Recreational Fishing License(s) Information The FWC issues Lifetime Licenses to Florida residents for hunting, freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing. 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. For avid sportsmen who want the convenience of securing licensing, once and for all, for all your hunting, freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing activities, the Lifetime Sportsman's License is for you. Lifetime Licenses will remain valid for use in Florida even if you move out of state. For hunters and anglers who like a bargain, the cost of a Lifetime License is less than what would be spent on annual licenses, permits, and fees. The earlier the purchase is made, the bigger the savings. 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 today's youth have the natural resources to share hunting, freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing with their children. The Lifetime License is for conservationists who want to contribute to the long-term management of Florida's natural resources. Only interest from the trust fund will be appropriated. The principal will be held in perpetuity to ensure future funding for fish and wildlife programs. This endowment will ensure that Florida's natural resources are conserved today for the future and that your children can pass on your family's hunting and fishing tradition to their children.
For more information or for applications for Lifetime Licenses, contact your county tax collector's office or the FWC.
LIFETIME LICENSES - For Florida Residents Only
(Sold only at Tax Collectors' offices) |
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| Lifetime Sportsman's License (includes hunting, freshwater fishing 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 and older | $1,001.50 |
Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License- For Florida Residents Only (Sold only at Tax Collectors' offices)
(includes snook and crawfish permits) | 4 years or younger | $126.50 | 5-12 years | $226.50 | 13 years or older | $301.50 |
SALTWATER FISHING | Resident | | Annual | Five-Year | Gold Sportsman's License (includes Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing licenses; and Type I Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl, Snook and Crawfish Permits) | $83.50 | | Saltwater Recreational License | $ 13.50 | $61.50 | Crawfish Permit | $2.00 | $10.00 | Snook Permit | $2.00 | $10.00 | Nonresident | | Annual | | Saltwater Recreational License | $ 31.50 | | Nonresident 3-Day | $ 6.50 | | Nonresident 7-Day | $ 16.50 | | Snook Permit | $ 2.00 | | Crawfish Permit | $ 2.00 | | Tarpon Tag | $ 51.50 | |
For Hire (Charter, Headboat, Guide) Licenses | | Vessel - Small For Hire Vessels Only - 4 or fewer customers | $ 201.50 | Vessel - Medium For Hire Vessels Only - 10 or less customers | $ 401.50 | Vessel - Large For Hire Vessels Only - 11 or more customers | $ 801.50 | ** Note that the costs include tax collector surcharge | |
Optional Licenses (Not Required) | Vessel - Recreational
An optional license that is available to cover anyone saltwater fishing from a recreational vessel where no fee is paid. | $ 2,001.50 | Saltwater Fishing Pier
An optional license issued to an owner, operator or custodian of a pier to cover everyone saltwater fishing from such pier. | $ 501.50 | ** Note that the costs include tax collector surcharge | |
Disability Exemption Update SALTWATER EXEMPTIONS: · Any child under 16 years of age. · Any resident who is a member of the United States Armed Forces and not stationed in this state, when home on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders.
Any person fishing who has been accepted as a client for developmental disabilities services by the Department of Children and Family Services, provided the department furnishes proof thereof. · Any resident fishing in saltwater from land or from a structure fixed to the land.
Any person fishing from a for-hire vessel (guide, charter, party boat) that has a valid vessel license. · Any person fishing from a vessel, the operator of which has a valid vessel license issued in the name of the operator of the vessel. · Any person who holds a valid saltwater products license (SPL). · Any person fishing for recreational purposes from a pier that has been issued a valid pier saltwater fishing license. · Any resident fishing for a saltwater species in fresh water from land or from a structure fixed to land. · Any resident fishing for mullet in fresh water who has a valid Florida freshwater fishing license. · Any resident 65 years of age or older who has in her or his possession proof of age and residency. A no-cost license under this paragraph may be obtained from any tax collector's office upon proof of age and residency and must be in the possession of the resident during hunting, freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing activities. · Any employee of the commission who takes freshwater fish, saltwater fish, or game as part of employment with the commission, or any other person authorized by commission permit to take freshwater fish, saltwater fish, or game for scientific or educational purposes.
FOR-HIRE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
1) A small, medium, or large state vessel license (dependent on the number of passengers that you would want to carry). This will cover the passengers on your vessel from having to purchase a recreational fishing license.
Small Vessel License - for any vessel carrying 4 or fewer customers - $201.50
Medium Vessel License - for any vessel carrying 10 or less customers - $401.50
Large Vessel License - for any vessel carrying more than10 customers - $801.50
2) You must register your boat as a commercial vessel. This documentation will be required in order to obtain a state vessel license.
3) The county you are doing business in may require you to have an occupational license.
4) The Coast Guard requires a Captain's License for all operators of for-hire vessels. You can call 1-800-982-9374 for information on the Coast Guard Captain's license. This documentation will be required in order to obtain a state vessel license.
5) If you are operating a for-hire vessel in a Park or a Refuge, you may be required to have additional permits (example: Everglades National Park). Please check with the local Park or Refuge headquarters for any specific permitting requirements for those areas.
6) If you are operating a for-hire vessel in federal waters (outside of 9 nautical miles on the Gulf and 3 nautical miles on the Atlantic), some species do require a federal charter vessel/headboat permit in order to fish for them. Contact the National Marine Fisheries Service, Licensing and Permitting office at (727) 570-5326 for information on federal charter/headboat permits.
For more information or for applications for Lifetime licenses contact your county tax collector's office or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
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