Worth it buying life time Fishing License?

[bma3]

I just turned 16 last week and was wondering if it was worth it to buy a lifetime fishing license or just renew it every time is expires? Thanks!

[Choporoz]

Probably not offered in all states...and those that do will all have different 'offers'

 

What are the terms in your state?  Lifetime license cost?  Annual license cost?  Does it change the computation if you start considering fresh water vs salt water vs trout waters?  Post the details and you'll likely get better advice.

[S. Sass]

Quote

Location * Northern California

Ages 10-39 $846.75 Available to residents of California. Lifetime fishing licensees receive an annual sport fishing license each year for life.

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Lifetime#773645-license-fees-and-application

 

If it was me at age 16 yes I would. It's not like California does not have a heck of a fishery. If you can't find a nice place to fish there well look harder. That is one of a few select states that I would say yes to this question especially at your age. 

 

That is roughly 18 of the one year passes ($47) which makes you what 34 yrs old ($47/$847=18 years) and then the rest of your days will be free fishing.  

 

 

 

[visagelaid]

My only concern with that is that you are 16 and dont know where your life will take you.  I thought at 16 that I would be in VA forever.  Then in my 20s I thought I would never leave MD.  Now im living in AL when I got a job offer I couldnt refuse.  So If I would have pulled the trigger on the VA license, I would be out quite a bit of money.  I would say hold off until your life has a little more direction.

[12poundbass]

In my state (MI) I believe you don't need a license until 18 as long as you're with a licensened angler. 

Our license just went up $10-15 a year or two ago. That's something to think about. Chances are they'll go up again over the course of your life. I'd say if you could afford it I'd do it. The worst that comes from it is you've donated to a good cause. 

[Choporoz]

30 minutes ago, visagelaid said:

My only concern with that is that you are 16 and dont know where your life will take you.  I thought at 16 that I would be in VA forever.  Then in my 20s I thought I would never leave MD.  Now im living in AL when I got a job offer I couldnt refuse.  So If I would have pulled the trigger on the VA license, I would be out quite a bit of money.  I would say hold off until your life has a little more direction.

Bingo.

At 20 I moved from my 'birth state'.....Since then, I've lived in seven other states, territories and countries....and I'm working plans for the eighth.      I did spend a week back fishing in my home state once....so, in some sort of perverted way, I could look at it as if I'd saved $28 one year

[fishballer06]

Here in PA, you cannot purchase a lifetime license until you are 60 (or 65, I'd have to double check). However, they do offer multi year licenses (1, 3, 5, 10), which is nice. I personally always buy the 3 year license. I do this because it saves me the hassle of having to go into a shop just to buy a license every spring, and it saves me a couple dollars overall. 

[BassnChris]

That is a steep price.....in Oklahoma it's like $250.

My wife and I have ours.....we will buy my son his on his 16th birthday.

 

if I had the money and I were you......I would buy it. 

[frosty]

If Indiana still offered the lifetime, I would have definitely bought it. Of course there's always the chance you'll get bored with fishing, or move out of state. Those are things you should consider before dropping a few hundred dollars. 

[ww2farmer]

Depends on how long your going to live.

 

With me, it's about day to day around here.....especially if my wife is mad.

 

So forking over the cash for a lifetime license might not be a wise move.

[Raul]

8 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

Here in PA, you cannot purchase a lifetime license until you are 60 (or 65, I'd have to double check). However, they do offer multi year licenses (1, 3, 5, 10), which is nice. I personally always buy the 3 year license. I do this because it saves me the hassle of having to go into a shop just to buy a license every spring, and it saves me a couple dollars overall. 

 

Smart move from the PA gvt, when you turn 60 you ain't gonna got to live a lot or being capable of going fishing.

[BassThumb]

For me, it costs the same as paying for an annual license for 20 years, at the current rate. In the long run, it'd probably be a wise idea, given inflation and the general trend of license fee increases. I don't care about that now; I'd rather put that $600 toward an Ultrex.

[Bluebasser86]

I wish I would have bought mine when I was 16 and it was only $450. It's over 800 now and I'm old enough it wouldn't pay off to buy it. 

[flechero]

6 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I wish I would have bought mine when I was 16

 

Me too... only I wish I would have bought the lifetime combo hunting/fishing.  It was cheap back then and would have been paid for by now and I'm only in my 40's....  probably not worth it now, but it's one of those things I do regret passing on. 

 

The only risk is if you move- depending on your career/family situation may or may not be a big possibility. 

