BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- California sport fishing licenses are now available for purchase online, the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) announced Tuesday.

"The online purchasing option will make it more convenient for our customers to enjoy California’s diverse recreational fishing opportunities," said John McCamman, Chief Deputy Director. "Anyone who has access to the Internet and a printer can get a license 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and be on their way to fish minutes after logging on."

All resident and non-resident licenses, both annual and short-term, and selected stamps can be purchased at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/ols/intro.html. The purchaser will be able to print out a one-day or two-day license, or a temporary annual license.

Non-residents can also purchase a 10-day license. All licenses purchased online and printed are valid; annual license purchasers will receive a permanent license in the mail within 10 days. All purchases are payable by Visa or MasterCard.

The stamps available for online purchase are the Second Rod Stamp, a Sport Fishing Ocean Enhancement Stamp, and Bay Delta Enhancement Stamps.

Report cards must still be obtained from one of the 1,800 authorized license agents throughout the state or at local DFG license sales offices.

Fishing licenses are still available for purchase from authorized license agents. The cost is the same whether purchased online or from an agent. All licenses purchased online or from an agent must be displayed above the waist and clearly visible while fishing. Licenses will include a security code that will be decipherable by wardens in the field.

McCamman was instrumental in guiding this sport fishing license project to completion prior to the release of the entire Automated License Data System (ALDS). With ALDS, DFG will expand availability to include hunting licenses by 2011, but for the time being, only sport fishing licenses are available.

DFG sells more than 2 million sport fishing licenses and generates more than $62 million in revenue annually. One-third of the revenue generated by these sales is earmarked for DFG’s Hatcheries and Fish Planting Facilities Program; the rest supports fisheries management and protection through the Fish and Game Preservation Fund.