Florida Fishing Licenses
Before you head out into any part of Florida, you need to know the regulations and a license to fish. CBSMiami has all the information you need to know about how to get your license to fish.
Definition of 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 claims 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: (Valid for 12 months
from specified beginning date)
12-Month Freshwater Fishing--$17.00
Annual combination hunting and freshwater fishing--$32.50.
Annual combination freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing license--$32.50.
Annual combination hunting, freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing license--$48.00.
Sportsman's License: includes Hunting, Freshwater Fishing, and permits for Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Crossbow, Muzzleloading Gun, Turkey, Florida Waterfowl (Valid 12 months from specified beginning date)--$80.50
Gold Sportsman's License (includes Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing licenses; and Type I Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Crossbow, Muzzleloading Gun, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl, Snook and Spiny Lobster Permits)--$100.00
Annual Military Gold Sportsman's License (same privileges as Gold Sportsman's above. Any resident who is an active or retired member of the United States Armed Forces, the United States Armed Forces Reserve, the National Guard, the United States Coast Guard, or the United States Coast Guard Reserve is eligible to purchase the military gold sportsman's license upon submission of a current military identification card.)--$20.00
Nonresident:
3-Day Freshwater Fishing (Valid three days from specified beginning date)--$17.00.
7-Day Freshwater Fishing (Valid seven days from specified beginning date)--$30.00
12-Month Freshwater Fishing (Valid for 12 months from specified beginning date)--$47.00
Instant License
The FWC has several services enabling you to buy hunting or fishing licenses with a credit card online or via a toll-free phone call, using these methods requires a major credit card and allows you to begin fishing right away. Starting dates for licenses may be designated by you for up to two months (60 days) from the date of purchase, to help you with trip planning.
You can order the instant license on-line. It will cost you $2.25 per person, plus 2.5% of the total sale will be added to your license fee.
If you prefer, you can also order an instant license via a toll-free phone call by dialing 1-888-347-4356 from anywhere in the United States or Canada, and within minutes you'll have a temporary license number enabling you to hunt (in season)
or fish right away. Your permanent license will be mailed within 48 hours. For this process, in addition to the cost of the license, a fee of $3.25 per person plus 2.5% of the total sale, will be added to your license fee.
Licenses may also be purchased from county tax collectors or their sub-agents, who are generally located at tackle shops, fish camps, hardware stores and sporting goods stores. In addition to the license stamp fees listed above, agents are entitled to a
$0.50 fee. License fees are set by the Florida Legislature and are subject to change.
