 may take big game in Arizona.
Current Youth-Only Hunt Permit-Tag Examples
Arizona publishes separate fees for designated youth-only hunts. According to the 2026–2027 Arizona Hunting Regulations, the following 2026 prices include the applicable application fee:
| Youth-Only Hunt | Resident Youth | Nonresident Youth |
| Turkey | $23 | $25 |
| Javelina | $28 | $30 |
| Elk | $63 | $65 |
| Deer | $38 | $40 |
These reduced prices apply only when the youth applies exclusively for a hunt designated as youth-only. A youth applying for a general hunt may have to pay the higher standard permit-tag fee. Hunting fees, draw dates, and available hunts can change each year.
How Long the Youth License Is Valid
The Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License has a one-year validity period. Its exact start date can depend on how it is purchased.
- License dealer: The one-year term begins on the purchase date.
- Online or at an Arizona Game and Fish Department office: Current Arizona rules allow the buyer to select a start date no more than 60 calendar days after purchase.
The start date and expiration date shown on the issued license control. Check those dates rather than relying only on the receipt date or the youth’s birthday.
Note: Turning 18 does not replace the expiration date printed on a properly issued one-year youth license. When that license expires, a person who is then 18 or older must purchase an adult fishing or combination license.
The Department offers license auto-renewal, but age eligibility still controls which license type may be issued for the next term. A person who has aged out of the youth category should expect the next purchase or renewal to use an adult license.
Where and How to Buy the Youth License
You can buy the license through the Arizona Game and Fish Department online licensing system, at an Arizona Game and Fish Department office, or through a participating license dealer.
Online Purchase Steps
- Open the official AZGFD license website.
- Sign in or create the appropriate customer account.
- Add or select the youth as a dependent when a parent or guardian is managing the purchase.
- Enter the youth’s correct name, birth date, address, residency information, and other required details.
- Select the Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License, review the start date and pay the $5 fee.
- Print the license or make it available through the Arizona E-Tag app.
A parent or guardian may purchase a license for a linked dependent. The license is issued directly to the youth and remains nontransferable and nonrefundable.
All required licenses must be in the angler’s possession while fishing. A printed license is acceptable, and the Arizona E-Tag app can store and display fishing licenses. The app can provide access in areas without cellular service after the account and license have been synced.
Pro Tip: Save or print the license before leaving home. An online-purchased license can be reprinted without charge. The current fishing booklet lists an $8 fee for replacing a lost license through a license dealer.
Exemptions, Complimentary Licenses, and Free Fishing Day
License Exemptions Overview
Arizona has several fishing-license exemptions and complimentary-license programs:
- Children under 10: No state fishing license is required.
- Blind Arizona residents: No state fishing license is required.
- Private waters: A state fishing license is not required to fish a private water, tank, or pond when the property owner gives permission.
- Pioneer License: A person must be at least 70 and have been an Arizona resident for 25 or more consecutive years immediately before applying. The license has no fee and does not expire.
- Complimentary Disabled Veteran License: The applicant must have lived in Arizona for at least one year immediately before applying and have a permanent service-connected disability rated 100% disabling.
These exemptions concern the state license requirement. They do not create a right to enter private property, fish closed water, keep protected species, or ignore bag, possession, bait, tackle, or seasonal rules.
Free Fishing Day Rules
Arizona generally holds a Free Fishing Day during National Fishing and Boating Week. The date and exact coverage should be checked on the current AZGFD events calendar each year.
A fishing license is waived only within the scope announced for that year. For example, AZGFD’s 2026 notice applied to state and Community Fishing Program waters but did not include private or tribal waters or Central Arizona Project canals. Salt River Project canals were included in that year’s notice.
Warning: Free Fishing Day removes the license requirement only where the annual notice says it does. Bag limits, possession limits, legal fishing methods, closures, protected-species rules, and water-specific regulations remain in force.
Rules and Regulations Youth Anglers Need to Know
Age and Eligibility
- Ages 0–9: No Arizona state fishing license is required.
- Ages 10–17: The $5 Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License is available.
- One-year term: Follow the start and expiration dates printed on the license.
- After expiration at age 18 or older: Purchase an adult fishing or combination license.
The age exemption does not exempt a child from conservation regulations. Adults supervising young anglers should check the water’s rules before the trip.
License Costs and Privileges
The youth combination license is $5 for both residents and nonresidents. For comparison, the Arizona Game and Fish Department currently lists an adult General Fishing License at $37 for residents and $55 for nonresidents.
A valid youth combination license allows fishing for legal fish species statewide, including Community Fishing Program waters. It also allows trout fishing and simultaneous use of two poles or lines, unless a special regulation imposes a tighter restriction.
