As we approach the start of the 2024 fishing season in Wisconsin, anglers are eager to know what changes they can expect. One significant update is that hunters and anglers in the state will no longer need to carry a paper license with them when they’re out on the water or in the woods. Instead, once their electronic license is approved, all they’ll need to have on hand is a valid driver’s license.
Purchasing Fishing Licenses in Wisconsin for 2024
In Wisconsin, fishing licenses for the 2024-2025 season are now available for purchase. All residents and non-residents aged 16 and older must have a valid 2024-2025 general fishing license to fish in the state. Annual resident licenses cost $20 each, or anglers can purchase a spousal license for $31, allowing them and their spouse to fish together.
For those who are new to fishing in Wisconsin or haven’t fished in the state for at least ten years, a first-time buyer license is available at a discounted rate. Additionally, a one-day fishing license is offered for anglers who want to try Wisconsin fishing for a single day.
Resident anglers who recruit someone new to purchase a first-time buyer license can earn points toward a reduced-price license of their choice. Active-duty military on furlough or leave who are Wisconsin residents and veterans are also eligible for discounted licenses.
New Fishing Regulations for 2024-2025
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has published several new fishing regulations and changes to bag limits for the 2024-2025 season. These changes include:
- A new small tournament registration requirement
- A statewide daily bag limit of three walleye/sauger per day on all inland waters
- A daily bag limit of 10 panfish in Lake Mendota in Dane County
- Changing the musky minimum length limit to 50 inches on the Wisconsin River from the Lake DuBay Dam upstream to the first dam in Merrill
- Creating an urban fishing pond in the Village of Suamico in Brown County
New bag and length limits have also been enacted for specific waterbodies in several counties across the state.
Accessing Fishing Regulations and Licenses
Anglers can find the general fishing regulations, trout fishing regulations, and a full list of the 2024-2025 fishing regulation changes on the DNR’s fishing regulations webpage. Fishing licenses and stamps can be purchased online via Go Wild, at a registered sales location, or at DNR Service Centers.
Kids aged 15 and under fish without a license every day in Wisconsin, and anglers born before 1927 are also exempt from needing a license.