All sports fishing guiding businesses and individual sport fishing guides in Alaska waters need a current annual license. Registration requirements for license is different for freshwater and saltwater fishing. Separate registration for fishing guide businesses and individual sport fishing guides.

Guide Requirements

When filing an application to become a fishing guide you must provide the following information:

• Name
• Permanent mailing address
• Telephone number
• In-season telephone number
• Address to mail wallet-sized license/registration card to if different from the permanent mailing address
• Email address

Business Owners Only

• Saltwater License
• A current State of Alaska Business License issued by the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, Division of Occupational Licensing.
• General liability insurance or marine protection that covers at least $100,000 for each incident and $300,000 for all incidents in a year.
• Payment of $200 license fee.

Guide Only Saltwater License

• A current Alaska Sport Fish License, tags (e.g., king salmon stamp); and permits that are required to engage in the sport fishery for which the sport fishing guide services are being provided.
• Basic First Aid Information (Certifying Agency and Expiration Date).
• A current USCG Operator's license if operating a motorized vessel on navigable waters.
• Guides must be a citizen of the United States, Canada, Mexico, or a resident alien.
• Payment of $100 license fee.

Freshwater Registration

• A current Alaska Sport Fish License, tags (e.g., king salmon stamp), and permits that are required to engage in the sport fishery for which the sport fishing guide services are being provided.
• A current USCG Operator's license if operating a motorized vessel on navigable waters.

Combination Business Owner/Guide

• Saltwater License: If operating in salt water, must meet all saltwater business and guide licensing requirements above.
• Freshwater Registration: If operating in fresh water, must meet all freshwater business and guide registration requirements above.
• Additional Business Owner Requirements

Guide Business Owner Requirements

All guiding business owners must comply with the following:

• Provide all employed guides with a copy of the business registration (freshwater) or business license (salt water) to have on their persons while guiding.
• Ensure that guides employed by that business accurately and completely maintain trip information within the logbooks in the timely manner specified in the logbook instructions.
• Review and be familiar with the current year Sport Fishing Regulations for Special Guiding Regulations.
• Before operating a charter business or guiding sport anglers on the Kenai River, each guide and vessel must be registered annually with both ADF&G and the Soldotna office of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources/Division of Parks. For more information, call the Kenai River Center at (907) 714-2471.
• Non-profit organizations need to register (freshwater) or be licensed (salt water) as a sport fishing business if they are charging for their services.
• All business owners are responsible for making sure that logbook data is submitted to ADF&G in the timely manner specified in the logbook.

License and Registration Fees

• Saltwater sport fishing business owner license: $200
• Saltwater sport fishing guide license: $100
• Saltwater sport fishing business owner and guide combined license: $200
• Freshwater sport fishing business owner/owner and guide/guide registration: No fee

Applications

 Freshwater Business Owner/Guide Registration Application
 Saltwater Business Owner/Guide License Application

How to Submit an Application

Submit an online application via the Alaska Licensing Store, a license will be sent to you in 14 days. Or you can email or visit one of several Fish and Game Offices in Alaska. If you apply by mail, the license will be sent to you in 21 days.

Contact

Alaska Department of Fish and Game
www.adfg.alaska.gov
P.O. Box 115526
1255 W. 8th Street
Juneau, AK  99811-5526