Whether you are a resident or a nonresident, there are so many factors to consider when going on a fishing trip in Minnesota. Anglers must make sure to have their fishing licenses in hand, as well as all of their equipment. You may book a tour or excursion with a fishing guide, or you can join special sporting organizations as you move along your fishing journey. When it comes to being a sportsman in Minnesota, the possible activities and experiences are almost endless. All that matters is the interest of the fisherman in question.
Want to work professionally in one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes? Then you are going to need to apply for a commercial fishing license with the MN Department of Natural Resources. Are you traveling to Minnesota to take the family out for an extracurricular fishing vacation? If so, it’s important to choose proper lodging, find a nearby bait shop and consider charters, rentals and guides. The good news is that no matter what your situation, FishingLicense.org features all of the necessary information for a fantastic fishing experience. Our site has helped countless fishermen take trusted classes, obtain fishing licenses, find the best places to fish in, join state organizations and more.
In order to fish in the state of Minnesota, residents and nonresidents must buy a fishing license, and there are a number of credentials that citizens can choose from. There are angling licenses, spearing licenses and even special fishing permits for certain species of fish, such as trout. The fees for each license to fish varies, as well as each credential’s length of validity. Anglers have the option of buying annual fishing licenses, daily documentation and more. As you would expect, the prices are higher for licenses that are meant to last longer. In addition, special recreational fishing licenses can be obtained by members of the military and those Americans who are developmentally disabled. To receive this documentation, one must simply provide proof of time in the military or their reception of SSD benefits.
With all that there is to consider when getting a fishing license, the process can be a bit overwhelming if a resident does not know where to look. Fortunately, fishinglicense.org has you covered. With all of the important information a prospective sportsman must know when they are beginning the process of buying a fishing license in Minnesota, our website is a one-stop resource for all fishing knowledge needs.
Whether you are a resident or a nonresident, fishing in the state of Minnesota requires all individuals to buy a fishing license. The good news is that the process for getting a fishing license is simple. Different fees are available for residents, members of the military services or seniors, and there are also different lengths of time to select. Familiarize yourself with the sections below before getting out on the boat and fishing to your heart’s content in one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes.
In order to obtain a resident fishing license in Minnesota, the first thing that one must do is establish residency. To do so, you must live in the state of Minnesota for a minimum of 60 days before applying for a fishing license. Once residency is established, the next step is to apply for fishing credentials. As a resident, you can apply online with the Electronic License System, in person with a local Department of Natural Resources license agent, over the phone at 888-665-4236 and, in some cases, by mail at the DNR’s Angling License Center.
During the application process for a resident fishing license, individuals 21 or over will be asked for a proof of residency. The only acceptable proofs are Minnesota driver licenses and MN Public Safety ID cards. Once you present one of these proofs of residency, payment can be given and you will obtain the desired license to fish.
If an individual is visiting Minnesota and would like to fish inside the state, he or she must buy an out-of-state fishing license. If it is a group of individuals planning to fish in MN, then every single party (or couple) interested in the sport must get a non resident fishing license.
There are certain circumstances when a visiting party does not need to purchase a license to fish in order to engage in the sport, such as the following:
For more information on the process of obtaining an out-of-state fishing license from Minnesota, consult our helpful guide.
There may come a day when your fishing license is lost or stolen. In this case, you will have to get a fishing license replacement. Fortunately, there are multiple simple ways for you to go through the process. The first and most convenient option available is to use the Electronic License System. By filling out the application online, you will be able to save yourself a good deal of time and effort. An easy alternative to filing online is applying for a duplicate over the phone. Call 888-665-4236 and you will be connected to a system that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The final option is to visit a local Department of Natural Resources license agent and apply for a replacement license to fish in person. Only certain circumstances will allow you to apply by mail.
If you are a resident who is 21 years of age or older, remember that proof of residency must be provided when replacing fishing licenses. Minnesota driver licenses and MN Public Safety ID cards are both acceptable proofs of residency.
