Saltwater fishing in Florida…
What you must know before you go
Saltwater fishing licenses are sold online at
GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, at county tax collectors’ offices and at many license agents. Licenses
may also be obtained over the telephone by dialing toll-free, 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356).
An additional fee is charged for telephone and
Internet services. For any recreational licensing information not contained in this publication, please go to MyFWC.com/License.
Florida residents
When applying for a saltwater recreational
fishing license, you are considered to be a
Florida resident if you are:
ʄ Any person who has declared Florida as his
or her only state of residence as evidenced
by a valid Florida driver license or identification card with both a Florida address and a
Florida residency verified by the Department
of Highway Safety; or
ʄ Any member of the United States Armed
Forces who is stationed in Florida (includes
spouse and dependent children residing in
the household).
Gold sportsman’s licenses
ʄ Includes:
» Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater
Fishing licenses
» Management Area, Archery, Crossbow,
Muzzleloading Gun, Turkey, Florida
Waterfowl, Deer, Snook and Spiny Lobster
permits
ʄ Florida residents may buy a lifetime saltwater fishing license or a lifetime sportsman
license. Holders of lifetime saltwater fishing
licenses may fish in saltwater for life and
will pay no additional fees. The lifetime
license fee includes the taking of snook or
Florida resident licenses
One-Year Saltwater Shoreline Only License
$0.00
Covers saltwater fishing from shorelines and attached structures. Does not cover
fishing from a watercraft, fishing from a shoreline reached by watercraft, or fishing
while swimming or diving.
One-Year Saltwater License
$17.00
Covers both watercraft and shoreline fishing
Youth Saltwater Fishing License — valid until 17th birthday
$17.00
Five-Year Saltwater License
$79.00
Combination licenses (Florida residents only)
Fishing-Saltwater/Freshwater
$32.50
Fishing-Saltwater/Freshwater & Hunting
$48.00
One-Year Gold Sportsman’s License
$100.00
Five-Year Gold Sportsman’s License
$494.00
Youth Gold Sportsman’s License — valid until 17th birthday
$100.00
One-Year Military Gold Sportsman’s License
$20.00
(Offers the same privileges as the Gold Sportsman’s License. Available only to
Florida residents who are active or retired members of the U.S. Armed Forces, the
U.S. Armed Forces Reserve, the National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard or the U.S.
Coast Guard Reserve, upon submission of a current military identification card and
proof of Florida residency. Purchase at county tax collector’s offices only.)
Lifetime saltwater fishing license (Florida residents only; includes
Snook and Lobster Permits)
Age: 0–4
$126.50
Age: 5–12
$226.50
Age: 13 or older
$301.50
Lifetime sportsman license (Florida residents only)
Age: 0–4
$401.50
Age: 5–12
$701.50
Age: 13 or older
$1,001.50
Non-resident licenses
Three-day License
$17.00
Seven-day License
$30.00
One-Year License
$47.00
Permits
Snook Permit
$10.00
Five-Year Snook Permit (Florida residents only)
$50.00
Spiny Lobster Permit
$5.00
Five-Year Spiny Lobster Permit (Florida residents only)
$25.00
Tarpon Tag (available only at tax collector offices)
$51.50
If you are required to have a license, even the $0.00 shoreline license, you
are required to purchase permits to harvest Snook and Spiny Lobster.
spiny lobster, which would otherwise
require a separate fee. A lifetime sportsman
license allows holders to fish in freshwater
or saltwater and to hunt in Florida. Both of
the licenses require holders to obey fishing
or hunting laws in effect at any given time.
You do not need a license if you are:
ʄ A resident who is saltwater fishing from land
or a structure fixed to land who has been
determined eligible for the food stamp, temporary cash assistance, or Medicaid Program by the Department of Children and
Family Services. Proof of identification and
a benefit issuance or program identification
card issued by the Agency for Persons with
Disabilities or the Agency for Health Care
Administration must be on your person
when fishing.
ʄ A child under 16 years of age.
ʄ Any resident fishing for recreational purposes only, within her or his county of residence with live or natural bait, using poles
or lines not equipped with a fishing line
retrieval mechanism.
