Florida Fishing: Licenses, Laws and Where to Start
General public information only — not legal advice. Fishing regulations, seasons, and fees change. Confirm with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and current official materials before you fish.
Buy a Florida fishing license (official) → FWC calls Go Outdoors Florida "the approved and authorized provider of online fishing and hunting licenses for the state of Florida." You can also buy: - in person at a license agent or county tax collector's office - by phone at 888-FISH-FLORIDA (888-347-4356) - through FWC's Fish|Hunt FL app
See FWC's how to order page.
| Fact box | |
|---|---|
| Who regulates | Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) |
| Buy a license | GoOutdoorsFlorida.com ("Official Florida Fishing and Hunting Licenses | Go Outdoors Florida"), checked 2026-10-28 |
| Resident annual license | $17.00 saltwater; $17.00 freshwater; $32.50 for both |
| Non-resident license | $17.00 for 3 days, $30.00 for 7 days, $47.00 annual (each for saltwater or freshwater) |
| Extra permits you might need | Snook permit, spiny lobster permit, State Reef Fish Angler designation (free), shore-based shark permit (free, with a course), tarpon tag |
| Right now | Gulf gag grouper is closed for the rest of 2026. New Atlantic gag and black grouper rules took effect October 28, 2026. |
Who this page is for
This page is for Floridians, visitors on a fishing trip, parents taking kids to the pier, and anyone heading out on a charter. It covers what you need before you cast: - the right license - the main rules - the limits for the fish people ask about most
Every number below comes from an FWC page checked on the date above. FWC changes seasons and limits often, sometimes by executive order mid-year, so open the linked FWC page before you keep a fish.
Buying a license
Where to buy: start at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. - The site asks whether you are a Florida resident or non-resident and offers single licenses or bundled "packages." - Choose saltwater, freshwater, or both, depending on where you'll fish. - You can also buy at county tax collector offices and other license agents.
What it costs (from FWC's license pages): - Issuance fee: prices below include it, and vendors may add 50¢. - Online orders: FWC lists a handling fee of $2.25, or $1.75 plus a 2.95% surcharge. - Phone orders: $6.25 plus a 2.95% surcharge per person.
| License | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Saltwater fishing, annual | $17.00 | $47.00 |
| Saltwater fishing, 3-day / 7-day | — | $17.00 / $30.00 |
| Saltwater fishing, 5-year | $79.00 | — |
| Freshwater fishing, annual | $17.00 | $47.00 |
| Freshwater fishing, 3-day / 7-day | — | $17.00 / $30.00 |
| Freshwater + saltwater combination, annual | $32.50 | — |
| Saltwater shoreline-only, annual | No cost | — |
| Gold Sportsman's (fishing, hunting and many permits), annual | $100.00 | — |
Other things to know: - Shoreline-only license: this free resident license covers saltwater fishing from shore or from a structure attached to shore. It does not cover fishing from a boat, from a shore you reached by boat, or while swimming or diving. - Sales are final. FWC says all license and permit sales are final. Check that a species is open before buying a permit for it. - More options: youth, lifetime, military and senior options are on FWC's saltwater and freshwater license pages.
Who needs a license, and common exemptions
FWC's rule of thumb is: "If you cast a line or catch and release, you need a fishing license." You also need one to help someone else fish, for example by baiting hooks.
FWC lists exemptions under s. 379.353, Florida Statutes. Common ones: - Children under 16. - Florida residents 65 or older, with proof of age and residency. A free Resident 65+ certificate is available. - Saltwater anglers on a licensed charter, guide or party boat, or on a licensed pier. - Free fishing days that FWC announces each year. - Florida residents fishing in their home county with live or natural bait on a pole or line without a reel. Fish management areas are excluded.
FWC's full exemption list includes several more, such as certain disability, military and benefits-based exemptions, plus private-pond rules. Read it if one might apply to you.
Some permits have no exemptions, even if you don't need a license. Examples: - the State Reef Fish Angler designation, for anglers 16 and older - the shore-based shark fishing permit - the tarpon tag - the goliath grouper harvest permit
Saltwater vs. freshwater
| Saltwater | Freshwater | |
|---|---|---|
| License | Saltwater license, plus permits for some species | Freshwater license |
| Limits vary by | Region (snook, redfish and trout have regional rules) and by Gulf vs. Atlantic waters | Statewide limits, plus special rules for certain lakes, rivers and Fish Management Areas |
| Federal waters | Florida license is required to land saltwater fish in Florida, even if caught in federal waters | — |
| Main FWC page | Saltwater regulations | Freshwater regulations |
Rules that catch people out
- Snook permit: in addition to the license, required to take snook, including from shore.
- State Reef Fish Angler designation: free, but required to fish from a private boat for listed reef fish. The list includes red snapper, mutton and yellowtail snapper, gag, red and black grouper, hogfish, amberjacks and gray triggerfish.
- Shore-based shark fishing: anglers 16 and older fishing for sharks from shore, jetties, bridges or piers need a free permit, which requires completing FWC's course.
