New Mexico Fishing License
Issued by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Fishing in New Mexico
New Mexico's San Juan River below Navajo Dam is a top-five tailwater in the country — trophy rainbows and browns on tiny midges through every season. The Cimarron, Pecos, and upper Rio Grande hold wild trout. Elephant Butte and Caballo reservoirs produce striped bass and white bass. The Chama, Red, and Vermejo rivers add wild brookies and cutthroats in the mountains. Despite the desert reputation, New Mexico delivers some of the most surprising trout water in the Southwest.
License Types & Fees
| License | Fee |
|---|---|
| Resident Annual Fishing | $35.00 |
| Resident One-Day Fishing | $12.00 |
| Resident Five-Day Fishing | $30.00 |
| Resident Junior Annual Fishing (12–17) | $5.00 |
| Resident Senior Annual Fishing (65–69) | $8.00 |
| Resident 70+ Annual Fishing Habitat Stamp, HMAV, and Second Rod also waived | Free |
| Resident Disabled Annual Fishing | $8.00 |
| Resident Game-Hunting & Fishing Combo Squirrel + game birds (no turkey) + fishing | $42.00 |
| Resident Junior Game-Hunting & Fishing | $15.00 |
| Resident Senior/Disabled Game-Hunting & Fishing | $20.00 |
| Resident Disabled Veteran Game-Hunting & Fishing | $10.00 |
| Non-Resident Annual Fishing | $90.00 |
| Non-Resident One-Day Fishing | $12.00 |
| Non-Resident Five-Day Fishing | $30.00 |
| Non-Resident Junior Annual Fishing (12–17) | $20.00 |
| Habitat Stamp Mandatory on US Forest Service and BLM lands | $10.00 |
| Habitat Management & Access Validation (HMAV) Not required for ages 17 and under; does not replace Habitat Stamp | $4.00 |
| Second Rod Validation | $10.00 |
| Gila Trout Fishing Permit Required only at select Gila trout locations | Free |
| Free Foster Family Fishing License Available at NMDOW offices with proof of eligibility | Free |
Fees are subject to change. Confirm current pricing on the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish website before purchasing.
A per-transaction vendor fee applies on all purchases. New Mexico stacks several validations on top of the base license: most anglers fishing federal lands need both an Annual Fishing license, a Habitat Stamp, and HMAV. Residents 70+ and free-license holders are exempt from the stamps.
Log Your New Mexico Catches
CatchVault is available on iOS. Identify species with AI, measure with LiDAR, and keep a private journal of every fish you land in New Mexico.