You don't need a Florida saltwater fishing license if you are:

  • Under 16.
  • A Florida resident fishing from land or from a structure fixed to land - pier, bridge, dock, floating dock, jetty or similar structure - but not from a boat.
  • Fishing from a boat that has a valid Vessel Saltwater Fishing License.
  • A Florida resident 65 years of age or older.
  • A Florida resident who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, who is not stationed in this state, while on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders. This does not include family members.
  • A nonresident fishing from a pier that has a valid pier Saltwater Fishing License.
  • A Florida resident fishing for mullet in freshwater - with a valid Florida freshwater fishing license.
  • A Florida resident fishing for saltwater species in freshwater from land or a structure fixed to land.
  • A holder of a valid individual saltwater products license.
  • Any person who has been accepted as a client for developmental services by AHCA (Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration) or any licensed provider of services through contract with AHCA, where such service involves the need, normally, for possession of a saltwater fishing license and such service is provided as part of a court-decided rehabilitation program involving training in Florida's aquatic resources.
    • *Information is current as of July 2003. All information is subject to change.
    Species Minimum Size Limit Closed Season Daily Rec. Bag Limit Remarks
    Greater Amberjack 28" fork 1 per person per day
    Lesser Amberjack
    Banded Rudderfish    		 Not less than 14"
    or more than 22" fork    		 5 Aggregate of lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish per day
    Billfish Sailfish 63"
    Blue Marlin 99"
    White Marlin 66"    		 1 per person per day Species incudes Marlin, Spearfish, and Sailfish Measured tip of lower jaw to fork. Federal size limits apply
    Black Drum Not less than 14"
    or more than 24"    		 5 per person per day May possess one over 24"
    Bluefish 12" fork 10 per person per day
    Bonefish 18" 1 per person per day
    Clams-Hard 1" thick across hinge one 5 gal. bucket per person or 2 per vessel, whichever is less per day Illegal to harvest from closed areas, call 1-877-304-4024 for allowable harvesting areas
    Cobia (Ling) 33" fork 2 per person per day
    Crab-Blue 10 gallons whole per day 5 traps maximum, trap requirements apply. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited
    Crab-Stone 2.75" claw Between May 15 - Oct. 15 1 gal. Stone Crab claws per person or 2 gal. per vessel, whichever is less 5 traps maximum, trap requirements apply, illegal to possess whole crab. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited
    Crawfish
    (Spiny Lobster)    		 Larger than 3" carapace measured in the water April 1 - Aug. 5, exception: Sport Season - last consecutive Wed. & Thurs. of July each year 24 per vessel or 6 per person per day, whichever is greater Recreational trapping prohibited. Crawfish permit required. Special bag limit for 2-day Sport season. Call BME for current information on Sport season.
    Dolphin 10 per person per day
    Flounder 12" 10 per person per day May be harvested by spearing
    Grouper - Black & Gag 24" Atlantic & Monroe County
    20" Gulf    		 2 per person per day Atlantic & Monroe County
    5 per person per day Gulf
    Grouper - Red, Scamp, Yellowfin, Yellowmount 20" Included within 5 per person per day
    Grouper aggregate bag limit
    Grouper - Warsaw, Speckled Hind 1 per vessel per day of each species
    Grouper - All others Included within 5 per person per day
    Grouper aggregate bag limit    		 Includes: Coney, Graysby, Misty, Red Hind, Rock Hind, Snowy, Tiger, Yellowedge
    Hogfish 12" fork 5 per person per day
    Mackerel - King 24" fork 2 per person per day Bag limit in Gulf-Atlantic fishery reduced to 1 when federal waters are closed to all harvest. Call BME for details.
