Fishing Without License Leads to Jail in Michigan

Some Michiganders collect fishing lures. Others collect life lessons. And then there's this guy, who apparently decided to collect Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) violations like Pokémon cards... and finally unlocked the rarest one: jail time.

According to the DNR, a Macomb County man is now headed to jail after being found guilty of fishing without a license. Not once. Not "oops, forgot it at home." No, this was a full-blown: fishing while his license was already revoked.

Michigan Fishing Laws Are Not a "Choose Your Own Adventure"

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Derek Dermyer, 37, of Washington Township, was sentenced in St. Clair County to 30 to 180 days in jail after a jury found him guilty of two violations. The charges stem from a December run-in with a DNR conservation officer while Dermyer was out fishing on Lake St. Clair.

Here's the key detail: when they asked for his license, Dermyer didn't just come up empty. He couldn't legally have one at all. His fishing and hunting privileges were already revoked. That's like getting pulled over... while your license is suspended... in a car you don't own... that's also on fire.

A Greatest Hits Album of DNR Violations

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The DNR says this wasn't his first rodeo. In fact, Dermyer's previous violations read like a greatest hits album of "how not to follow Michigan's outdoor rules," including:

Harvesting a deer without a license
Failing to use or attach kill tags
Possessing too many perch

DNR Law enforcement Chief Brandon Kieft didn't sugarcoat it in the DNR press release, noting that habitual offenders don't just break rules, they damage the reputation of every law-abiding hunter and angler in Michigan.

The Price of Fishing Without a License

Let's tally up Dermyers tab:

Up to 180 days in jail (imagine the "What are you in for?" conversation)
Nearly $3,000 in fines and costs
An additional 7-year license revocation
And a $20 conservation reimbursement (the least of his concerns)

All of this... over fishing without a license.

Michigan’s Reminder: Just Buy the License

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Michigan's new fishing season kicks off on April 1, 2026, and licenses are already available. The prices are manageable and come with one major perk: you don't go to jail for using them.

RELATED: 2026 Michigan Fishing License Prices and Dates - Grab Your Wallet

So before you grab your gear and head out onto the ice or open water, do yourself a favor: Get the license. Keep it valid. And maybe don't test the DNR.

Michigan's 58 Fishing Records: Species, Weight, Length, and Date

While fishing is considered a leisure sport, it can be incredibly competitive. From fishing tournaments to combo rod dock fishing, it's a sport that doesn't have age requirements to set records. All you need is a means to fish and measure your catch. According to LandBigFish.com, here's a look at the 58 fishing records set in Michigan.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow