Michael Brosenitsch, 9, looks at the fish he caught while his dad Andrew Brosenitsch helps hold his fishing rod during the Concordia Lutheran Services fishing derby at Saxony Farms on Addy Boy Lane on Saturday, May 18. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (5/18/2024)

With the start of December, Pennsylvanians are now able to get a head start on purchasing their fishing licenses for the 2025 season.

In Pennsylvania, any angler age 16 or older is required to hold a fishing license. Permits also may required to catch specific types of fish, such as trout, or fish in specific waters, such as Lake Erie. Money from permit sales helps fund the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s conservation programs.

Prices will be unchanged from 2024. For anglers 65 and older, the cost of an annual license is $14.47, while anglers age 16 to 64 will pay $27.97. Other types of license are available for those who live outside Pennsylvania and are only visiting to go fishing.

Any license and permit purchased starting from Dec. 1 onward will be valid until Dec. 31, 2025.

According to an official list on the Fish and Boat Commission’s website, there are 14 locations in Butler County where residents can purchase a fishing license. Among them are the AAA locations in Butler and Cranberry, the Walmart locations in Butler and Cranberry, the Cranberry Public Lands store, the Rural King store at Clearview Mall, and the Butler County Treasurer’s office.

Residents can also purchase a fishing license online through the FBC’s website at www.huntfish.pa.gov.