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FLORIDA SALTWATER LICENSE
INFORMATION
Freshwater or Saltwater?
You need a freshwater license to take freshwater fish and a
saltwater license to take saltwater fish, unless you qualify for an official exemption.
If you are
fishing in pure fresh water where no saltwater species live, you need a
freshwater license and likewise if you are fishing in the ocean you need a
saltwater license.
When you get into brackish type areas where salt and fresh
water combine and fish of both types are found the rules can get confusing.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission the rule is:
- "You need either a freshwater, saltwater or combination license (or
appropriate exemption) to take fish (take is legally defined as
taking, attempting to take, pursuing, molesting, capturing, or killing
any fish, or their nests or eggs by any means whether or not such
actions result in obtaining possession of such fish or their nests or
eggs)."
- "If you are using species specific gear, your license should be
appropriate (e.g., freshwater or saltwater) to the species you are
targeting, and"
- "Otherwise you need an appropriate type license to keep your catch and
must immediately release any species for which you are not licensed.
License requirements follow the species of fish, regardless of where
they are caught. In other words, if you only have a freshwater license
and are primarily fishing for largemouth bass or bream (freshwater
species) in a river, but happen to catch a red drum (a saltwater
species), you must immediately release the red drum."
All monies collected from the sale of fishing licenses, except subagent fees ($.50 to $1.00)
goes the the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to maintain and optimizes Florida's natural resources.
In addition, the Federal Government allocates excise tax money to states based on fishing and hunting licenses.
So when you buy a fishing license you increase federal funds for Florida's fish and wildlife.
RESIDENTS
A resident is a person who
has lived in Florida for six continuous months prior to applying for the
license and intends on continuing to live in Florida and claim
Florida as their primary residence. Active military personnel
stationed in Florida, including their spouses and dependent children
residing in the household, are considered residents when purchasing fishing
licenses.
SALTWATER FISHING LICENSES
Resident 12-Month Saltwater Fishing
(Valid for 12 months from specified beginning date)-$13.50
Additional Permits (required only when a license is required)
Snook Permit-$2.00
Crawfish Permit-$2.00
Tag Requirements (always required regardless of license
exemptions)
Tarpon Tags-$51.50
For-Hire Vessel Licenses (e.g., guide, charter or party boats)
Vessel - Small (Four or fewer customers)-$201.50
Vessel - Medium (Five to ten customers)-$401.50
Vessel - Large (Eleven or more customers)-$801.50
Recreational Vessel License
Vessel - Recreational (Optional—for not for hire craft)-$2,001.50
Pier License
Saltwater Fishing Pier-$501.50
Nonresident:
3-Day Saltwater Fishing
(Valid three days from specified beginning date)-$6.50
7-Day Saltwater Fishing
(Valid seven days from specified beginning date)-$16.50
12-Month Saltwater Fishing
(Valid for 12 months from specified beginning date)-$31.50
Additional Permits (required only when a license is required)
Snook Permit-$2.00
Crawfish Permit-$2.00
Tag Requirements (always required regardless of license
exemptions)
Tarpon Tag-$51.50
SALTWATER EXEMPTIONS:
- Any person under 16 years of age.
- Any Florida resident fishing in salt water from land or
from a structure fixed to the land.
- Any person fishing from a vessel the operator of which
holds a valid saltwater-fishing vessel license (e.g., guide, charter or
party boats) or a valid recreational vessel fishing license.
- Any person who holds a valid saltwater products license.
- Any resident 65 years of age or older, who has in her or his
possession proof of age and residency. A free license may be obtained from
any tax collector's office upon proof of age and residency. A Florida
Senior Citizen Hunting and Fishing Certificate is accepted in Georgia, but
a trout stamp may be required.
- Any resident who is a member of the Armed Forces of the
United States, who is not stationed in this state, when fishing while home
on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders.
- Any person who has been accepted by the Department of Children and Family
Services for developmental services or any licensed provider of
services to the State of Florida through contract with the Department of
Children and Family Services, where such service involves the need,
normally, for possession of a saltwater fishing license and such service is
provided as part of a court-decided rehabilitation program involving
training in Florida's aquatic resources.
- Florida residents certified as
totally and permanently disabled, who possess a Florida Resident Disabled
Person Hunting and Fishing Certificate.
- Any person fishing from a pier which is licensed for
saltwater fishing.
- Any Florida resident who is fishing for mullet in fresh
water and has a valid Florida freshwater fishing license.
- Any Florida resident fishing for a saltwater species in
fresh water from land or from a structure fixed to the land.
