Professional Licenses
Sport Fish Guides and Charters

Guiding Requirements

What a guide must have in possession while guiding:

  • A current sport fishing guide registration card.
  • A copy of the current ADF&G business registration of the guide's employer.
  • A current Alaska sport fishing license, tags, stamps or permits that are required to engage in the sport fishery for which guide services are being provided.
  • An identification card issued to the sport fishing guide by a state or federal agency that bears a photo of the sport fishing guide.
  • Logbook (issued to business)
  • Vessel must be registered (if guiding from a vessel).
  • Other agencies (such as USCG) may have additional requirements. It is your responsibility to determine what requirements apply to you.

Additional Business Owner Requirements

Business owner must comply with the following:

  • Any sportfishing guide vessel must be registered with ADF&G.
  • Provide all employed guides with a copy of the business registration 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 (DNR) - Division of Parks. For more information on the DNR criteria, please refer to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources by contacting parkpermitting@alaska.gov.
  • Non-profit organizations need to register 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.