The license also supports Arizona wildlife conservation. License revenue and federal excise-tax programs help fund fisheries, habitat, boating access, hatcheries, and other wildlife-management work.
Bag Limits, Special Waters, and Safety
Youth anglers follow the same applicable daily bag limits, possession limits, size restrictions, seasons, bait rules, and legal-method requirements as other anglers. Water-specific regulations can be more restrictive than the statewide rules.
Before fishing, use the Fish & Boat Arizona map and the current Arizona Fishing Regulations to check:
- Daily bag and possession limits
- Minimum or maximum length rules
- Catch-and-release requirements
- Single-pointed barbless-hook areas
- Artificial-fly-and-lure-only waters
- Bait restrictions
- Seasonal or permanent closures
- Protected native fish
An Arizona state license should not be assumed to authorize fishing on tribal waters. Tribal governments may issue their own permits and regulations. Private-property permission, park admission, campground fees, or other access requirements may also apply separately.
Safety Note: Arizona requires children 12 and younger to wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while a vessel is underway. A correctly sized wearable life jacket must also be available for every person aboard a vessel.
Group Fishing Opportunities
Arizona does not advertise a general family-package discount for ordinary license purchases. However, a qualifying nonprofit organization or governmental entity may apply for a Youth Group Two-Day Fishing License.
That group license costs $25, covers up to 25 youths, and is valid for two consecutive calendar days. It is issued to the qualifying organization rather than sold as a family discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there age-specific gear recommendations for junior anglers?
Yes. Choose a short, lightweight rod and reel that the child can hold comfortably, use simple tackle, supervise hooks and casting, and bring sun protection and drinking water. When boating, use a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Arizona requires children 12 and younger to wear one while a vessel is underway.
Can an Arizona youth fishing license be given as a gift?
A parent, guardian, or other authorized buyer can pay for a license issued in the child’s name and may manage the purchase through a linked dependent account. The buyer must provide the child’s accurate information. An issued license cannot later be transferred to another person and is nonrefundable.
Are family or group discounts available?
Arizona does not list a general family discount for individual youth licenses. Each eligible youth license already costs $5. A qualifying nonprofit organization or governmental entity may obtain a $25 Youth Group Two-Day Fishing License covering up to 25 youths for two consecutive days.
Does the youth license cover every Arizona fishing water?
It covers legal fishing statewide and at Community Fishing Program waters under Arizona’s licensing rules, but it does not override closures, special regulations, private-property restrictions, or tribal jurisdiction. Some locations may require separate permission, admission, or a tribal fishing permit.
Is fishing instruction or mentoring included with the license?
No. The license provides legal fishing privileges but does not include a lesson or guide. The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s FishAZ Network offers separate hands-on fishing events, education, and activities for beginners and families.
Does a youth license expire when the holder turns 18?
Not automatically. The youth license is available for purchase through age 17 and is issued for a one-year term. Follow the expiration date printed on the license. When it expires, a person who is then 18 or older must purchase the appropriate adult license.
Must a youth carry the license while fishing?
Yes. A required license must be in the angler’s possession while fishing. The youth may carry a printed copy or display a synced license through the Arizona E-Tag app.
Do children under 10 still have to follow fishing limits?
Yes. The exemption removes only the state fishing-license requirement. Children under 10 must still follow applicable bag limits, possession limits, size rules, seasons, bait restrictions, closures, and protected-species rules.
Conclusion
Arizona’s youth fishing option is simple once you use the correct rules. Anglers ages 10–17 can obtain the $5 Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License, while children under 10 do not need a state fishing license. Check the start and expiration dates printed on the license, carry proof while fishing, and review the rules for the exact water before casting. If hunting is also planned, obtain every required tag and complete any required hunter education.
Sources
- Arizona Game and Fish Department — Licenses and Regulations — current youth eligibility, prices, purchase locations, exemptions, and license options.
- 2025–2026 Arizona Fishing Regulations — fishing privileges, exemptions, statewide limits, replacement rules, and special regulations.
- Arizona Administrative Code, Title 12, Chapter 4 — official combination-license eligibility, start-date, validity, and application rules.
- Arizona Game and Fish Department — 2026 Free Fishing Day Notice — Free Fishing Day scope, exclusions, and continuing regulation requirements.
- 2026–2027 Arizona Hunting Regulations — youth hunting privileges, education requirements, and youth-only permit-tag fees.
- Arizona Game and Fish Department — FishAZ Network — separate fishing education, events, and hands-on instruction.
