Photo : Forest Service - Northern Region, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Rhode Island

State, United States. Authority : Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Division of Fish & Wildlife.
2026 rules, checked on 23 September 2026.

Buy my licence2026 season calendar
Licence
US$41Non-resident, at vendor
Next opening
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Minimum sizes
61 cmNorthern pike

Useful gear for this area

Chosen from the species and size limits regulated in this area.

2026 season calendar

Species
Trout4second Saturday in April, 6:00 AM → last day of February, midnight

5/day April-November, 2/day December-February; 8 in minimum; Trout Conservation Stamp needed to keep trout

Solid bars: fishing allowed. Yellow line: today.

Minimum sizes

SpeciesMinimum size0–70 cm
Largemouth & smallmouth bass4
statewide, no closed season		30.5 cm
Northern pike4
statewide, no closed season		61 cm
Chain pickerel4
statewide		35.6 cm
Trout4
all trout and charr		20.3 cm

To check the minimum size: Northern pike 61 cm here. Backlit Digital Hanging Scale 50 kg €32.90£28.90Not shipped to the United States

Bag limits

SpeciesFish you may keep
Black bass (largemouth & smallmouth)4
statewide		5 per day
Northern pike4
statewide		2 per day
Chain pickerel4
statewide		5 per day
Trout (aggregate)4
2 from Dec 1 to end of February		5 per day

Licence

LicenceDurationPrice
Resident Freshwater Fishing License2annual (March 1 - last day of February)US$21
Resident (or current member of U.S. armed forces), online2annualUS$21
Resident, at vendor2annualUS$23
Combination Hunting & Fishing, online2annualUS$38
Non-resident, online2annualUS$38
Non-resident, at vendor2annualUS$41
Non-resident Tourist (three consecutive days), online23-dayUS$18
Non-resident Tourist (three consecutive days), at vendor23-dayUS$21
Trout Conservation Stamp (resident or non-resident), online2annualUS$5.50
Resident 65+ permanent license1permanentUS$0

Buy the licence on rio.ri.gov

Ages and exemptions2
Freshwater license required of anglers 15 and older; minors under 15 exempt. Residents over 65 obtain a free permanent license. Free fishing days: first full weekend of May.

Good to know

License year March 1 - end of February. Trout Conservation Stamp required to keep trout/salmon/charr or fish catch-and-release / fly-fishing-only areas. No closed season on bass or pike. Walleye not covered by the freshwater regulation. Rule 250-RICR-60-00-10 current version effective July 28, 2026.

What the authority does not publish

Points we could not find in the official texts: check with the authority.

  • dem.ri.gov bloqué par une vérification anti-bot : pages lues via copies Wayback 2026 (avril et août 2026)
  • Pas de licence journalière (1-day) ; seulement tourist 3 jours
  • Pas de règle walleye dans le règlement
  • Page des tarifs indique 'last updated February 8th, 2024' : tarifs en vigueur en 2026 mais sans mention d'année

Rules change every year and can be amended during the season. Before fishing, check the text in force with the authority listed.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a fishing licence in Rhode Island in 2026?

The “Non-resident, at vendor” licence costs US$41 (annual). Other options and prices are in the table above, with the official source.

What is the minimum size for northern pike in Rhode Island?

Northern pike: 61 cm. Any smaller fish must be released immediately.

Official sources

  1. Rhode Island Freshwater Fishing License Fees (DEM; Cloudflare-protected, archived copy of 2026-04-14 consulted) (accessed on 23 September 2026)
  2. RI Freshwater Fisheries FAQ (archived copy of 2026-08-17 consulted) (accessed on 23 September 2026)
  3. Rhode Island Freshwater Sizes and Limits (accessed on 23 September 2026)
  4. 250-RICR-60-00-10 Freshwater Fishing Regulations (RI Secretary of State) (accessed on 23 September 2026)

Last checked : 23 September 2026.

Other areas in the United States

Fishing regulations in the United States