 Florida
Saltwater Fishing License
Saltwater Fishing licenses are sold at all county tax
collectors' offices and at many bait and tackle shops. They may
also be obtained by phone at 1-888-347-4356.
To buy a saltwater fishing license online,
click here.
 The
law says anyone who takes, attempts to take, or possesses marine fish for
noncommercial purposes must have a saltwater fishing license, except for
those qualifying for exemptions listed below.
Florida Residents - When
applying for a saltwater fishing license, you are considered to be a Florida
Resident if you are:
-
Any person who has resided in this state for six continuous months
prior to the issuance of a license and who has an intent to continue to
reside in Florida as their primary residence.
-
Any member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is stationed in this state
(includes spouse and dependent children residing in household).
Florida residents may buy a lifetime saltwater
fishing license or a lifetime sportsman license. Holders of lifetime
saltwater fishing licenses may fish in saltwater as long as they live and
will pay no additional fees. The license fee includes the taking of snook or
crawfish - which would otherwise require a separate fee. A lifetime
sportsman license allows holders to fish in fresh water or salt water and to
hunt in Florida. Both of these licenses require holders to obey fishing or
hunting laws in effect at any given time. Costs for the four types
of licenses:
|
SALTWATER FISHING |
|
Resident |
| |
Annual |
Five-Year |
|
Gold Sportsman's License (includes Hunting,
Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing licenses; and
Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun,
Crossbow, Turkey and Florida
Waterfowl, Snook and Lobster Permits) |
$88.50 |
|
|
Military Gold Sportsman's License (includes
Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing
licenses; and Wildlife Management Area, Archery,
Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey and Florida
Waterfowl, Snook and Lobster Permits) (sold only at tax
collector's office) |
$20.00 |
|
| Annual |
$13.50 |
$61.50 |
| Lobster Permit |
$2.00 |
$10.00 |
| Snook Permit |
$2.00 |
$10.00 |
| Tarpon Tag |
$51.50 |
|
|
Nonresident |
| |
Annual |
|
| Annual |
$31.50 |
|
| Nonresident
3-Day |
$6.50 |
|
| Nonresident
7-Day |
$16.50 |
|
| Snook Permit |
$2.00 |
|
| Lobster Permit |
$2.00 |
|
| Tarpon Tag |
$51.50 |
|
|
LIFETIME LICENSES - For
Florida Residents Only
(Sold only at Tax Collectors' offices) |
|
Lifetime Sportsman's License
(includes hunting, freshwater fishing and saltwater
fishing licenses; and wildlife management area, archery,
muzzleloading gun, crossbow,
turkey, Florida waterfowl, snook and Lobster permits) |
| 4
years or younger |
$ 401.50 |
|
5-12 years |
$ 701.50 |
|
13 years and older |
$1,001.50 |
|
Lifetime Hunting License
(includes hunting license; and wildlife management area,
archery, muzzleloading gun, crossbow,
turkey, and Florida waterfowl permits) |
| 4
years or younger |
$201.50 |
|
5-12 years |
$351.50 |
|
13 years or older |
$501.50 |
|
Lifetime Freshwater
Fishing License |
| 4
years or younger |
$126.50 |
|
5-12 years |
$226.50 |
|
13 years or older |
$301.50 |
|
Lifetime Saltwater Fishing
License (includes snook and Lobster permits) |
| 4
years or younger |
$126.50 |
|
5-12 years |
$226.50 |
|
13 years or older |
$301.50 |
For more information or for applications for
Lifetime licenses contact your county tax collector's office or the
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
You Do Not Need a License If You Are: -- A
Florida resident fishing from land or a structure fixed to the land
- a pier, bridge, dock, floating dock, jetty or similar structure -
but not from a boat.
-- A Florida resident who is 65 years old or older.
-- 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.
-- A Florida resident who is fishing for mullet in fresh water--with a
valid Florida fresh water license.
-- A Florida resident who is fishing for saltwater fish in fresh water
from land or from a structure fixed to the land.
-- Under 16 years of age.
-- Fishing from a boat that has a valid recreational vessel saltwater
fishing license.
-- A non-resident fishing from a pier that has a valid pier saltwater
fishing license.
-- A holder of a valid commercial saltwater products license. (Only one
person fishing under a vessel saltwater products license may claim the
exemption on the vessel for which the saltwater product license is
registered.)
-- Any person who has been accepted as a client for development services
by AHCA (Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration) or any licensed
provider of services through contract with AHCA, where such service involves
the need, normally, for possession of saltwater fishing license and such
service is provided as part of a court-decided rehabilitation program
involving training in Florida's aquatic resources.
A Florida resident who is certified permanently
and totally disabled may obtain a "disabled persons certificate" which
allows them to fish in both saltwater and freshwater at no charge from a
county tax collector.
Other Saltwater Fishing Fees
Vessel licenses are required for all
vessels that charge a fee 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 piers
that charge an access fee.
The money collected from saltwater
fishing licenses is used to improve and restore fish habitat and for marine
fisheries research, law enforcement, and public education on marine
resources.
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