Florida Fishing Licenses: The Requirements and Regulations

I grew up in a fishing family. We raised fishing worms on our farm. I remember hearing the different arguments, among our customers, whether red worms or night crawlers were better. Then there were the arguments over cheese versus flies or other lures or baits and the merits of chumming with dog food or cut up bait fish.

My father carried his fishing rod on all of his business and camping trips. Our son carried a telescoping fishing pole and a small lure and equipment stash on the plane to many of our destinations.

Just before my wedding, in an area where we'd moved to a few months before, I found out that my foster-father had agreed to marry us on the local opening day of fishing. He forgot the date and all the invitations and arrangements were already set, so we moved the wedding to an earlier time in the day, so he could still fish. However, he mislaid the wedding license until mid afternoon. Oops.

Florida has a vibrant community of fisher-folk and they will each tell you their fish stories, ways of fishing, favorite styles and favorite locations. Some prefer saltwater fishing, some prefer fresh and some do both.

Florida is surrounded by all kinds of salt water fishing and is filled with all kinds of opportunities for freshwater fishing. This state has regulations and licenses for both fresh and saltwater fishing.

There are a lot of regulations for specific fishing areas, bag limits, licenses and seasons. I'm including the two main website links so that you can research which subjects you need an answer on at the end of this guide. The rest of the general regulations and requirements for fishing licenses are included in this guide:

First requirement for acquiring a fishing license in Florida you must be a Florida resident:

To be able to hunt or fish in Florida, a person must have lived in Florida for 6 continuous months before the issue of a license and claims Florida as his or her main residence; or a member of the United States Armed Forces who is stationed in Florida including their spouse and dependent children who live in the same household.

Exemptions that negate the need for a license:

A freshwater or saltwater fishing license isn't needed if:

1. For those under 16 years old.

2. Florida residents age 65 or older who have proof of age and residency or have a resident senior citizen hunting and fishing certificate. Florida residents age 65 or older may acquire free hunting and fishing certificates from their county tax collectors' office.

3. Anyone who freshwater fishes in their own county on their homestead or the homestead of their spouse or minor child, or if the minor child is freshwater fishing on the homestead of their parent.

4. A Florida resident who is totally and permanently disabled and they own a Florida resident disabled person hunting and fishing certificate.

5. A Florida resident who belongs to the United States Armed Forces and they aren't stationed in this state, and they are home on leave for 30 days or less and waiting for orders.

6. From the date of August 1, 2009, they were and are a resident who fishes with live or natural bait, and poles or lines that have no reel equipment that can enable them to fly fish. They fish for noncommercial purposes only in their own county. Except, a valid fishing license is required in a fish management area regardless of the fishing method.

7. Someone who qualifies for developmental disabilities services by the Department of Children and Family Services and the proof provided by that department.

8. Anyone who fishes in a fish pond that is 20 acres or less and is located completely inside a single private
property. A fish pond is man-made specifically for fishing, must be totally inside the property of the owner with no surface water attached with publicly owned water.

9. A person fishes in a pond 20 acres or more, whose owner has a fish pond license that costs $3 for each surface acre.

10. A person owns a Resident Freshwater Commercial Fishing License.

11. A person fishes in St. Mary's River or Lake Seminole which doesn't include the connecting creeks within Florida, and owns a Georgia fishing license.

12. A person freshwater fishes during Free Fishing Weekend which is the first weekend of April.

13. A person fishes from a hired ship which can be a guide, charter or party boat that owns a vessel license.

14. A person fishes from a vessel where the operator has a vessel license issued in their name.

15. A person fishes for recreation from a pier which has a pier saltwater fishing license.

16. A person has a saltwater products license.

17. A person fishes for mullet in fresh water and they have a Florida freshwater fishing license.

18. A person is a Florida resident who saltwater fishes from land or a fixed land structure who is receiving food stamps, temporary cash assistance, or Medicaid from the Department of Children and Family Services. They must have possession of their identification and benefit identification card issued by DCFS or the Agency for Health Care Administration while fishing.

19. From August 1, 2009 Florida residents and nonresidents who fish for a saltwater fish except for mullet in fresh water, from land or from a structure attached to the land must acquire a saltwater fishing license. This exemption doesn't apply to freshwater fishing.

20. A person who has a resident recreational saltwater fishing license or is exempt, doesn't need a shoreline
fishing license since the license covers fishing from the shore, a dock, a jetty or a boat.

21. The shoreline fishing license goes into effect August 1, 2010. It will cost $7.50 and an additional $1.50 administrative fee.

22. Fishermen wading in the water are considered to be fishing from shore as long as they are able to stand on the bottom.

23. If a person arrives by boat to where they are fishing, they need to have a saltwater fishing license even if
they fish from shore.

24. Only Florida residents can obtain a shoreline fishing license. The license goes on sale July 15, 2010.

25. The exemption for fishermen who use a pole or line that's not equipped with a reel, does not include those who use any gear except that of the hook and line. For example; the use of crab-traps, baskets, crab nets, dip nets or landing nets all need a fishing license. Anglers who use cast nets or other kinds of nets must have a license.This also includes anyone who collects shellfish or marine animals by hand.

26. Fishermen cannot substitute a shoreline license for a saltwater license when they need a regular saltwater fishing license. They would need to buy a saltwater fishing license at full price even when they may have a shoreline license.

27. The Florida Legislature, at the request of the FWC, passed a new license requirement to replace a federal registration requirement that was effective January 1, 2010, with $15 to $25 fees going into effect in 2011. The shoreline license exempts Florida fishermen from the federal fee. This is only for saltwater fishing since there has never been an exemption for shoreline or permanent structure fishing.

License and Permit Costs:

An annual freshwater or saltwater fishing license costs $17.00 for one year and $79.00 for five years.
A freshwater and saltwater fishing combo or a freshwater fishing and hunting combo costs $32.50 for one year. A freshwater, saltwater fishing and hunting combo costs $48.00 for one year.

A resident 64 or older sportsman's license, which includes freshwater fishing and hunting licenses cost $13.50 for one year. The sportsman's license, including freshwater fishing and hunting licenses cost $80.50 for one year.

The gold sportsman's license which includes hunting, saltwater and freshwater fishing licenses and several other permits including snook and lobster costs $100.00 a year.

The military gold sportsman's license which includes hunting, saltwater and freshwater fishing licenses and several other permits which include Snook and Lobster cost $20.00 a year and can only be purchased
at the tax collector's office.

The nonresident annual freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses cost $47.00 per year. Other nonresident licenses cost $17.00 for the three day freshwater and saltwater fishing license and $30.00 for the seven day freshwater and saltwater fishing license.

For both Florida resident and nonresident, you don't need a permit if you aren't required to purchase a license except for the tarpon permit. The five year permits are for Florida residents only. The annual snook or lobster permit is $2.00 and the five year permit is $10.00. The tarpon tag is $51.50.
http://www.myfwc.com/License/LicPermit_FWFishing.htm

Additional Reading:

Contact Your Congressman

New Fishing Rules Planned

Sport Fishing to be Banned

Sources:

To answer more specific questions that you may have please check out these two
links.

http://www.myfwc.com/License/LicPermit_FWFishing.htm

http://www.tampa-fishing-charter.com/web-resources/fishing-regulations/