It wasn’t that we needed another indication that fishing is a very big deal in Ohio, but we got one anyway when the Memorial Day weekend came to a close.
In the four-day holiday weekend period from Friday through Monday, the state sold 39,039 fishing licenses. Four of the top five fishing license sales days of 2023 took place on that holiday weekend. On Saturday alone, Ohio issued 11,500 fishing licenses.
It is tough to make an apples-to-apples comparison to the license sales of past years, since Ohio now offers multi-year fishing licenses, and its annual license is now a 365-day permit from the day it is issued.
Under the previous licensing system, all fishing licenses expired on the same date early in the year and had to be renewed annually. So it’s impossible to say if this was a record weekend for fishing license sales, but the numbers do tell a significant story.
“We can’t really find a comparison to be able to confirm that data,” said Brian Banbury of the Ohio Division of Wildlife. “This is just feel-good news that does show ‘a lot’ of people were fishing in Ohio that weekend.”
Ohio sold 678,080 fishing licenses last year. An annual resident license costs $25, while a non-resident annual license is $50.96. Ohio also offers three-year, five-year, 10-year, and lifetime licenses for residents. For seniors, the annual license costs just $10.
Michigan sold 1.08 million fishing licenses last year. A resident annual license costs $26 in Michigan, while a non-resident will pay $76 for an annual license. A senior license is $11 in Michigan.
Many fishermen in this area will also purchase an Ontario non-resident license for fishing across the line in Lake Erie, the Detroit River, and Lake St. Clair. That Ontario license runs $83.19 plus $8.57 for the required Outdoors Card.
In 2021, there were 39.32 million fishing licenses, tags, permits, and stamps sold in the U.S., an increase of more than half a million from the previous year.
The most expensive fishing licenses – you guessed it – are in California where a resident pays $58.58 for an annual license, and a non-resident gets hit up for $158.25. The least expensive fishing licenses are in Hawaii where a resident pays just $6 and non-resident licenses cost $26.
The 50-state average cost for fishing licenses is about $25 for residents and $60-$70 for non-residents, so Ohio and Michigan’s costs are not out of line.
In fishing license sales per capita, Alaska is the national leader with 58,683 fishing licenses sold per 100,000 people. Wyoming was next (42,124), followed by Montana (39,408).
Free fishing days: Michigan‘s Free Fishing Weekend takes place on Saturday and Sunday when all residents and non-residents are allowed to fish the inland waters and the Great Lakes waters of the state without a fishing license. Ohio’s Free Fishing Days are June 17 and 18 and are open to all Ohio residents. In both Ohio and Michigan, all size and bag limits and other fishing regulations apply during these periods.
Lake Erie: Anglers are throwing everything in the box at walleye when faced with a tougher-than-expected early summer bite. Trolling crankbaits, drifting weight-forward rigs, bottom-bouncing crawler harnesses, and some old-fashioned jigging have all worked in various situations and circumstances. Once active fish are located, the big packs of boats are forming quickly, often diminishing the returns.
Detroit River: Captain Spencer Berman reports that his clients have been targeting walleye and smallmouth bass in the build-up to the muskie season. The Sylvania native said the walleye fishing in the river has been very good in recent days, and bottom-bouncing crawler harnesses in the deeper holes producing the most fish.
First Published June 7, 2023, 5:06 p.m.
