Ohio's hunting and fishing regulations are governed by the state's Department of Natural Resources. Regulations cover the opening and closing dates of hunting and fishing seasons, size and number limits on species that may be caught and kept, time restrictions, if any, and the cost of licenses. Fishing licenses apply to fish, frogs and turtles.
Ohio Residents
The fishing season in Ohio is year round. If you have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months and are between 16 and 65, the cost of a 12-month fishing license, as of 2010, is $19, a single-day license $11. For residents age 66 or older, a license is $10, and for those born before 1937 a fishing license is free. Children under 16 do not need a fishing license.
Nonresidents
The cost of an annual nonresident Ohio fishing license is $40, as of 2010. A three-day tourist license is $19 and a one-day license is $11. Children under age 16 do not require a license. If you lose your license, you can have it reissued from a local source for $3.
Frogs and Turtles
Open season for frogs and turtles in Ohio begins at 6 p.m. on the second Friday in June and ends April 30. You may only take bullfrogs or green frogs and no more than 10 may be possessed or taken at any one time. You may not shoot frogs with anything other than a longbow and arrow. Only snapping and soft-shell turtles may be taken legally. Lawful turtle traps must be marked with your name and address. Turtles may not be shot with a gun or crossbow.
Exemptions
You do not need a fishing license if you are: under age 16; a member of the armed forces on leave or furlough; fishing in a private pond; fishing on land or water that you or your parents own; fishing on land or water on which you or your parents reside and from which the greater part of your income is from the land or helping a disabled angler -- as long as you are only using the one line. There are no exemptions for taking frogs or turtles.
Free Licenses
You may apply for a free fishing license if you have lived in Ohio for 6 months and comply with one of the following: were born on or before Dec. 31, 1937; are mobility-impaired and require a second person to help you cast and recover; are a resident of a state or county institution; are a permanently disabled veteran; have a veteran license plate that shows the wheelchair logo or are a former prisoner of war.
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