Florida residents and visitors   are required to possess a Florida hunting ,  freshwater fishing  or  saltwater fishing  license when engaged in fishing and hunting activities. 

• Licenses and permits are required to help or assist in the take. Someone who is passively participating (setting decoys, calling birds or baiting hooks), whether actively fishing or hunting or not, must have a license and appropriate permits

• A license is required to attempt to catch fish. You need a fishing license if you cast a line or catch and release

• A saltwater fishing license is required to attempt to take any native or non-native marine organisms, such as crabs, lobsters and marine plants

• Licenses and permits are required to help or assist in the take. Someone who is passively participating (setting decoys, calling birds or baiting hooks), whether actively fishing or hunting, must have a license and appropriate permits

• People listed on the National Saltwater Angler Registry  are required to have a Florida recreational fishing license unless exempt as listed below

Pursuant to Florida Statute 379.353, the following individuals are EXEMPT from recreational hunting, freshwater fishing, or saltwater fishing licenses, as well as Florida waterfowl, migratory bird, deer, turkey, snook, spiny lobster, archery, crossbow, muzzleloading and management area permit requirements (unless noted, these exemptions do not apply to federal duck stamp requirements):

• Youth under 16 years of age (also exempt from federal duck stamp requirements)

• Resident seniors age 65 or older with proof of age or residency  (such as a valid Florida driver's license or identification card) or possessing an optional Resident 65+ Hunt/Fish Certificate (available at no cost online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com  or at our public service office)

• Freshwater fishing or hunting in your County of residence on your homestead (or the homestead of your spouse or minor child), or if you are a minor child freshwater fishing or hunting on the homestead of your parent

• Florida residents certified as totally and permanently disabled who possess a Florida Resident Disabled Person's Hunting and Fishing License

• Florida residents who are members of the Armed Forces of the United States not stationed in this state and are home on leave for 30 days or less upon submission of orders

• Those hunting for wild hog on private land

• Individuals who are observing or filming someone else who is fishing or hunting and who are not assisting (baiting hooks, reeling, setting decoys, calling birds, etc.) in the take in any way

• Disabled veterans or active or reserve duty military service members and their immediate family members and assistants participating in a permitted outdoor recreational event for which the Commission has issued a Military/Disabled Veteran Event License Exemption Permit  to the event organizer

• Customers or patrons (residents and non-residents) hunting on a hunting preserve that has a  Blanket Hunt Preserve License  are exempt from individual license requirements of a hunting license, deer permit, Florida waterfowl permit, archery season permit, crossbow season permit, muzzleloading gun season permit and/or turkey permit (pursuant to Florida Statute 379.3712)

In addition, the following are exempt from a fur-bearer Trapping License:

• Resident seniors age 65 or older with proof of age or residency  (such as a valid Florida driver's license or identification card) and possessing an optional Resident 65+ Hunt/Fish Certificate (available at no cost online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com  or at County tax collectors' offices)

In addition, the following are exempt from a freshwater fishing license:

• Florida residents accepted as a client for developmental disabilities services by the  Agency for Persons with Disabilities . The agency must provide proof to such clients

• Those fishing in a fishpond of 20 acres or less, which is located entirely within the private property of its owner. A fishpond is an artificial pond constructed for the primary purpose of fishing, entirely within the owner's property lines and with no surface water connection to public waters

• Individuals fishing in a fish pond of 20 acres or more, whose owner has purchased a  fish pond license  at a fee of $3 per surface acre

• Individuals who possess a  Resident Freshwater Commercial Fishing License

• Those fishing in the St. Mary's River or Lake Seminole (but not including tributary creeks in Florida) and have a valid Georgia fishing license

• Those freshwater fishing during  free freshwater fishing days

• Florida residents fishing with live or natural bait, using poles or lines not equipped with a fishing-line-retrieval mechanism, and fishing for noncommercial purposes in their home County (does not include fish management areas within the home County)

In addition, the following are exempt from a saltwater fishing license and snook or spiny lobster permits:

• Florida residents are accepted as a client for developmental disabilities services by the  Agency for Persons with Disabilities . The agency must provide proof to such clients

• Individuals who are saltwater fishing from a for-hire vessel (guide, charter, or party boat) that have a valid charter license . The for-hire vessel must have snook and or spiny lobster permits to claim exemption for the individual.

• Those saltwater fishing from a vessel whose operator has a valid recreational saltwater vessel license  issued in the name of the operator of the vessel. The operator must possess a valid snook and or spiny lobster permits to claim exemption for the individual.

• Those saltwater fishing during a free saltwater fishing day

• Individuals saltwater fishing from a pier with a valid saltwater pier license

• Individuals who hold a valid  saltwater products license  or FWC charter captain license  (does not apply to charter boat license or U.S. Coast Guard license or to the crew operating under any charter license or Vessel or Individual Crew SPL). Snook and or spiny lobster permit would still be required.

• Florida residents who are fishing for mullet in freshwater who hold valid Florida resident freshwater fishing license

• Florida resident's saltwater fishing from land or a structure fixed to land who have been determined eligible for the food stamp, temporary cash assistance, or Medicaid Program by the Department of Children and Families  (DCF). Proof of identification and a benefit issuance or program identification card issued by DCF or the Agency for Health Care Administration  must be in possession when fishing. A license is required when fishing from a vessel, swimming, or diving, and this exemption does not apply to freshwater fishing

• Florida residents who are saltwater fishing with live or natural bait, using poles or lines not equipped with a fishing-line-retrieval mechanism, for noncommercial purposes in their home County (does not include fish management areas within the home County). Snook and or spiny lobster permit would still be required.