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JF Griffin - Index

JF Griffin - magazine - Index

LICENSES
Fishing license requirements and fees
License, permit, and issuance fees and exemptions are established by the Legislature. In addition
to the cost of licenses and permits specified in this section, license agents currently charge a
50-cent issuance fee for selling licenses or permits.
Licensing requirements follow the species of fish you are fishing for, regardless of where you
are fishing. For example, anglers fishing for and possessing largemouth bass in brackish water
need a freshwater license; anglers fishing for saltwater species in fresh water (e.g., spotted sea
trout, red drum, snook, or American shad) need a saltwater license to possess these species. An
exception is that when fishing in fresh water with a freshwater license (or legal exemption) you
may take mullet without a saltwater license (seasons and sizes follow the saltwater fishing rules).
Resident fishing licenses
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 12-Month Freshwater Fishing (Valid 12 months from specified beginning
$17.00
date)
Resident Freshwater Fishing/Hunting Combination (Valid 12 months from
$32.50
specified beginning date)
Resident Freshwater/Saltwater Fishing Combination (Valid 12 months from
$32.50
specified beginning date)
Resident Freshwater/Saltwater/Hunting Combination (Valid 12 months from
$48.00
specified beginning date)
64 or Older Fishing/Hunting (Includes Freshwater Fishing and Hunting licenses; and
Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Crossbow, Muzzleloading Gun, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl $13.50
permits)
Sportsman’s License (Includes Freshwater Fishing and Hunting licenses; and Wildlife
Management Area, Archery, Crossbow, Muzzleloading Gun, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl
permits) Valid 12 months from specified beginning date.
Gold Sportsman’s License (Includes all licenses and permits in the Sportsman’s License
plus Saltwater Fishing, Lobster and Snook permits)
Military Gold Sportsman’s License *Available only to Florida residents who are active
or retired members of the U.S. Armed Forces (Armed Forces Reserve, Florida National Guard,
Coast Guard or Coast Guard Reserve), upon submission of a current military identification card
and military orders showing you are stationed in Florida or a Florida Drivers License. This license
can only be purchased at county tax collectors’ offices.
Five-Year Freshwater Fishing License * A Best Buy! $79.00
NOTE: Any resident fishing for mullet in fresh
water who has a valid Florida freshwater fishing
license does not need a saltwater license.
8 2008-2009 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
$80.50
$100.00
$20.00
Nonresident fishing licenses
3-Day Freshwater Fishing (Valid three consecutive days from specified beginning date) $17.00
7-Day Freshwater Fishing (Valid seven consecutive days from specified beginning date) $30.00
12-Month Freshwater Fishing (Valid 12 months from specified beginning date) $47.00
Lifetime and 5-year licenses
Lifetime and Five-Year licenses are available to Florida residents for hunting, freshwater fishing
and saltwater fishing. The Lifetime and Five-Year licenses will remain valid for use in Florida
even if you move out of state. The cost of these licenses is less than what would be spent on
annual licenses, permits and fees. Purchasing long-term licenses is encouraged because it helps
Florida to stabilize funding, generates interest revenue for fishing conservation and recovers
more Federal Aid funds.
Lifetime Sportsman’s License (Includes: Hunting, Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing licenses; and
Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Crossbow, Muzzleloading Gun, Turkey, Florida Waterfowl, Snook and
Lobster permits)
4 years or younger $401.50
5-12 years $701.50
13 years or older $1,001.50
Lifetime Freshwater Fishing License
4 years or younger $126.50
5-12 years $226.50
13 years or older $301.50
Freshwater license exemptions:
■ Florida residents 65 years of age or older
who possess either a Resident Senior
Citizen Hunting and Fishing Certificate, or
proof of age and residency.
■ Florida residents certified as totally and
permanently disabled, who possess a
Florida Resident Disabled Person Hunting
and Fishing Certificate. Applicants
need to provide a certification of total
and permanent disability from the United
States Armed Forces, Railroad Retirement
Board, Florida Worker’s Compensation
or the United States Veterans Administration.
Alternatively, current documentation
from the Social Security Administration
for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or
Supplemental Security Disability Income
(SSDI) benefits is accepted.
■ Any person who has been accepted as a
client for developmental disabilities by the
Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities
upon submission of proof.
■ Children under 16 years of age.
■ Resident Freshwater Commercial Fishing
License holders.
■ Any resident who is a member of the U.S.
Armed Forces and is not stationed in
Florida, home on leave for 30 days or less,
upon submission of orders.
■ Any resident fishing in the county of his or
her residence with live or natural bait, using
poles or hand lines without a reel or other
line retrieval mechanism (cane pole), for
noncommercial purposes.
■ Anyone fishing in a private fishing pond
less than 20 acres. A private pond is a manmade
pond constructed for the primary
purpose of fishing, entirely within the property
lines of the owner and with no surface
water connection to public waters.
■ Anyone fishing in a private pond of 20
acres or more where the pond owner has
purchased a fish pond license at a fee of $3
per surface acre.
■ Any person fishing in their county of residence
on the homestead of their spouse or
minor child, or any minor child fishing on
the homestead of their parent.
■ Anyone fishing in the St. Marys River or
Lake Seminole (but not including tributary
creeks in Florida), who has a valid Georgia
fishing license.
■ Anyone fishing during Free Fishing Weekend,
April 4-5, 2009.
■ Attention Florida and Georgia seniors
(65 or older): Since 1988, Florida and
Georgia have had a reciprocal agreement
that honors exemptions for freshwater
fishing license fees when seniors from one
state fishes in the other state. Effective
July 1, 2008, this reciprocal agreement will
be discontinued, and you will be required
to purchase a nonresident fishing license
when Florida residents fish in Georgia or
when Georgia residents fish in Florida.
Visit MyFWC.com for further information
on this issue.