FRESHWATER
FISHING LICENSES
Resident:
12-Month Freshwater Fishing
(Valid for 12 months from specified beginning date)-$13.50
64 or Older Hunting and Fishing: includes Freshwater
Fishing and Hunting licenses; and Type I WMA, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun,
Turkey permits and waterfowl permit-$13.50
Sportsman's License: includes Hunting, Freshwater
Fishing, and permits for Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading
Gun, Turkey, Florida Waterfowl
(Valid 12 months from specified beginning date)-$67.50
Nonresident:
7-Day Freshwater Fishing
(Valid seven days from specified beginning date)-$16.50
12-Month Freshwater Fishing
(Valid for 12 months from specified beginning date)-$31.50
FRESHWATER EXEMPTIONS:
- Any child under 16 years of age.
- Any person hunting or fishing in the person's county of
residence on the person's homestead or the homestead of the person's spouse
or minor child, or any minor child hunting or fishing on the homestead of
her or his parent.
- Any resident who is a member of the Armed Forces of the
United States, who is not stationed in this state, when home on leave for
30 days or less, upon submission of orders.
- Any resident when fishing with live or natural bait, using
poles or lines which are not equipped with a fishing line retrieval
mechanism, and fishing for noncommercial purposes in the county of her or
his residence. A valid Fishing License is required to fish by any method in
a Fish Management Area.
- Any person fishing in a fish pond of 20 acres or less which
is located entirely within the private property of the fish pond owner. A
fish pond is a man-made pond constructed for the primary purpose of
fishing, entirely within the property lines of the owner and with no
surface water connection to public waters.
- Any person fishing in a fish pond of 20 acres or more,
where the pond owner has purchased a fish pond license at a fee of $3 per
surface acre.
- Any person fishing who has been accepted as a client for
developmental services by the Department
of Children and Family Services, which department shall furnish such
person proof thereof.
- Any resident 65 years of age or older, who has in her or
his possession proof of age and residency. A free license may be obtained
from any tax collector's office upon proof of age and residency. A Florida
Senior Citizen Hunting and Fishing Certificate is accepted in Georgia, but
a trout stamp may be required.
- Georgia residents 65 years of age or older who have in
their possession a Georgia Honorary Combination Hunting and Fishing License
and proof of age.
- Florida residents certified as
totally and permanently disabled, who possess a Florida Resident Disabled
Person Hunting and Fishing Certificate.
- Resident Freshwater Commercial Fishing License (Series RC)
holders.
- Anyone fishing in the St. Mary's River or Lake Seminole
(but not including tributary creeks in Florida), who has a valid Georgia
fishing license.
- Anyone fishing in public waters during the first weekend of
April, which is designated as free-fishing weekend to encourage new anglers
to try the sport, and for families to share some quality time together
relaxing in the outdoors.
COMBINATION
RESIDENT LICENSES
Resident Sportsman's License:
includes Hunting,
Freshwater Fishing,and permits for Wildlife Management Area, Archery,
Muzzleloading Gun, Turkey, Florida Waterfowl
(Valid 12 months from specified beginning date)-$67.50
Resident Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing and Hunting:
A combination freshwater and saltwater fishing and hunting license for a
resident to take freshwater and saltwater fish and game. (Does not include
the permits provided by a Sportsman's License). (Valid 12 months from
specified beginning date)-$35.50
Resident Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing:
A
combination freshwater and saltwater fishing license for a resident to take
freshwater and saltwater fish. (Valid 12 months from specified beginning
date)-$25.50
Resident Freshwater Fishing and Hunting: A combination
fishing and hunting license for a resident to take freshwater fish and
game. (Valid 12 months from specified beginning date)-$23.50
LIFETIME
AND FIVE-YEAR LICENSES
Lifetime and Five-Year licenses are available to Florida residents for
hunting, freshwater and saltwater fishing. The Lifetime and Five-Year
licenses will remain valid for use in Florida even if you move out of
state. The cost of a Lifetime License is less than what would be spent on
annual licenses, permits and fees.
The Lifetime License is for parents, grandparents and family friends who
want to pass on the joys of outdoor recreation to young people and help
ensure that todays youth have the natural resources to share hunting,
freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing with their children. Funds
generated from the sale of these licenses will be invested, creating an
endowment to support the long-term conservation of Florida's wildlife and
fisheries resources. Only interest from the trust will be appropriated. The
principal will be held in perpetuity to fund fish and wildlife programs to
ensure your family's hunting and fishing tradition will be passed down to
future generations. For more information or for applications for Lifetime
and Five-Year licenses, contact your county tax collector's office or the
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Lifetime Sportsmans License includes:
Hunting,
Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing licenses; and Wildlife Management Area,
Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Turkey, Florida Waterfowl, Snook, and Crawfish
permits:
4 years or younger-$401.50
5-12 years-$701.50
13 years or older-$1,001.50
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
crawfish permits):
4 years or younger-$126.50
5-12 years-$226.50
13 years or older-$301.50
Five-Year Freshwater Fishing License-$61.50
(no permits required)
Five-Year Saltwater Fishing License-$61.50
(does not include snook or crawfish permits)
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