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Nontidal Fishing License and Trout Stamp Update
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is entrusted with managing resources for the public good, thus ensuring the long-term sustainability of fish and wildlife populations and the health of our ecosystems. DNR is proposing to increase fees to purchase freshwater fishing licenses and trout stamps for the first time in 17 years.
The department’s costs for monitoring, producing, and stocking freshwater fisheries have increased significantly due to inflation. However, the prices for freshwater fishing licenses and trout stamps that account for the majority of the funding for that work have not kept pace. The trout stamp price has not changed since 1992, while the cost of producing, stocking, and monitoring trout increased by 129%. Current expenditures in the program exceed revenue from licenses.
If the Maryland legislature approves the DNR-sponsored bill in its current form, the annual nontidal resident fishing license would increase to $32 from $20.50, and the trout stamp for residents would increase to $20 from $5. Nonresident fees would also increase. The proposed fees were recommended by a workgroup that consisted of members from the department’s advisory bodies, which represent the range of interests of Maryland’s freshwater angling constituency. Working together, the department and the workgroup explored options based on inflation, price benchmarking with fees of neighboring states, and current national/local average fees for comparable licenses and stamps before moving forward with this bill. Although Maryland’s rates would be slightly higher than those of neighboring states, the new license fees would provide enough revenue to prevent the need to increase the fees again in the near future.
DNR took a significant amount of time and consideration before proposing the new license fees. The agency is committed to providing world-class freshwater fishing opportunities throughout the state.
Questions? Read the FAQ about the proposed bill.
Those interested can track the bill on the Maryland General Assembly website.
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