Bait Dealer

About

License to offer live fishing bait such as crayfish, minnows, frogs, salamanders, and mussels for retail sale. License does not apply to worms. Selling wholesale bait requires a special application and for non-residents of Iowa, must be reciprocal between the non-residents state of residents.

Code Citation IC 481A.144, 481A.145

Who Applies Any person in the business of selling minnows, frogs, crayfish, salamanders and mussels for fish bait must obtain a license.

When To Apply Applications for resident retail bait dealers are no longer needed. The license may now be purchased through ELSI (Electronic License System of Iowa) from any vendor that sells hunting and fishing licenses. They may be purchased from December 15th, of the prior year through December 14th, of the current year. The license expires on January 10 of each year. Application for non-resident retail and resident/non-resident wholesale bait dealers is needed.

Initial Requirements Must notify the DNR Law Enforcement officer in the county the bait shop is located, that they are operating as a bait dealer.

Duration License is valid from the date of issue to January 10th of the next year.

Processing Time No waiting for Resident Retail Bait Dealers. Two (2) weeks for: Wholesale Bait Dealer/Resident, Wholesale Bait Dealer/Non-Resident and Retail Bait Dealer/Non-Resident only.

Fee Structure Resident Retail Bait License: $38.00 Nonresident Retail Bait License: $148.50 or the amount for the same type of license in the non-residents state, whichever is greater. Resident Wholesale Bait License: $148.50 Nonresident Wholesale Bait License: $294.50 or the amount for the same type of license in the non-residents state, whichever is greater.

Renewal Requirements None.

Exam None.

Additional Information Any person in the business of selling minnows, frogs, crayfish, salamanders and mussels for fish bait must obtain a license.