    Mackerel - Spanish 12" fork 15 per person per day Transfer of Spanish Mackerel to other vessels at sea is prohibited
    Mullet - Stripped, Black, Silver Feb. 1 - Aug. 31, 50 per person pr day, maximum 100 per vessel Sept. 1 - Jan. 31, 50 per person or per vessel, whichever is less
    Oysters 3" June, July, Aug. in Dixie, Wakulla, Levy counties. July, Aug., Sept. in all other areas 2 bags per person or vessel, whichever is less per day 1 bag = 60 lbs. or two 5 gal. buckets (whole in shell). Apalachicola Bay has summer & winter seasons/areas. Harvest from approved shellfish areas only. Call 1-877-304-4024 for allowable harvesting areas
    Permit & Pompano Not less than 10"
    or more than 20" fork    		 10 per person per day aggregate of Permit and Pompano May possess one over 20" of either Permit or Pompano
    Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited
    Pompano - African Not less than 24" fork 2 fish per person or per vessel per day, whichever is less. Hook & Lime gear only
    Red Drum
    (Redfish)    		 Not less than 18"
    or more than 27"    		 1 per person per day Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited
    Red Porgy 14" Atlantic Closed - Atlantic 5 per person per day Atlantic Atlantic Red Porgy closed until further notice
    Scallops - Bay September 11 - 30 2 gallons whole or 1 pint meat per person per day, no more than 10 gallons whole, or 1/2 gallon meat per vessel anytime Harvest allowed only in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico north of latitude 29 degrees, 17 minutes and 02 seconds north (from the south bank of the mouth of the Suwannee River to near channel marker 21 westward to the outer limits of state waters)
    Sea Bass - Black 10" 20 per person per day Atlantic
    Shad 10 aggregate per person per day American, Alabama, and Hickory are part of aggregate limit. Hook & line gear only
    Shark 1 per person or 2 per vessel per day, whichever is less Practice of finning and filleting at sea prohibited. See list below for protected species
    Sheepshead 12" 15 per person per day
    Shrimp April & May closed to Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler, & Clay counties 5 gallons heads on per person or vessel per day, whichever is less Must be landed in a whole condition
    Contact BME for closed areas
    Snapper - Black & Wenchman Included within 10 per person per day snapper aggregate bag limit
    Snapper - Cubera Not less than 12"
    or more than 30"    		 Included within 10 per person per day snapper aggregate bag limit if under 30" Allowed 2 Cubera Snapper over 30" per person or vessel per day, whichever is less. 30" or longer not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit
    Snapper - Gray (Mangrove) 10" 5 per person per day Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit
    Snapper - Lane 8" Included within 10 per person per day snapper aggregate bag limit if harvested from Atlantic Lane Snapper harvested from the Gulf of Mexico not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit
    Snapper - Mutton 16" Included within 10 per person per day snapper aggregate bag limit
    Snapper - Red 20" Atlantic
    16" Gulf    		 Closed Nov. 1 - April 14 Gulf only 2 per person per day Atlantic
    4 per person per day Gulf    		 Included within 10 per person per day snapper aggregate bag limit
    Snapper - Schoolmaster 10" Included within 10 per person per day snapper aggregate bag limit
    Snapper - Vermilion 10" Included within 10 per person per day snapper aggregate bag limit if harvested from Atlantic Vermilion Snapper harvested from Gulf of Mexico not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit
    Snapper - all other 12" Included within 10 per person per day snapper aggregate bag limit Includes Blackfin, Dog, Mahogany, Queen Silk and Yellowtail
    Snook (all species) Not less than 26"
    or more than 34"    		 Dec. 15 - Jan. 31 of each year & June, July, Aug. 2 per person per day Snook permit required when saltwater license required. State regulations apply in federal waters. Illegal to buy or sell snook
    Spotted Sea Trout Not less than 15"
    or more than 20"
    (statewide) except One fish over 20" per person    		 N.E. and N.W. regions - Feb.
    S. region - Nov. and Dec.    		 N.E. and N.W. regions - 5 per person per day
    S. region - 4 per person per day    		 *See region definitions below
    Tarpon 2 fish possession limit Requires $50 tarpon tag to possess or harvest
    Triggerfish (Gray) 12" All other species of Triggerfish have live landing & live well requirements
    Tripletail 15" 2 per person per day Hook and line gear only (No snatch hooks)
    Weakfish 12" 4 per person per day
    PROTECTED SPECIES
    It is unlawful to harvest, possess, land, purchase, sell, or exchange the following species:
    Nassau Grouper, Jewfish, Sawfish, Basking Shark, Whale Shark, Spotted Eagle Ray, Sturgeon, White Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Bigeye Sand Tiger Shark, Manta Ray
    *"Northeast Region" means all state waters lying north of the Flagler-Volusia County Line to the Florida-Georgia border, and adjacent federal Exlusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters.
    "Northwest Region" means all state waters north and west of a line running due west from the westernmost point of Fred Howard park Causeway (28E9.350'N 82E48.398'W), which is approximately 1.17 nautical miles south of the Pasco-Pinellas County Line to the Florida-Alabama border, and adjacent federal EEZ waters.
    "South Region" means state waters lying between the Flagler-Volusia County Line on the Atlantic Ocean and the southern boundary of the Northwest Region on the Gulf of Mexico in Pinellas County and adjacent EEZ waters.
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