For those individuals who are willing to make a lifetime commitment to the sport of fishing, lifetime fishing licenses are also available. And there are a number of them to choose from. In the state of Minnesota, you can purchase a general license to fish, a spearing-only license, a spearing/angling license, a sports/spearing license and more. Prices will vary based on the selection.
You can buy a fishing license that lasts a lifetime whether you are a resident or a nonresident. But residents must show either a Public Safety ID card or a Minnesota driver license when they place an order. Additionally, regardless of an individual’s residency status, these lifetime fishing licenses must be renewed annually, though at no cost to the individual, in person, online or by phone. This is done so that the Department of Natural
Resources can distribute current regulation booklets and keep accurate tabs on the amount of active licensees.
In the state of Minnesota, there are no age restrictions that one needs to worry about when it comes to fishing. As long as an individual is in good health and wishes to fish in the state, he or she can easily obtain a recreational fishing license in MN. It also does not matter if the senior citizen in question is a resident or a nonresident. As long as you can provide the necessary payment and proof of residency (if you are a resident), the application process is quick and easy. Furthermore, the license fees are less expensive across the board for individuals age 51 and up.
In addition, there is one group of seniors that does not need to get a fishing license. If a senior citizen is currently enrolled and participating in an adult day care program that is run by a Minnesota-recognized boarding care or nursing home, he or she does not need a license to fish.
Veterans and members of the military do not have to meet the same requirements as civilians in Minnesota. In fact, any person who is currently in the United States Armed Forces and is stationed in MN can buy a resident fishing license, even if he or she has not established residency. If you are a resident of Minnesota, on the other hand, and have been on duty outside of the country in the last two years, you can legally fish without a fishing license after your discharge, as long as proof of residency and discharge are provided. In addition, Minnesota veterans with a completely service-related disability can receive a permanent license to fish from the DNR.
Although certain members of the military must meet specific requirements, there are other Armed Forces personnel who are exempt. For example, Minnesota military members who are home on leave do not have to meet licensing requirements. Veterans Administration patients do not have to meet requirements either, as long as they can present written consent from the chief executive or superintendent of the institution.
A recreational fishing license is not the only kind of credential that a sportsman can obtain in the state of Minnesota. Commercial fishing licenses are also available to those professionals who seek to make a career out of the timeless sport. This fishing documentation, which can be gained by both residents and nonresidents of the state, allows for the catching of fish and other seafood in the state of Minnesota for the purpose of commercial profit through sale. This is an industry that exists all across the United States and in many other parts of the world, with various different subsets for the different types of fishermen.
In Minnesota, residents and nonresidents can apply for a number of commercial fishing licenses, and fishinglicense.org has all of the information you need to learn how to get a commercial fishing license that is right for your business. Some of the credentials offered by the Land of 10,000 Lakes include fish buying for retail (inside or outside of Lake Superior), international fishing buying for wholesale, the hauling or retail of minnows and more. Simply log on to our page on buying a commercial fishing license to find out all of the details involved in the process.
As a resident of Minnesota, you must provide proof of residency when applying for a resident’s commercial fishing license. The Department of Natural Resources only accepts two types of proof: an MN driver’s license or a Minnesota Public Safety ID. One of these credentials, and payment for the specific kind of commercial resident fishing license, must be taken to the DNR Central Office at 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4040. A fisherman cannot get a commercial fishing license online, over the phone or by any other means.
Applications for a commercial fishing permit must be approved by the Department of Natural Resources, with the exception of netting licenses for Lake Superior, which provide pre-applications to all applicants. If your submission is approved, your new commercial fishing permit will last from March of the current year to March of the following year, when it is time for fishing license renewal. In addition, you are allowed to list one licensed individual as an apprentice when filing your application.
