Whether you want to freshwater fish or saltwater fish, Florida is one of the best states to engage in this outdoor activity. Getting a license to fish is easier than you might think with the proper documentation. If you are a resident of the state, you will be required to present proof of residency. Florida also offers a lifetime sportsman’s license for those who would like to fish for an extended period of time. Not everybody is required to obtain a fishing license, though. For example, visitors less than 18 and seniors more than 65 are exempt.
Before embarking on your fishing vacation, you will also want to think about how you’re getting to your destination. You may find that the most convenient way to travel to your destination is by plane, by boat or by car. If you want to be well-informed about the fishing regulations in Florida, as well as brush up on safety tips, hiring a fishing guide is an option worth exploring. Not only will it enhance your overall experience, but it will also make you feel more confident about fishing. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission also offers various programs and educational material for people of all ages.
If you are a visitor of the state, there are certain instances in which you do not have to apply for a saltwater non resident fishing license. For example, you do not need to obtain a saltwater fishing license if you fall in one of the groups below:
In order to legally fish in the state of Florida, you are required to obtain a proper fishing license, even if you attempt to catch fish and release them. It does not matter whether the fish is caught inside the state or in federal waters; the rule still applies. The only instance in which you will not be required to apply for a FL license to fish is if you fall in an exempt group. Once you have purchased a recreational fishing license, it will remain valid for a period of 12 months.
If you are a Florida resident and an avid fisherman, you may want to consider getting a lifetime fishing license. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission only issues lifetime fishing licenses for the purposes of freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing and hunting. If you move out of the state, your lifetime license will still remain valid in FL.
Fishing in saltwater for crabs, clams and other saltwater organisms, including fish, requires you to obtain a saltwater fishing license in the state of Florida. The good news is that obtaining this documentation to fish is not difficult, and there are plenty of affordable options.
As long as you have a Florida driver license and a Florida address or are a member of the US military stationed in FL, you can qualify as a resident in the eyes of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. But regardless of the qualification you meet of the two mentioned, you will have the same application methods available to you. Residents have the option of either applying for resident saltwater fishing licenses online, by phone or in person at a tax collector’s office in FL.
For those of you who do not meet the qualifications necessary to be called a resident of Florida, you can still obtain a saltwater fishing permit, but as a non-resident. Fortunately, the application procedure does not change. You can apply for non-resident saltwater fishing licenses in person, online or by phone. The only noticeable difference is that you will have to pay a higher fee than what is required of residents. To learn more, take a look at the “How to Become a Licensed Fisherman eBook.”
Renewing fishing license documentation in Florida is not as complicated as it might seem. In truth, if you want to maintain fishing privileges, you must simply buy a new permit to saltwater fish. And, as mentioned before, fishing permits in Florida are available online through the FWC website, by phone or in person at tax collector offices.
Stolen or lost fishing licenses in Florida must be replaced if holders plan on maintaining fishing privileges. In order to do so, they must either print out a duplicate online or go in person to a local license vendor to pay the applicable fee.
Saltwater fishermen who are interested in obtaining lifetime credentials have options in the state of Florida. They can either apply for lifetime saltwater fishing licenses, which only allow you to fish in saltwater, or lifetime sportsman’s licenses, which encompass freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing and hunting. As is to be expected, the comprehensive sportsman’s credential comes at a higher price.
Unfortunately, the Florida FWC Commission does not offer special credentials to seniors for saltwater fishing. A reduced-fee option is only available for those interested in freshwater fishing licenses.
Members of the United States military (both active and retired) do have the ability to obtain saltwater fishing permits and more for a cheaper price. The FL FWC offers what is known as the Military Gold Sportsman’s License, which combines the hunting license, the freshwater fishing license and the saltwater fishing license into one.
The range of fees for saltwater fishing permits is quite wide, starting as low as $5 and $10 for specific fishing permits and going all the way up to $494 for the Five-Year Gold Sportsman’s License.
If you are a FL resident who is interested in freshwater fishing, you will then need to obtain the proper recreational fishing license. Florida also offers a lifetime freshwater fishing license, but first, you will be required to present proof of residency in order to proceed. When requesting a freshwater license, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will accept various documents, including your FL drivers license or ID card. If you are less than 18, you can submit your student ID card, along with your parent’s proof of residency instead. Those in the military who are stationed in the state can show current military orders.
Individuals who are more than 65 and residing in Florida are not required to obtain a freshwater fishing license. Nonetheless, you are welcome to request a senior fishing card at no cost when visiting your local tax county collector’s office.
If you intend to freshwater fish for many years to come, then obtaining a lifetime freshwater fishing license may be the best choice. Florida offers three lifetime sportsman's licenses:
You also need to present proof of residency when applying for this FL fishing license.
To take native or nonnative freshwater fish in the state of Florida, you must have a freshwater fishing license. Fortunately, all of the information you need to know regarding how to get a fishing license, how to renew a license to fish and how to replace a lost fishing license can be found just below.
If you are a member of the US military who is stationed in Florida, or simply a person who has declared FL as his or her home state by having a Florida driver license and a Florida address, then you can apply for a resident fishing permit. As for the different ways in which you can apply, residents have the option of buying freshwater licenses over the phone, online and in person at local tax collector’s offices.
If you do not meet the qualifications for residency in the state of Florida, then you must apply for a non resident fishing permit. These fishing permits, which you can learn more about in the “How to Become a Licensed Fisherman eBook,” will be slightly more expensive than the resident fishing licenses. However, similar to resident fishing credentials, non-residents can buy freshwater fishing licenses online, by phone or in person at a local tax collector’s office.
In the state of Florida, fishing license renewal is simply the process of purchasing a new short-term or annual fishing permit. Therefore, you will be able to do this process in the same ways that you can apply: in person, by phone or online.
If your fishing permit is ever lost or stolen, it is your responsibility to apply for a fishing license replacement. You can do this online at no cost or in person at a local license vendor of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for a small fee.
In addition to short-term and annual permits, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also offers lifetime licenses to fish. However, these credentials can only be purchased by residents, and residents must prove their Florida residency when applying. It is also important to note that these credentials, because they last longer, come with a higher price than annual permits in the state of Florida.
The state of Florida does offer a specific license to fish for seniors who are residents. The Resident 64 Sportsman's License allows for freshwater fishing and hunting, and it also comes at a less expensive cost than the standard Florida fishing permits.
Just like seniors are given special benefits in the state of Florida, so too are members of the United States military. If you are an active-duty or retired member of the military, you can apply for a less expensive Military Gold Sportsman?s License, which allows you to hunt, to fish in freshwater and to fish in saltwater.
The fees of Florida freshwater fishing permits vary greatly based on a few factors, including the length of validity and the age of the applicants. The range of prices for Florida fishing credentials begins at a low $13.50 for the Resident 64 Gold Sportsman’s License and goes all the way up to $494 for the Five-Year Gold Sportsman's License.