- Tarpon: catch-and-release only. Tarpon over 40 inches must stay in the water. A $51.50 tarpon tag, one per person per year, is needed only to pursue a state or world record.
- Goliath grouper: harvest is prohibited without a special permit. Release them immediately, and keep large ones in the water.
- Whole fish: snook, redfish and trout must stay whole until landed ashore.
- For-hire trips: captain and crew may not keep a bag limit of snook, redfish or trout on a for-hire trip.
- Gear rules:
- Snook: hook and line only.
- Redfish: hook and line or cast net. No spearing, gigging, bowfishing or snatch hooking.
- Reef fish: special gear rules apply (reef fish gear rules).
- Protected species: some sharks and other marine species are prohibited from harvest. See FWC's sharks page.
Common species: limits as of 2026-10-28
Always check the linked FWC page before keeping a fish. Regions are defined by FWC maps. TL means total length.
Saltwater
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season | FWC page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snook | 28–32" TL (Atlantic regions) or 28–33" TL (Gulf regions) | 1 per person per day | Closed periods vary by region: • Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay: Dec. 1–end of Feb. and May 1–Aug. 31 • Charlotte Harbor and Southwest: Dec. 1–end of Feb. and May 1–Sept. 30 • Southeast, Indian River Lagoon and Northeast: Dec. 15–Jan. 31 and June 1–Aug. 31 |
Snook |
| Red drum (redfish) | 18–27" TL | 1 per person. Vessel limit 4 in the Panhandle, Big Bend and Northeast, 2 elsewhere. Indian River Lagoon: catch-and-release only |
Open year-round where harvest is allowed | Red drum |
| Spotted seatrout | 15–19" TL. In most regions you may keep one fish over 19" per vessel (or per person from shore); not in the Indian River Lagoon or Northeast | 3 per person in most regions; 5 in the Big Bend; 2 in the Indian River Lagoon | Year-round in most regions. Panhandle closed in February. Indian River Lagoon closed Nov. 1–Dec. 31 |
Spotted seatrout |
| Gag grouper (Gulf) | 24" TL | 2 per person within the 4-grouper aggregate | 2026 season was Sept. 1–30 only; closed for the rest of 2026 | Groupers |
| Gag grouper (Atlantic) | 24" TL | 1 gag or black per person within the 3-grouper aggregate; 2 gag or black combined per vessel | May 1–Aug. 1 | Groupers |
| Red grouper (Gulf) | 20" TL | 2 per person within the 4-grouper aggregate | State waters open year-round (federal closures apply) | Groupers |
| Tarpon | — | Catch-and-release only (tag only for record pursuit) | — | Tarpon |
| Goliath grouper | — | Harvest prohibited without a permit | — | Goliath |
Two notes on the table: - Gulf grouper limits apply to Gulf state and federal waters, excluding Monroe County state waters. Monroe County state waters follow the Atlantic grouper rules. - Biscayne National Park has special rules for several of these species.
Freshwater (statewide; special rules apply in some waters)
| Species | Daily bag limit | Size rule |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass (Florida, largemouth, Suwannee, spotted, Choctaw, shoal) | 5 combined | Only 1 may be 16" or longer. No minimum for Florida or largemouth bass. Suwannee, shoal, spotted and Choctaw bass must be at least 12". |
| Panfish (bluegill, redear and other sunfish) | 50 combined | — |
| Crappie (speckled perch) | 25 | — |
| Striped, white and sunshine bass | 20 combined | Only 6 may be 24" or longer (special rules on the Suwannee and lower Ochlockonee) |
| Butterfly peacock bass | 2 | Only 1 may be 17" or longer |
These come from FWC's general statewide limits. Some lakes, rivers and Fish Management Areas have different limits. For example, shoal bass on the Chipola River and Suwannee bass on part of the Wakulla River must be released.
Safety and good practice
- Boating: anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, needs a Boating Safety Education ID Card to operate a boat in Florida. See FWC's boater education page for courses and required safety equipment.
- Weather: Florida weather turns fast. Check the forecast and the National Weather Service marine forecast before heading out.
- Release fish well:
- Keep large fish in the water when you can, especially tarpon and goliath.
- Use a descending device or venting tool for reef fish with barotrauma, as FWC recommends.
- Don't feed fish or wildlife; FWC has rules against it.
Explore more on THIS IS FLORIDA
Pair a fishing trip with Florida's beaches, springs and parks. More THIS IS FLORIDA guides will be linked here as they go live.
Find Florida fishing businesses in the THIS IS FLORIDA directory
Charters, bait and tackle shops, marinas, guides, and restaurants near the ramp can list in the THIS IS FLORIDA directory.
- $8 passport: one $8 passport lists you as both a business and a member.
- You keep your prices and specials. This is not a coupon site.
- Referrals: businesses earn $2 a month for each $8 member they refer.
- A listing is not required to fish and is not an FWC endorsement.
THIS IS FLORIDA is independent and not affiliated with FWC or GoOutdoorsFlorida.