The money you spend for your saltwater fishing license is helping to revitalize Florida's Marine Resources.
To provide funds for marine research, fisheries enhancement and research, the 1989 Florida Legislature enacted a law requiring saltwater anglers to have a valid fishing license. This went into effect January 1, 1990.
A few years ago, not one southern state required a saltwater fishing license. Today, six of the nine coastal states in the southern United States require these permits.
Whether you are a proponent of these licensing requirements or not, the fact is that the revenues produced for fiscal year 1994-95 exceeded $12,000,000.
Florida's license income is spent according to legislative mandate. Our laws specify that not more than 2.5 percent of the total fees collected are deposited into the Marine Fisheries Commission Trust Fund. This money is used to fund the Marine Fisheries Commission, which establishes fishing regulations, and to finance marine research projects. At least 2.5 percent of the total funds generated from your saltwater license fee are deposited in the Save Our State Environmental Education Trust Fund, which is used for aquatic education purposes. Five percent is set aside for administration of the law, including printing of the license.
The law requires that the remaining 90 percent of the allocated funds be distributed among marine research; fisheries enhancement such as hatcheries and statistics, habitat restoration, and building artificial reefs; and law enforcement.
You must possess a Florida Saltwater Fishing License if you take, attempt to take, or possess marine fish for noncommercial purposes, unless one or more of the exemptions listed below apply.
If you're not sure whether you need a fishing license, these definitions may help you decide.
A resident is defined as anyone who has continually resided in Florida for 6 months, anyone who has established a domicile in Florida and who has evidence of such as provided by the law, any member of the United States Armed Forces who is stationed in this state, or any student enrolled in a college or university in the state. An alien who can prove residency status is considered a resident for license purposes.
A marine fish is any saltwater species of finfish of the classes Agnatha, Chondrichthyes, and Osteichthyes and marine invertebrates in the classes of Gastropoda, Bivalvia, and Crustacea or the phylum Echinodermata. The definition of marine fish does not include nonliving shells or Echinoderms. Examples of finfish are hogfish, sharks, trout, mackerel, rays, catfish, eel, and tarpon. Examples of marine invertebrates are snails, whelks, oysters, clams, scallops, shrimp, crab, lobster, sea stars, sea urchins, starfish, and sea cucumbers.
Land is defined as the area of ground located within the geographic boundaries of the State of Florida that extends to a water depth of 4 feet. This includes any structure fixed to land. In the following instances, you are not considered to be fishing on land and you must have a saltwater fishing license:
A structure fixed to land is defined as any pier, bridge, dock, floating dock, or jetty or similar structure that is permanently affixed to land. This definition does not include a vessel, derelict vessel, or floating structure other than a dock.
If you're a Florida resident, you may buy a lifetime Saltwater Fishing License. A lifetime Saltwater Fishing License allows you to saltwater fish in accordance with the fishing regulations in effect at the time. The holder of this license may also engage in all activities authorized by a snook or a crawfish stamp. If you choose to buy a lifetime Saltwater License, you don't have to pay any additional license, stamp, or fee imposed after the date of purchase. Applications for a lifetime Saltwater Fishing License are available from the tax collector.
A lifetime Sportsman's License authorizes the holder to take or attempt to take or possess freshwater fish, marine fish and game consistent with the state and federal regulations and the rules of the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Marine Fisheries Commission in effect at the time. The holder of this license may engage in all activities authorized by a management area stamp, a muzzleloading gun stamp, a turkey stamp, an archery stamp, a Florida waterfowl stamp, a snook stamp and a crawfish stamp. There will be no additional license, stamp or fee imposed after the date of purchase.
The penalty for fishing without the required license or stamp is $50 plus the cost of the amount of the applicable license or stamp.
License requirements and fees may change. Contact the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your local tax collector's office for the most current requirements and fees.
If you are a Florida resident and are certified as totally and permanently disabled, you are entitled to receive, without charge from the county tax collector, a permanent saltwater fishing license.
Florida Department of Envrionmental Protection, Division of Marine Resources, Office of Fisheries Management and Assistance Services