It’s as predictable as spooling up your reels at the start of the season, Rhode Island anglers will buy their fishing licenses before making that first cast of 2025. But there’s extra incentive to get that done early this year, because you’ll be paying more if you wait too long! Starting July 1, 2025, hunters, trappers, and freshwater anglers can expect gradual increases in the prices of licenses, permits, stamps, and tags.
The fiscal year 2022 budget enacted by the General Assembly included a provision for gradual price increases over 8 years. Prior to this change, most prices for licenses, permits, stamps, and tags had not been raised since 2003. Fees for disabled, senior (65+), and saltwater fishing licenses will not increase. The second step in a gradual adjustment, the increase will be up to $5 per product for residents and up to $15 per product for non-residents.
Hunters and freshwater anglers can still purchase licenses, permits, stamps, and tags at the current price through June 30 by using DEM’s Rhode Island Outdoors (RIO) online licensing system at RIO.ri.gov and at local sales agents.
What will this look like for Rhode Island anglers in 2025 and beyond? Here’s a quick sampling: the current price for a resident freshwater fishing license is $21, but as of July 1, 2025 it will increase to $24 and then balloon out to $27 in 2028. Non-residents currently pay $38, on July 1, 2025 that figure will increase to $41 and then $44 in 2028. Hunters should take a close look at the chart on the DEM website because there are many increases laid out for hunters.
These increases are expected to generate over $185,000 in additional annual revenue through 2027, and over $300,000 per year after the third increase in 2028. Each year, hunters, trappers, and anglers collectively purchase nearly 70,000 licenses, permits, stamps, and tags. The revenue from these sales plays a vital role in supporting Rhode Island’s fish and wildlife conservation programs. This funding is crucial, as it is matched 3:1 by federal funds from the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Conservation Investment, which helps support outdoor recreational opportunities for fishing, hunting, and boating throughout RI. This “user pay, public benefit” model funds DEM’s efforts to conserve and manage fish and wildlife and carry out projects that benefit RI’s outdoor community. For more information, please visit dem.ri.gov.
