Fishing Licenses
Resident:
For the purpose of fishing in Florida, a person is a resident if he or she has lived in Florida for six continuous months prior to applying for licenses and who has an intent to continue to reside in Florida and claim Florida as his or her 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.
| Resident 12-Month Freshwater Fishing (Valid for 12 months from specified beginning date) | $17.00 |
| Resident 12-Month Saltwater Fishing (Valid for 12 months from specified beginning date) | $17.00 |
| Resident Freshwater Fishing/Hunting Combination (Valid for 12 months from specified beginning date) | $32.50 |
| 64 or Older Hunting and Fishing: includes Freshwater Fishing and Hunting licenses; and Type I WMA, Archery, Muzzleoading Gun, Turkey permits and Florida Waterfowl permit | $13.50 |
| Gold Sportsman License: includes Hunting, Freshwater Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, and permits for Type I WMA, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Turkey, Florida Waterfowl (Valid for 12 months from specified beginning date) | $100.00 |
Nonresident:
| Three-Day Saltwater Fishing (Valid for three days from specified beginning date) | $17.00 |
| Seven-Day Saltwater Fishing (Valid for seven days from specified beginning date) | $30.00 |
| Seven-Day Freshwater Fishing (Valid for seven days from specified beginning date) | $30.00 |
| 12-Month Saltwater Fishing (Valid for 12 months from specified beginning date) | $47.00 |
| 12-Month Freshwater Fishing (Valid for 12 months from specified beginning date) | $47.00 |
Licenses may be purchased from county tax collectors or their subagents, who are generally located at tackle shops, fish camps, hardware stores and sporting goods stores. In addition to the License stamp fees listed above, subagents are entitled to an additional $.50.
*Licenses and fees are set by the Florida Legislature and are subject to change. Consult our Web site for the latest information on prices.
Anglers may purchase licenses via a toll-free telephone number by calling 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA (1-888-347-4356) and using a major credit card; a $3.95 convenience fee applies. Anglers soon may also purchase licenses via the Internet by visiting us at http://www.state.fl.us/fwc/fishing/ Convenience fees vary by vendor. Either approach allows anglers who are ready to fish, virtually instant access to a license.
Exemptions:
· Florida residents 65 years of age or older who possess either a Resident Senior Citizen Hunting and Fishing Certificate or 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.
· Any person who has been accepted by the Florida Department of Health as a client for developmental services, with proof (e.g., retardation).
· Children under 16 years of age.
· Resident Freshwater Commercial Fishing License holders.
· Any resident who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and is not stationed in Florida, home on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders.
· Any resident fishing in the county of his or her residence with live or natural bait, using poles or hand lines that are not equipped with a reel or other line retrieval mechanism (cane pole), for noncommercial purposes. A valid Fishing License is required to fish by any method in a Fish Management Area (see page 17).
· Anyone fishing in a private fishing pond less than 20 acres. A private 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.
· Anyone fishing in a private pond of 20 acres or more where the pond owner has purchased a fish pond license at a fee of $3 per square acre.
· Any person fishing in their county of residence on their homestead or the homestead of their spouse or minor child, or any minor child fishing on the homestead of their parent.
· 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·
Note: Although the above exemptions apply, individuals may always choose to purchase a license as a way to contribute to fish and wildlife conservation. Purchasing a license also helps us recover more of the excise taxes spent on fishing tackle and motor boar fuels under Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration (see page 7). Finally, buying a license makes you eligible for the North American Fishing Club knife and membership offer.
Lifetime & Five-Year Licenses
Lifetime and Five-Year licenses are available to Florida residents for hunting, freshwater fishing 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 today's 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 Wildfife Conservation Commission.
Lifetime Sportsman's License includes: Hunting, Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing licenses; Type I WMA, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Turkey, Florida Waterfowl, Shook 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 |
| Five- Year Saltwater Fishing License: (does not include snook or crawfish permits or tarpon tag). | $61.50 |
These licenses also freeze the cost of a fishing license for you at current rates, so that you will not be impacted by possible future rate hikes. Both five-year and lifetime licenses are supplied as credit-card style licenses that are much more durable and convenient than short-term licenses.
