Fishing has always been something that people enjoy not just as a hobby but also as a sport. People like to enjoy this with their friends and family just because of how relaxing it can be. Just you and the people you like, out in the calming waters is something that a lot of people like to do. The law mandates that those who want to go fishing, whether for recreation or for selling fish require a license to fish. Different states have different regulations surrounding them, which is why it is important to know these before you set out for your fishing trip, lest you get into a run in with the law. Some states in the country require more than just the general fishing license. This is a prerequisite to the normal license and is known as a Conservation License. This is needed in the states that require this, and not having one can lead to consequences that could potentially ruin your fishing trip. 

Getting a license to fish is simple and does not require much effort. A fishing license is not like a driver’s license or anything and does not require you to take any test or show your skills before you can acquire one, which makes getting this a lot easier. A Conservation license, on the other hand, requires a little bit more effort but is still easier than most other forms of licenses. The Conservation license can be secured through the FWPs or Fish, Wildlife Parks. You will be required to give some of your information like your social security number and also a valid photo ID. This can also be given only to residents of the United States and only a valid proof of identification like a driver's license would be accepted. 

Both the licenses that one acquires are only valid for a year. If you are looking to go fishing regularly, you will need to know the expiry date of your license so that you can renew it whenever it expires. The license is non transferable, and is not valid if anyone else in your family chooses to use it. They would have to get a license of their own if they want to do the same activity as you. The license does not put any regulations on what kind of fish you can catch, except for a few species that are under wildlife conservation because of fear of extinction. 

Depending on where you want to fish, the kind of license that you acquire also differs. There are two kinds of licenses, a residential license, and a nonresidential one. For a residential license, one needs to be a resident of the state. If one plans to fish in a different state, they have to acquire a non-residential license but will have to be accompanied on all their fishing trips by someone who has a residential license of that state. A fishing license if free for children under the age of eleven, but those who want to get one above that age are required to pay a small fee for the same.