Permit
You do not need a saltwater fishing license if you:
- are a child under 16 years of age.
- are a Florida resident age 65 or older with proof of age and residency.
- hunt or freshwater fish in your county of residence on your homestead or the homestead of your spouse.
- are a Florida resident certified as totally and permanently disabled and you possess a Florida Resident Disabled Person Hunting and Fishing Certificate.
- are a resident in the Armed Forces of the USA, not stationed in this state, and home on leave for 30 days or less.
You do not need a saltwater fishing license or a snook or spiny lobster permit if you:
- are a client for development services by the Dept. of Children and Family Services.
- fish from a for-hire vessel (guide, charter, party boat) that has a valid vessel license.
- fish from a vessel with a valid vessel license issued in the name of the operator of the vessel.
- fish for recreational purposes from a pier with a valid pier saltwater fishing license.
- have a valid saltwater products license.
- fish in freshwater.
- are a resident who is saltwater fishing from land or a structure fixed to land who is eligible for food stamps, temporary cash, or the medicaid program. Proof required.
- are a resident fishing with natural bait, suing poles or lines not equipped with a reel for noncommercial purposes in your home county. But you must have a valid fishing license to fish by any method in a fish management area.
Fishing Licenses may be purchased online on the FWC website or at a local tackle shop. If you are going out on a charter here in Key West you will not need a license. However, that may not hold true for other areas in Florida so you may want to check with your charter boat captain if you have a charter reserved someplace else.
| Resident Saltwater Fishing Licenses | ||
| Annual | Five-Year | |
| Gold Sportsman’s License (includes Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing licenses; and Deer, Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl, Snook and Lobster permits) | $100.00 | |
| Military Gold Sportsman’s License (includes Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing licenses; and Deer, Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl, Snook and Lobster permits) (sold only at tax collector’s office) | $20.00 | |
| Annual Saltwater Fishing | $17.00 | $79.00 |
| Saltwater/Freshwater Fishing Combo | $32.50 | |
| Saltwater/Freshwater Fishing/Hunting Combo | $48.00 | |
| Saltwater Shoreline License | Free | |
| Nonresident Saltwater Fishing Licenses | ||
| Nonresident Annual Saltwater Fishing | $47.00 | |
| Nonresident 3-Day Saltwater Fishing | $17.00 | |
| Nonresident 7-Day Saltwater Fishing | $30.00 | |
| Saltwater Fishing Permits (Resident and Nonresident) If you are not required to have a license, you are not required to buy permits (except tarpon) |
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| Annual | Five-Year Residents only |
|
| Snook Permit (required to keep snook in season even with the Shoreline license) | $10.00 | $50.00 |
| Lobster Permit | $5.00 | $25.00 |
| Tarpon Tag | $51.50 | |