Non-residents of Florida older than fifteen years of age are required to possess a fishing license if fishing to keep or catch and release any nonnative or native fish or marine organism in freshwater or saltwater in the state of Florida. Read further to learn more about exceptions to the rule, costs of non-resident fishing licenses, and free fishing days.
Florida Fishing License – Saltwater
A non-resident saltwater fishing license for Florida can be purchased for three different time periods:
- $47.00 for an annual license
- $30.00 for a seven-day license
- $17.00 for a three-day license
However, there are a few exceptions to this requirement including fishing from a vessel (whether it’s charter, guide, or party boat) that carries a valid charter license or recreational fishing license for the operator of the vessel, fishing from a pier whose owner, custodian, or operator holds a valid saltwater pier license, or you hold an FWC charter captain license or saltwater products license.
There are also free saltwater fishing days, although bag and size limits, as well as seasonal restrictions, still apply. Those days include the first Saturday of September, the first full weekend of June, and the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Florida Fishing License – Freshwater
For freshwater fishing, you can purchase a non-resident license in Florida for three different time periods.
- $47.00 for an annual license
- $30.00 for a seven-day license
- $17.00 for a three-day license
There are a few exceptions to this requirement including fishing in a private man-made pond less than 20 acres in size, fishing from a freshwater pond greater than 20 acres if the owner possesses a fish pond license, and fishing in Lake Seminole or the St. Mary’s River if you have a valid Georgia fishing license.
Finally, there are also free freshwater fishing days, although bag and size limits, as well as seasonal restrictions, still apply. Those days include the second full weekend of June and the first full weekend of April. Find out more at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/visitors/.