ʄ Fishing from a for-hire vessel—guide, charter, party boat—that has a valid charter boat
license or charter captain license.
ʄ A holder of a valid saltwater products license.
ʄ A Florida resident 65 years of age or older
and you possess proof of age and residency,
such as a Florida driver’s license or ID, or
an optional no-cost Resident Senior Citizen
Hunting and Fishing Certificate.
ʄ A Florida resident who is a member of the
U.S. Armed Forces, who is not stationed in
this state, while on leave for 30 days or less,
upon submission of orders. This does not
include family members.
ʄ Any person fishing who has been accepted
as a client for developmental disabilities
services by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, provided the agency furnishes
proof thereof.
ʄ Fishing for recreational purposes from a pier
that has a valid pier saltwater fishing license.
ʄ Fishing from a boat that has a valid recreational vessel fishing license.
ʄ A Florida resident who is fishing for mullet
in freshwater with a valid Florida freshwater
fishing license.
ʄ A Florida resident who possesses a no-cost
Florida Resident Disabled Person Hunting
and Fishing Certificate. In order to qualify
for this, applicants must provide a certification of total and permanent disability from
the United States Armed Forces, Railroad
Retirement Board, Florida Worker’s Compensation or the United States Veterans
Administration. Alternatively, current documentation from the Social Security Administration for Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) or Supplemental Security Disability
Income (SSDI) benefits also will be accepted.
Other saltwater fishing fees
Licenses (Charter Boat or Charter Captain)
are required for all vessels that charge a fee
(for-hire vessels) to take passengers out to catch
marine fish.
Eleven or more customers .............. $801.50
Five to ten customers ...................... $401.50
Four or fewer customers ................. $201.50
Optional fees include the annual Recreational
Vessel fee ($2,001.50) for not-for-hire pleasure
craft and the annual Pier license ($501.50).
For charter licensing information, contact
your local county tax collector’s office or visit
MyFWC.com.
L I C E N S E S A N D P E R M I T S
Costs for licenses
In addition to the cost of licenses and permits specified in this section, license agents may charge an issuance fee for selling licenses or permits. Note: All sales are final.
24 July 1, 2017
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
65
What you must know before you go
Saltwater fishing licenses are sold online at
GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, at county tax collectors’ offices and at many license agents. Licenses
may also be obtained over the telephone by dialing toll-free, 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356).
An additional fee is charged for telephone and
Internet services. For any recreational licensing information not contained in this publication, please go to MyFWC.com/License.
Florida residents
When applying for a saltwater recreational
fishing license, you are considered to be a
Florida resident if you are:
ʄ Any person who has declared Florida as his
or her only state of residence as evidenced
by a valid Florida driver license or identification card with both a Florida address and a
Florida residency verified by the Department
of Highway Safety; or
ʄ Any member of the United States Armed
Forces who is stationed in Florida (includes
spouse and dependent children residing in
the household).
Gold sportsman’s licenses
ʄ Includes:
» Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater
Fishing licenses
» Management Area, Archery, Crossbow,
Muzzleloading Gun, Turkey, Florida
Waterfowl, Deer, Snook and Spiny Lobster
permits
ʄ Florida residents may buy a lifetime saltwater fishing license or a lifetime sportsman
license. Holders of lifetime saltwater fishing
licenses may fish in saltwater for life and
will pay no additional fees. The lifetime
license fee includes the taking of snook or
Florida resident licenses
One-Year Saltwater Shoreline Only License
$0.00
Covers saltwater fishing from shorelines and attached structures. Does not cover
fishing from a watercraft, fishing from a shoreline reached by watercraft, or fishing
while swimming or diving.
One-Year Saltwater License
$17.00
Covers both watercraft and shoreline fishing
Youth Saltwater Fishing License — valid until 17th birthday
$17.00
Five-Year Saltwater License
$79.00
Combination licenses (Florida residents only)
Fishing-Saltwater/Freshwater
$32.50
Fishing-Saltwater/Freshwater & Hunting
$48.00
One-Year Gold Sportsman’s License
$100.00
Five-Year Gold Sportsman’s License
$494.00
Youth Gold Sportsman’s License — valid until 17th birthday
$100.00
One-Year Military Gold Sportsman’s License
$20.00
(Offers the same privileges as the Gold Sportsman’s License. Available only to
Florida residents who are active or retired members of the U.S. Armed Forces, the
U.S. Armed Forces Reserve, the National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard or the U.S.
