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Who Needs a License? Persons 16 years of age and older. Anyone fishing in any New York water body, except when fishing in the Marine District waters or while fishing for "migratory fish from the sea" (such as striped bass, hickory shad, blueback herring, and alewife) in the waters of the Hudson River, Delaware River, or Mohawk River and their tributaries -- these anglers must enroll in the no-fee recreational marine fishing registry. Exemptions: When fishing on licensed fishing preserves. Citizen-resident owners, lessees and citizen members of their immediate families occupying and cultivating farm lands, when fishing on their own lands. Persons holding farm fish pond licenses and members of their immediate families, when fishing on waters covered by their licenses. Resident parties at United States Veterans Administration hospitals, Department of Mental Hygiene institutions, and Department of Health rehabilitation hospitals, and inmates at Division of Youth rehabilitation centers. A free permit is available from: NYSDEC License Sales, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-4790.