2026 regulation year
Florida Fishing Regulations 2026 — License Fees, Seasons, Bag Limits
Last updated
Florida issues separate freshwater and saltwater fishing licences. Most non-resident anglers fishing saltwater need a saltwater licence — there is no general no-licence-needed shore exemption for non-residents.
License fees
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual freshwater | $17.00 | |
| Resident annual saltwater | $17.00 | |
| Resident annual combo (FW + SW) | $32.50 | |
| Resident 5-year freshwater | $79.00 | |
| Resident lifetime (age 13+) | $301.50 | |
| Resident senior (65+) | Free | Free with senior ID |
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident annual freshwater | $47.00 | |
| Non-resident annual saltwater | $47.00 | |
| Non-resident 7-day freshwater | $30.00 | |
| Non-resident 7-day saltwater | $30.00 | |
| Non-resident 3-day saltwater | $17.00 | |
| Non-resident 3-day freshwater | $17.00 |
Buy directly from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Fees may include processing surcharges at point of sale.
Top species — season, bag, size
| Species | Season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snook | Atlantic: Feb 1 – May 31 & Sep 1 – Dec 14 open. Gulf: Mar 1 – Apr 30 & Sep 1 – Nov 30 open | 1 / day | Atlantic 28–32 in slot; Gulf 28–33 in slot |
| Redfish (red drum) | Year-round (zones vary) | 1 / day (most zones), some catch-and-release zones | 18–27 in slot |
| Spotted seatrout | Closed Feb 1 – May 31 in NW zone; open elsewhere | 3 / day (zones vary) | 15–19 in slot; one over 19 in |
| Largemouth bass | Open year-round | 5 / day (only 1 over 16 in) | No minimum, 16 in max-1 trophy rule |
| Tarpon | Catch-and-release year-round | 0 — harvest requires a tag (limited annual issuance) | Harvest requires $50 tag, World-record pursuit only |
Notable water-body special regulations
Standard 5-bass / 1-over-16 in rule; cormorant + tournament rules apply
Mosquito Lagoon (Indian River)
Redfish + seatrout: catch-and-release only in NE zone
Tarpon: hook-and-line only (no snatch-hooking); no breakaway weights
Closed shellfish harvest; redfish zone special rules
Official source
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is the authoritative source for Florida fishing regulations. Always verify rules before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override published booklets.