Coast Guard Reserve, upon submission of a current military identification card and
proof of Florida residency. Purchase at county tax collector’s offices only.)
Lifetime saltwater fishing license (Florida residents only; includes
Snook and Lobster Permits)
Age: 0–4
$126.50
Age: 5–12
$226.50
Age: 13 or older
$301.50
Lifetime sportsman license (Florida residents only)
Age: 0–4
$401.50
Age: 5–12
$701.50
Age: 13 or older
$1,001.50
Non-resident licenses
Three-day License
$17.00
Seven-day License
$30.00
One-Year License
$47.00
Permits
Snook Permit
$10.00
Five-Year Snook Permit (Florida residents only)
$50.00
Spiny Lobster Permit
$5.00
Five-Year Spiny Lobster Permit (Florida residents only)
$25.00
Tarpon Tag (available only at tax collector offices)
$51.50
If you are required to have a license, even the $0.00 shoreline license, you
are required to purchase permits to harvest Snook and Spiny Lobster.
spiny lobster, which would otherwise
require a separate fee. A lifetime sportsman
license allows holders to fish in freshwater
or saltwater and to hunt in Florida. Both of
the licenses require holders to obey fishing
or hunting laws in effect at any given time.
You do not need a license if you are:
ʄ A resident who is saltwater fishing from land
or a structure fixed to land who has been
determined eligible for the food stamp, temporary cash assistance, or Medicaid Program by the Department of Children and
Family Services. Proof of identification and
a benefit issuance or program identification
card issued by the Agency for Persons with
Disabilities or the Agency for Health Care
Administration must be on your person
when fishing.
ʄ A child under 16 years of age.
ʄ Any resident fishing for recreational purposes only, within her or his county of residence with live or natural bait, using poles
or lines not equipped with a fishing line
retrieval mechanism.
ʄ Fishing from a for-hire vessel—guide, charter, party boat—that has a valid charter boat
license or charter captain license.
ʄ A holder of a valid saltwater products license.
ʄ A Florida resident 65 years of age or older
and you possess proof of age and residency,
such as a Florida driver’s license or ID, or
an optional no-cost Resident Senior Citizen
Hunting and Fishing Certificate.
ʄ A Florida resident who is a member of the
U.S. Armed Forces, who is not stationed in
this state, while on leave for 30 days or less,
upon submission of orders. This does not
include family members.
ʄ Any person fishing who has been accepted
as a client for developmental disabilities
services by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, provided the agency furnishes
proof thereof.
ʄ Fishing for recreational purposes from a pier
that has a valid pier saltwater fishing license.
ʄ Fishing from a boat that has a valid recreational vessel fishing license.
ʄ A Florida resident who is fishing for mullet
in freshwater with a valid Florida freshwater
fishing license.
ʄ A Florida resident who possesses a no-cost
Florida Resident Disabled Person Hunting
and Fishing Certificate. In order to qualify
for this, applicants must provide a certification of total and permanent disability from
the United States Armed Forces, Railroad
Retirement Board, Florida Worker’s Compensation or the United States Veterans
Administration. Alternatively, current documentation from the Social Security Administration for Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) or Supplemental Security Disability
Income (SSDI) benefits also will be accepted.
Other saltwater fishing fees
Licenses (Charter Boat or Charter Captain)
are required for all vessels that charge a fee
(for-hire vessels) to take passengers out to catch
marine fish.
Eleven or more customers .............. $801.50
Five to ten customers ...................... $401.50
Four or fewer customers ................. $201.50
Optional fees include the annual Recreational
Vessel fee ($2,001.50) for not-for-hire pleasure
craft and the annual Pier license ($501.50).
For charter licensing information, contact
your local county tax collector’s office or visit
MyFWC.com.
L I C E N S E S A N D P E R M I T S
Costs for licenses
In addition to the cost of licenses and permits specified in this section, license agents may charge an issuance fee for selling licenses or permits. Note: All sales are final.
24 July 1, 2017
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
65