Can I Show My Fishing License on My Phone in California in 2024?

In 2024, anglers in California have a new option when it comes to displaying their fishing licenses – they can now use a digital version on their smartphones. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recently launched a mobile app that allows both residents and non-residents to electronically show their California sport fishing licenses and validations instead of carrying a physical copy.

The CDFW License App

The CDFW License App, available for iOS and Android devices, was created by a state bill signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Jim Wood, gave the CDFW the authority to offer anglers the choice to display their fishing licenses, validations, report cards, and other sportfishing entitlements on a mobile device.

The app allows users to electronically display the following items:

365-day sport fishing licenses (resident and nonresident)
One-, two- and 10-day sportfishing licenses
Ocean enhancement validation
Recreational crab trap validation
Second-rod validation

Users can also access the CDFW’s published regulation booklets, fish planting schedules, and online license sales and services pages through the app.

Proof of Purchase vs. Valid Entitlement

It’s important to note that while the app provides proof of purchase for report cards required for fishing certain species, such as steelhead, sturgeon, abalone, spiny lobster, and salmon in specific rivers, it does not replace the physical report cards themselves. The proof of purchase shown in the app is not considered a valid entitlement.

Hunting Licenses Coming Soon

The CDFW has announced plans to add hunting licenses and related hunting validations to the app “as early as mid-2024”. This will provide hunters with the same convenience as anglers when it comes to displaying their licenses on their smartphones.

Physical Licenses Still Required

Despite the introduction of the digital license app, anglers and hunters in California are still required by law to present the original paper copy of their fishing or hunting license to a game warden upon request. A scanned copy version carried in a smartphone will not suffice. Fishing and hunting licenses are printed on special waterproof paper to prevent fraudulent duplication.

The CDFW’s online license sales and services website offers a wide range of options for purchasing licenses, permits, tags, and other entitlements. Licenses can also be obtained from CDFW license sales offices, independent license agents, and through telephone sales.