Florida saltwater fishing license on the Emerald Coast: who needs one, where to buy
As of Oct. 30, 2026, Florida requires most anglers 16 and older to carry a saltwater fishing license to fish in the Gulf, the bays and the sounds of the Emerald Coast, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). An annual license costs $17 for Florida residents, and visitors can buy a three-day license for $17, a seven-day license for $30 or an annual license for $47. Licenses are sold online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, at county tax collector offices and at license vendors.
The same state rules apply in Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Bay counties, because the FWC sets saltwater license requirements for all of Florida. The FWC says a Florida fishing license is required to land saltwater species in Florida regardless of where they are caught.
Who needs a Florida saltwater fishing license?
Anyone 16 or older who fishes for or lands saltwater fish in Florida needs a Florida saltwater fishing license unless an FWC exemption applies, according to the FWC “Do I need a license” page. That covers fishing from a private boat, a kayak, the beach, a jetty, a bridge or a pier that does not hold its own pier license.
Florida residents ages 8 to 15 may buy an optional youth saltwater license for $17, valid until the 17th birthday, but they are not required to have one, per the FWC.
How much does a Florida saltwater fishing license cost?
Florida saltwater fishing license prices, as of Oct. 30, 2026, per the FWC:
| License | Florida resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| 3-day | Not offered | $17 |
| 7-day | Not offered | $30 |
| Annual | $17 | $47 |
| Five-year | $79 | Not offered |
| Shoreline only (annual) | $0 | Not offered |
| Saltwater and freshwater (annual) | $32.50 | Not offered |
| Saltwater, freshwater and hunting (annual) | $48 | Not offered |
| Gold Sportsman’s (annual) | $100 | Not offered |
| Military Gold Sportsman’s (annual) | $20 | Not offered |
The Military Gold Sportsman’s license is for Florida residents who are active duty or retired military, according to the FWC. Prices include a state issuance fee, and a license vendor may add a 50-cent fee. All license and permit sales are final and fees are not refundable, per the FWC.
Who can fish without a Florida saltwater fishing license?
Several groups of anglers do not need a Florida saltwater fishing license, according to the FWC as of Oct. 27, 2026:
- Anglers under 16.
- Florida residents 65 and older with proof of age and residency.
- Passengers on a for-hire boat (charter, guide or party boat) that holds a valid charter license.
- Anglers on a boat whose operator holds a valid recreational saltwater vessel license.
- Anglers on a pier that holds a valid saltwater pier license.
- Anyone fishing on a free saltwater fishing day.
- Florida residents fishing from land or a fixed structure who qualify for food stamps, temporary cash assistance or Medicaid through the Florida Department of Children and Families, carrying ID and a benefit card. The exemption does not cover fishing from a boat, swimming or diving.
- Florida residents fishing in their home county with live or natural bait on a pole or line with no line-retrieval mechanism (no reel), for noncommercial use.
The FWC lists more exemptions, including for some residents with disabilities, on its license exemptions page.
Do I need a license to fish from the beach or a pier on the Emerald Coast?
Yes, in most cases, anglers 16 and older need a license to fish from the beach or a pier on the Emerald Coast. Florida residents can get a free shoreline-only license, which covers fishing from the shore or from a structure attached to the shore, such as a pier or jetty, according to the FWC. The shoreline license is not valid from a boat, from a shoreline reached by boat, or while swimming or diving.
Visitors who fish from the shore need a regular nonresident license, because the shoreline-only license is for Florida residents, per the FWC price list.
A pier that holds an FWC saltwater pier license covers everyone fishing from it, according to the FWC. Ask the pier office whether the pier holds that license before you skip buying your own.
Anglers 16 and older who want to keep sharks caught from shore, including from jetties, bridges and piers, also need a free Shore-based Shark Fishing permit, issued at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com after a short educational course, per the FWC.
What other permits might I need to fish on the Emerald Coast?
Some species and fishing methods need a permit in addition to the license, as of Oct. 30, 2026, per the FWC:
| Permit | Cost | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| State Reef Fish Angler designation | $0, yearly | Anglers 16 and older fishing for reef fish such as red snapper, grouper, gray triggerfish and amberjack from a private boat; no exemptions |
| Shore-based Shark Fishing permit | $0, yearly | Anglers 16 and older taking sharks from shore, jetties, bridges or piers |
| Snook permit | $10 annual, $50 five-year (residents) | Anglers keeping snook, including from shore |
| Spiny lobster permit | $5 annual, $25 five-year (residents) | Anglers harvesting spiny lobster |
| Tarpon tag | $51.50, yearly | Anglers keeping or possessing a tarpon; sold only at tax collector offices; no exemptions |
The State Reef Fish Angler designation and the tarpon tag apply even to anglers who are exempt from the regular license, according to the FWC.
Where can I buy a Florida fishing license on the Emerald Coast?
Florida fishing licenses are sold in three ways, according to the FWC:
- Online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, the only source for some permits, including the free shore-based shark permit and the blue crab and stone crab trap registrations.
- County tax collector offices in Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Bay counties. Tax collector offices are the only place to buy a tarpon tag and sell the military license with proof of residency and a military ID.
- License vendors, which may add a 50-cent issuance fee.
The FWC also sells an optional hard plastic card, for an extra fee, that can hold up to seven licenses and permits.
When are Florida’s free saltwater fishing days?
Florida’s license-free saltwater fishing days are the first Saturday and Sunday in June, the first Saturday in September and the Saturday after Thanksgiving, according to the FWC free fishing days page. In 2026, the Saturday after Thanksgiving falls on Nov. 28.
On free fishing days, no saltwater license, snook permit or spiny lobster permit is needed from shore or from a boat, but all seasons and bag and size limits still apply, per the FWC.
Who to contact about a Florida fishing license
The FWC answers license questions at its Tallahassee office, (850) 488-4676, and posts current prices and exemptions on its saltwater license page. For a tarpon tag or an in-person license, contact the tax collector in your county.
Spotted a rule change or a closed ramp? Send it to the Emerald Coast Dispatch through the contact page.
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Questions and answers
- Do I need a fishing license to fish from a pier in Destin?
- Yes, unless the pier holds an FWC saltwater pier license, which covers everyone fishing from it. Anglers 16 and older otherwise need a Florida saltwater license; Florida residents can use the free shoreline-only license from a pier, per the FWC.
- How much is a Florida fishing license for a nonresident?
- As of Oct. 30, 2026, a nonresident Florida saltwater fishing license costs $17 for three days, $30 for seven days or $47 for a year, according to the FWC.
- Do you need a fishing license on a charter boat in Florida?
- No. Passengers on a for-hire boat with a valid charter license do not need their own Florida saltwater fishing license, according to the FWC. Captains and crew follow separate rules.
- Do seniors need a fishing license in Florida?
- Florida residents 65 and older do not need a saltwater fishing license if they carry proof of age and residency, per the FWC. Nonresidents 65 and older still need one.
- When is the next free saltwater fishing day in Florida?
- Florida's next license-free saltwater fishing day is Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, per the FWC rule for free fishing days. Seasons and bag and size limits still apply.