Hunting & Fishing License Information

Quick Jump - Saltwater Fishing Licenses , Freshwater Fishing Licenses , Hunting License, Alligator Harvest Permits, License Fees

Saltwater Fishing Licenses 

Licenses can be obtained through the Tax Collector's office or from a subagent.  A license is valid for one year from date of issuance.

 You do not need a saltwater fishing license if -

•       You are a Florida resident 65 years of age or over.   Florida residents who are 65 or older need only provide proof of age and residency to any Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
   

•       You are child under the age of 16 years. 
   

•       You are a resident who is a member of the United States Armed Forces and not stationed in Florida but home on leave for 30 days or less.  You need only provide orders to any Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
   

•       You are fishing from a for-hire vessel - guide, charter, or party boat - that has a valid vessel license.
   

•       You are a Florida resident who is a member of the United States Armed Forces, who is not stationed in this state, while on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders. 
   

•       Residents who are 100% disabled may present authorized disability statements, signed by a Florida physician, to the Tax Collector's office.  Upon approval by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, an exemption card will be issued and renewable every five years by the commission and mailed to the applicant.

A Saltwater license is required for ---

•       Anyone fishing from a leisure craft.  Each person fishing must have a license on his or her person.
   

•       Anyone fishing from a sandbar or other landmass that is accessible by boat, or by swimming though water deeper that three feet.
   

•       Anyone diving, who takes, attempts to take, or possess any marine fish.
   

•       All non-residents fishing in saltwater (excluding non-residents fishing from a licensed pier.
   

•       Anyone who operates any vessel wherein a fee is paid either directly or indirectly for the purpose of taking, attempting to take, or possessing any marine fish for non-commercial purposes.  A separate license is required for each vessel or as an individual.

 An additional fishing stamp is required to catch snook or crawfish.

 License fees are based on whether you are a Florida resident or a non-resident.  To be a resident you must have lived in Florida for six continuous months prior to the issuance of a license and intend to continue to reside in Florida and claim Florida as your primary residence.  Any member of the United States Armed Forces, who is stationed in this state, is considered a resident for the purpose of licensing fees.  Their spouse and dependent children residing in the household would also get resident rate licenses.

 Proof of residency maybe any of the following items:

•       Florida Driver License ('Florida Only' or Florida ID cards not acceptable)
   

•       Military orders showing that applicant is stationed in Florida
   

•       Florida Voter's registration card
   

•       Statement from landlord

OR both of the following:

•       Florida homestead exemption
   

•       Florida motor vehicle registration

Freshwater Fishing Licenses

 All Florida fishermen must possess a valid fishing license when freshwater fishing.

Freshwater fishing licenses are valid for one year from date of issuance.  

 You do not need a freshwater fishing license if --

•       You are a Florida resident 65 years of age or over.  Florida residents who are 65 or older need only provide proof of age and residency to any Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
   

•       You are a child under the age of 16 years.
   

•       You are a Florida resident who is a member of the United States Armed Forces, who is not stationed in this state,
  while on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders. 
   

•       You are a resident fishing in the county of his or her residence with live or natural bait, using poles or hand lines that are not equipped with a reel or other line retrieval mechanism (cane pole), for noncommercial purposes.
   

•       Residents who are 100% disabled may present authorized disability statements, signed by a Florida physician, to the Tax Collector's office.  Upon approval by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, an exemption card will be issued and renewable every five years by the commission and mailed to the applicant.

Hunting License

 Hunting licenses are annual permits in effect one year from date of issuance.  A license being offered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is the Florida Resident Sportsman's License, costing $67.50 or $68.00 if purchase from a subagent.  This license satisfies all state requirements for recreational hunting and freshwater fishing for Florida residents.  Included in this license is, resident hunting, resident freshwater fishing, archers, muzzle loading, state waterfowl, turkey and management stamp.

 You do not need a hunting license if -
 

•       You are a resident who is 65.  You need only present proof of age and residency to any Game and Fish Agent.
   

•       You are a resident who are 100% disabled may present authorized disability statements, signed by a Florida physician, to the Tax Collector's office.  Upon approval by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, an exemption card will be issued and renewable every five years by the commission and mailed to the applicant.

Alligator Harvest Permits

 In addition to the new special opportunity alligator hunts on specific wildlife management areas, the commission has a program that allows trappers to harvest five alligators each, in water bodies, during the month of September.  More than 500 applicants will be randomly selected to participate.  Alligator harvest areas and harvest periods, which go from September 1^st thru 15^th or September 16^th thru 30^th, will be assigned to each randomly selected applicant based on their ranking of up to five areas on the harvest applications.  Applicants will be notified of their selection status by June 30^th.   To be included in the random drawing to an application must be received at the Gainesville office of the Commission by 5:00 pm on June 1^st, via a postal deliver service.

 Only current year applications will be accepted and all applicants must be at least 18 years of age by June 1^st of the application year.  Applications are available May 1^st from any Commission's regional offices.  To those applicants who submitted an alligator harvest application last year, a new application will be mailed to them the last week in April. Last year's applicants should not call the regional offices to request a harvest applications unless their address has changed.

 Selected applicants will be required to purchase an alligator-trapping license by July 15^th.  A license cost $250.00 for Florida residents and $1,000.00 for non-residents.  Each selected applicant also may purchase $50 alligator trapping agent licenses for individuals to assist them in taking alligators.  Trapping agents must be in the presence of the permitted applicant when hunting.

 Five, three hour training and orientation programs are scheduled in July and August.  Permit recipients will not be required to attend, but are encouraged to attend if they have not done so in the past.

License Fees

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