[MIbassyaker]

21 hours ago, visagelaid said:

My only concern with that is that you are 16 and dont know where your life will take you.  I thought at 16 that I would be in VA forever.  Then in my 20s I thought I would never leave MD.  Now im living in AL when I got a job offer I couldnt refuse.  So If I would have pulled the trigger on the VA license, I would be out quite a bit of money.  I would say hold off until your life has a little more direction.

 

Exactly. When I was 16, I would never have predicted either the places I have ended up living as an adult, or the number of times I have moved.

[WRB]

California started the life time hunting/ fishing license program in 2010, before that time juniors under 16 didn't need a license to fish, the adult license was about $32 annual from Jan 1 to Dec 31. There was a plan for a Golden Eagle program for seniors 65 and older that would allow free fishing, hunting, camping in State and Fereral parks, etc for a one time fee. The Golden Eagle program is availble but without the fishing license. 

Life time license is a good idea for anyone who plans on fishing for a life time, be optimistic!

Tom

 

[Team9nine]

Other than the very valid point about moving out of state, it would be well worthwhile in the long run if you have the money. I bought my lifetime license 16 years ago. Back then, a single year fishing license cost 8.75. We've had two increases since, the first in 2002 to 14.25, and the most recent jump to $17. Needless to say, I've already made up the cost, and never have to worry about getting, or forgetting a license from year to year.

[Jaderose]

God I love Missouri!  Lol........12 bucks a year and that gives you a subscription to a terrific magazine and access to hundreds, if not thousands of Conservation lakes from 1 acre to Table Rock and Truman.

[Quarry Man]

it only worth it if you will be there long enough to make it back by money saved.

[blckshirt98]

1) If you plan on going to college wait until you know which state/college you'll be attending.  If it's out of state there's a good chance you'll get a job closer to your college where you might end up staying for a while, or, you'll find a job afterwards that puts you in a different state.

 

2) California isn't a cheap place to live, I have quite a few friends who ended up moving out of state because housing is simply too expensive unless you want to be a slave to your mortgage.  Once you need to start paying your own way with rent/bills you realize there are a lot of considerations in picking a place to live, and fishing might end up low on that list.

 

3) Do you have a lot of family rooted in California that you're pretty sure won't be moving away in the future?  If they're here for the long haul you'll always have a chance to use a lifetime license when you visit.

[frosty]

4 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Other than the very valid point about moving out of state, it would be well worthwhile in the long run if you have the money. I bought my lifetime license 16 years ago. Back then, a single year fishing license cost 8.75. We've had two increases since, the first in 2002 to 14.25, and the most recent jump to $17. Needless to say, I've already made up the cost, and never have to worry about getting, or forgetting a license from year to year.

Seems like the prices keep going up but the efforts to make Indiana a quality fishery stays the same. I don't think size or possession limits have changed since I remember reading about them when I was a kid, back when you got a paper license and the guy at the baitshop gave you a copy of the regulations. 

[Spankey]

I don't have that option here in PA. Wish I had that back in the 70's when I was 16. Fishing has been a big part of my life since I was kid.  Would have gotten my money's worth out of it. 

 

Best I can hope for now is senior lifetime if I live long enough for that to come about. 

[Airman4754]

On 4/24/2017 at 1:44 PM, 12poundbass said:

In my state (MI) I believe you don't need a license until 18 as long as you're with a licensened angler. 

Our license just went up $10-15 a year or two ago. That's something to think about. Chances are they'll go up again over the course of your life. I'd say if you could afford it I'd do it. The worst that comes from it is you've donated to a good cause. 

 

I got a lifetime license in Michigan for $1 being in the military. 

 

I did the math for a lifetime license here in Bama at age 33 and I think it amounted to about 14 years worth. In today's job market it's hard to say you are going to be somewhere that long continuously. 

[Team9nine]

When I bought my Indiana lifetime license, the cost was 20X the price of a yearly. I went ahead anyway at the age of 35. Thanks in part to 2 license increases since then, I broke even in 11 years. It's always a gamble because you can't predict what will happen in life, but I knew the  increases would come eventually, and I also couldn't ever see myself not fishing and not needing a license 

[jimf]

I wouldn't do it.  Seems like an unnecessary long term commitment.   This is one of those things that sounds better in theory than it does in practice.   You could invest that money, or use it to pay off a future credit card bill at 20% interest, or reduce the amount of a car loan, or pay school ... a million things.  Not to mention moving etc...