Florida is a great place for anglers. But, like many states, it has some fishing licensing requirements that all anglers should be aware of before they head out on the water. The state offers a variety of licenses to meet the needs of residents, visitors, retirees and those who have moved here permanently.
Fishing Licenses in Florida
The basic rule of thumb is that anyone age 16 or older who wants to fish in Florida must have a state fishing license & Pensacola fishing charters. There are some exceptions, however, that will allow you to avoid the expense of a license. For instance, people who live on private lakes or ponds that are 20 acres or less and located entirely on their homestead can fish without a license.
Also, those who go fishing on a licensed charter boat do not need a license. Florida residents receiving food stamps, temporary cash assistance or Medicaid are exempt as well.
Those who want to get into saltwater fishing will need to buy a separate saltwater permit, as does anybody who wants to catch non-native species of fish. However, Floridians can also purchase a combination license that includes both the freshwater and saltwater permits. Non-residents can also purchase three day, five day and annual fishing licenses for both freshwater and saltwater.
For those who do a lot of hunting and fishing, there is the lifetime sportsman’s license. This permits the holder to hunt deer, turkey, Florida waterfowl and snook, and includes a lifetime freshwater and saltwater fishing license as well as a hard card. The money generated by the sale of these unique permits is invested, creating an endowment that will support the long-term conservation of Florida’s fish and wildlife resources.