As a resident of Minnesota, you must provide proof of residency when applying for a resident?s commercial fishing license. The Department of Natural Resources only accepts two types of proof: an MN driver?s license or a Minnesota Public Safety ID. One of these credentials, and payment for the specific kind of commercial resident fishing license, must be taken to the DNR Central Office at 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4040. A fisherman cannot get a commercial fishing license online, over the phone or by any other means.
Applications for a commercial fishing permit must be approved by the Department of Natural Resources, with the exception of netting licenses for Lake Superior, which provide pre-applications to all applicants. If your submission is approved, your new commercial fishing permit will last from March of the current year to March of the following year, when it is time for fishing license renewal. In addition, you are allowed to list one licensed individual as an apprentice when filing your application.
Nonresidents will not receive the same perks as residents when it comes to commercial fishing licenses. This is primarily because the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources does not offer as much variety to those commercial industry workers seeking a non resident fishing license. The only options available for nonresident commercial fishermen are:
While there are fewer options available to commercial fishermen with out-of-state fishing licenses, one advantage is that you are not required to live in Minnesota for a period of 60 days in order to establish residency, obtain an MN driver’s license or Public Safety ID and buy a commercial license as a member of the state.
Fees for fishing licenses vary based on the credential in question. To learn more about commercial licenses for nonresidents, check out our useful guide.
Standard fishing licenses for residents and nonresidents of Minnesota can be obtained in a number of ways. You can purchase them online via the Electronic License System, in person with a local License Agent, by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week and occasionally by mail. A commercial fishing license, however, is not so easily attainable.
There is only one way to buy a commercial fishing license in Minnesota, and that is by going in person to the Department of Natural Resources Central Office at 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4040. The same goes for replacing a license to fish commercially. Rather than visit a License Agent nearby or log on to the Internet to fill out an application online, you must go in person to the DNR Central Office.
For more information on how to get a fishing license replacement, check out the section in our Fishing License Guide.
In the state of Minnesota, commercial fishing licenses are issued annually. However, if you would like to fish recreationally outside of the open season for commercial fishing, the MN Department of Natural Resources provides the option to do so with a lifetime fishing license.
Available to both residents and nonresidents, there is a wide variety of lifetime credentials to choose from. These include an overall license to fish, a spearing-specific lifetime license, one for angling and spearing and more. Minnesota fishing license fees vary depending on the desired credentials.
One thing to remember about buying fishing licenses that do not expire is that they must still be renewed every year. The good news is that fishing license renewal comes free of charge and can be completed online, in person or by phone. This is simply necessary for the DNR to keep track of their licensees and distribute important materials and information whenever necessary.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources does not have age limits for the distribution of commercial fishing licenses. However, given the often rigorous tasks associated with the profession, the DNR may take up to four weeks to determine whether or not a given individual will receive the license to fish commercially within the state.
The good news is that the application process is simple. In order to buy a commercial fishing license in Minnesota, one must fill out the specific resident or nonresident commercial application (based on their status). As a senior, if you would like to net fish with a Lake Superior commercial fishing license, you will receive a pre-application as well. Then, once all applications are completed and sent in, the Department of Natural Resources section of fisheries will approve or deny the submission. If you are denied the right to fish commercially, this is the end of the road, but if your application is accepted, you will be charged the full value of the desired fishing license.
If you are veteran or a current member of the military, obtaining a commercial fishing license requires you to follow the same procedures as civilians do. An application must be submitted for approval by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and if approved, payment must be provided for the specific kind of fishing license desired. However, the process for getting a fishing license that is recreational has been made much easier for those in the military.
First of all, any military member can receive a resident fishing license if they are stationed in Minnesota. These individuals do not need to establish residency first. Also, MN veterans with a 100 percent service-related disability are eligible for a permanent fishing license from the DNR.
Furthermore, some military individuals are exempt from licensing requirements. VA patients with written consent, Minnesota military members who are home on leave, and those who have been on active duty outside the US for the previous two years do not need to buy a fishing license to fish.
