How to get a fishing license online

Purchasing a fishing license online can be a convenient and efficient way to get ready for your next fishing trip. Still, taking necessary precautions is important to ensure a safe and secure process. To avoid falling victim to fishing license scams, follow these tips to confirm you are on a legitimate state website before inputting any personal information.

Verifying Legitimate State Websites

Searching for a state website or license page can be difficult to determine if it’s an official site at first glance. To ensure you are on a legitimate state website, always confirm it’s an official site before submitting any personal information. Be aware that scammers set up fraudulent third-party websites to collect personal information, so it’s important to take the necessary security steps to avoid them.

Using Safe Links

Instead of using a search engine to access a link to purchase a fishing license online, use the links provided on the get a fishing license pages of the TakeMeFishing.org website. These links will take you to legitimate state agency license pages, ensuring a safe and secure purchase. Keep in mind that search engines may not always list the official state agency website as the top result, so it’s important to be aware of this when searching for a license page.

Checking URL’s

If you want to be certain that the state agency website or license page is valid, double-check the URL and compare it with official websites. For instance, in California, only two sites are approved for purchasing Fish and Wildlife products – www.wildlife.ca.gov (CDFW) and ALDS (www.ca.wildlifelicense/InternetSales). If your URL does not match either one of these URLs, do not enter any credit card information or other private details.

Reporting Suspicious Websites

If you come across a website or URL that seems suspicious, contact your state agency or report it to your state’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. This will help protect other individuals from falling victim to fishing license scams and ensure a safer online purchasing experience for everyone.

In-Person Purchasing

An alternative to purchasing a license online is to purchase one in person at an independent license sales agent authorized by the state agency. This can include local sporting goods stores or bait and tackle shops. This option allows you to avoid the potential risks of purchasing online and ensure you get a legitimate license.

In conclusion, purchasing a fishing license online can be a convenient and efficient option, but it’s important to take necessary precautions to ensure a safe and secure process. By verifying legitimate state websites, using safe links, checking URLs, reporting suspicious websites, and purchasing in person, you can avoid fishing license scams and keep your personal information secure.