The short answer
- New York water: anyone 16 or older needs a New York fishing license. Nonresidents pay $10 for 1 day, $28 for 7 days, or $50 for a year.
- Ontario water: visitors 18 or older need an Ontario license. A 1-day license doesn't require the Outdoors Card. Longer licenses do.
- A New York license is not valid on the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence, and an Ontario license isn't valid on the U.S. side.
- On a Laurentian Tours trip: most trips fish New York water, so a New York license is usually what you'll need. Depending on where the fish are, Richard may suggest an Ontario license instead, and he'll tell you when you book.
Why the license depends on where you fish
Through the Thousand Islands, the international border winds between the islands roughly down the middle of the river. Some islands are American and some are Canadian, and the line isn't always where you'd guess. New York and Ontario each license fishing only in their own water. New York's DEC says plainly that a New York license does not let you fish the Ontario or Quebec portion of the St. Lawrence. Your license has to match the water your line is in, not the town you launched from.
New York fishing license: who needs one and what it costs
Anyone 16 or older who fishes for freshwater fish in New York needs a license. Kids under 16 don't. These are the general fishing license fees listed by the New York State DEC (opens in a new tab):
| License | New York resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| 1-day | $5 | $10 |
| 7-day | $12 | $28 |
| Annual (365 days from purchase) | $25 (ages 16–69), $5 (70+) | $50 |
Where to buy: online through the DEC, by phone at 1-866-933-2257, or in person at a license issuing agent such as a town clerk or many sporting goods and bait shops. If you buy online, you can have it emailed and save it on your phone. Small printing or mailing fees may apply.
New York also holds a few Free Fishing Days each year when no license is needed. Check the DEC site for the dates.
Ontario fishing license for U.S. visitors
If you're not a Canadian resident, Ontario calls you a "non-Canadian resident." Here's how Ontario's rules (opens in a new tab) work for visitors 18 and older:
- Outdoors Card plus a license. For most licenses you need an Outdoors Card (a plastic ID card good for three calendar years) and a fishing license on top of it.
- 1-day sport license, no Outdoors Card needed. This is the simplest choice for a single day on the Canadian side. It's good for one calendar day, starting at midnight.
- 8-day, 1-year, or 3-year licenses are also available.
- Sport or conservation. A sport license has normal catch limits. A conservation license costs less and has lower limits, a good fit if you mostly release your fish.
Ontario's fee page (opens in a new tab) lists these prices in Canadian dollars, plus HST: a 1-day sport license is $24.86, an 8-day sport license is $54.38, an 8-day conservation license is $31.52, a 1-year sport license is $83.19, and the Outdoors Card is $8.57. That page was last updated in 2024, so check it before you buy. You can buy online through Ontario's Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service (opens in a new tab), at a ServiceOntario location, or from a license issuer.
Crossing into Canadian water by boat
Fishing on the Canadian side isn't only about the license. The border rules also apply:
- Canada: according to the Canada Border Services Agency (opens in a new tab), you generally don't have to report if you pass through Canadian water without stopping. If you land, anchor, moor, or come alongside another boat in Canadian water, you must report to the CBSA right away.
- Back into the U.S.: if you landed in Canada or met another boat there, you must report your arrival to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Small boats can use the CBP ROAM app (opens in a new tab).
- Bring ID. Anyone who might cross should carry a passport, passport card, or NEXUS card.
These rules change, and the penalties can be steep, so read the official pages before you take your own boat across.
Which license do you need on a Laurentian Tours trip?
Most Laurentian Tours trips fish the New York side of the river out of Alexandria Bay, so everyone 16 or older usually needs a New York fishing license. For most visitors, the nonresident 1-day ($10) or 7-day ($28) license is the way to go. Buy it online before your trip and keep it on your phone. Depending on where the fish are, Richard may suggest an Ontario license instead, and he'll let you know when you book.
Waterfowl hunts are different. Hunters need a New York hunting license, HIP registration, and a federal duck stamp. See the duck hunting page for details.
Seasons and limits differ between New York and Ontario
New York and Ontario set their own seasons, size limits, and catch limits, and they don't always line up. For example, opening dates for bass and musky, and the number of walleye you can keep, can differ on each side of the border. Ontario's part of the river is in Fisheries Management Zone 20. If you fish both sides, check both the New York freshwater fishing regulations (opens in a new tab) and the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary (opens in a new tab). On a guided trip, Richard keeps track of what's open and what you can keep.
Kids, seniors, and other exemptions
- New York: kids under 16 fish free. New York residents 70 and older pay $5 for an annual license. Reduced-fee licenses are also available for some veterans, active military, and others, mostly for New York residents.
- Ontario: visitors under 18 don't need a license when they fish with an adult who has one, but their fish count toward that adult's limit. To get their own limits, they need their own Outdoors Card and license.
Last checked October 2026 against NYSDEC, Ontario, CBSA, and CBP. Fees and rules change, so confirm on the official sites before you buy.