Licenses & Permits

Saltwater licenses cover both watercraft and shoreline fishing.

Annual Saltwater License

Youth Saltwater Fishing License — valid until 17th birthday

Five-Year Saltwater License

Annual Saltwater Shoreline License

Covers saltwater fishing only from shorelines and attached structures accessible by foot. Does not cover fishing from a watercraft, fishing from a shoreline reached by watercraft, or fishing while swimming or diving.

Non-resident saltwater licenses

Three-day Saltwater License

Saltwater permits – residents and non-residents

Annual Snook Permit

Five-Year Snook Permit (Florida residents only)

Annual Spiny Lobster Permit

Five-Year Spiny Lobster Permit (Florida residents only)

Tarpon Tag (available only at tax collector offices)

Unless exempt from license requirements, permits are necessary for the take of Snook and Spiny Lobster. Tarpon tags required to land tarpon.

Information for additional saltwater permits and designations

State Reef Fish Angler Designation – those fishing for reef fish from a private vessel in Gulf and Atlantic waters. No exemptions except youth under age 16.

Annual Shore-Based Shark Fishing Permit

Annual Blue Crab Trap Registration

Annual Stone Crab Trap Registration

These new no-cost permits are available online only at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. Youth under age 16 are exempt. No other exemptions apply.

Florida resident combination licenses

Annual Saltwater and Freshwater Fishing

Annual Saltwater and Freshwater Fishing and Hunting

Gold Sportsman’s Licenses

Includes Saltwater and Freshwater Fishing and Hunting licenses and Snook, Spiny Lobster, Management Area, Archery, Crossbow, Muzzleloading, Deer, Turkey and Waterfowl permits.

Annual Gold Sportsman’s License

Five-Year Gold Sportsman’s License

Youth Gold Sportsman’s License — valid until 17th birthday

Annual Military Gold Sportsman’s License

Includes the same licenses and permits as the Gold Sportsman’s License. Available for Florida residents who are active duty or retired military members of the U.S. Armed Forces, Armed Forces Reserve, Florida National Guard, Coast Guard or Coast Guard Reserve at county tax collectors’ offices with current military identification card or at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com through an online verification process.

Florida Resident Lifetime Saltwater Fishing licenses

Includes Saltwater Fishing license and Snook and Spiny Lobster permits

Age: 13 or older

Florida Resident Lifetime Gold Sportsman’s licenses

Includes Saltwater and Freshwater Fishing and Hunting licenses and Snook, Spiny Lobster, Management Area, Archery, Crossbow, Muzzleloading, Deer, Turkey and Waterfowl permits.

Age: 13 or older

Saltwater fishing in Florida – what to know before you go:

Saltwater fishing licenses can be obtained online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, at county tax collectors’ offices and license agents, or by calling toll-free 888-FISH-FLORIDA (347- 4356). All sales are final. Handling fees apply for telephone and Internet sales. For more information on recreational licensing information, visit MyFWC.com/License.

For purposes of saltwater fishing in Florida, a resident is defined as:

• 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 and Motor Vehicles (HSMV). A Florida voter registration card, declaration of domicile, or homestead exemption may also be used as proof of Florida residency.
• Active duty United States military personnel stationed in Florida, including spouses and dependent children residing in the household, with military orders.

Saltwater license exemptions:

• Youth under 16 years of age.
• Florida resident age 65 or older with proof of age and residency, such as a Florida driver’s license or identification card.
• Florida resident fishing within his or her county of residence with live or natural bait, using poles or lines not equipped with a fishing line retrieval mechanism.
• Florida Resident Persons with Disabilities Hunting and Fishing License holder. Information at MyFWC.com/ADA.
• Florida resident accepted as a client for developmental disabilities services by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, with agency proof thereof.
• Florida resident 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. Must have 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 when fishing.
• U.S. Armed Forces members who is a Florida resident not stationed in the state but home on leave with orders for 30 days or less. Does not include family members.
• Individual commercial saltwater products license holders.
• Those recreationally fishing from a pier that has a pier saltwater fishing license.
• Fishing from a for-hire vessel (including guide, charter, party boat) that has a valid charter boat or charter captain license.
• Fishing from a boat that has a recreational vessel fishing license.
• A Florida resident who is fishing for mullet in freshwater with a valid Florida freshwater fishing license.

More saltwater fishing licenses – available at Tax Collectors’ office:

Charter Boat and Charter Captain licenses are available and required to carry paying customers (where a fee is paid directly or indirectly) to take, attempt to take, or possess saltwater fish or organisms. Guides must comply with U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requirements.

• Four or fewer customers - $201.50
• Five to ten customers - $401.50
• Eleven or more customers - $801.50

Recreational Vessel licenses are available for not-for-hire pleasure crafts that are registered recreationally for a fee of $2,001.50.

Pier licenses are available for $501.50 annually and exempt persons fishing from a pier fixed to land from saltwater fishing requirements.