Before You Book
Do You Need a Fishing License
on a Florida Keys Charter?
"No. Leave your wallet in the truck. The boat's license covers you."
Captain Kit Carson, DirtyBoat 2.0
This one comes up all the time, usually from someone standing in a tackle shop about to buy a license they don't need. If you're fishing with me, or with any licensed charter in Florida, you're covered.
The rule
Florida exempts anyone saltwater fishing "from a for-hire vessel (guide, charter, party boat) that has a valid charter license." That's straight from FWC's license exemptions page.
The DirtyBoat carries that license, so it covers every angler aboard, whether you're on a half day on the reef, a full day offshore or a swordfish run. Nothing to buy, nothing to print, nothing to show me at the dock.
Snook, lobster and tarpon
The same exemption covers the snook and spiny lobster permits that normally ride on top of a saltwater license.
The one exception is a tarpon tag. FWC lists no exemptions for it, charter or otherwise. You only need one if you want to land and keep a tarpon, which is rare.
When you do need your own
The rest of your vacation is a different story. If you fish from shore, a bridge, a dock, your own boat or a rental boat, you need a Florida saltwater license unless the boat's operator holds a recreational saltwater vessel license in their own name.
Nonresident prices from FWC: $17 for 3 days, $30 for 7 days, $47 for the year.
Taking a private or rental boat after reef fish? FWC also wants anglers 16 and older to carry the State Reef Fish Angler designation for certain reef species.
Who never needs one
Kids under 16 are exempt. Florida residents 65 or older are exempt with proof of age and residency, like a Florida driver's license. And FWC runs a few free saltwater fishing days each year when nobody needs a license.
What's included on the DirtyBoat
Licenses, rods, reels, bait, tackle, ice and water. You bring sunscreen, a hat and whoever you want to out-fish.
FAQ
Do I need a fishing license on a Florida Keys fishing charter? +
No. On a DirtyBoat Charters trip out of Robbie's Marina in Islamorada, the boat's charter license covers every angler aboard. Florida exempts anyone saltwater fishing from a for-hire vessel (guide, charter or party boat) that has a valid charter license, so you don't buy anything before the trip.
Does the charter license cover snook and lobster permits too? +
Yes. FWC says the saltwater exemptions, including the for-hire vessel one, cover the saltwater fishing license and the snook and spiny lobster permits. The one thing no exemption covers is a tarpon tag, which you only need if you want to land and keep a tarpon.
When do I need my own Florida saltwater fishing license? +
When you fish without a licensed charter: from shore, a bridge, a dock, your own boat, or a rental boat whose operator doesn't hold a recreational saltwater vessel license. A nonresident license is $17 for 3 days, $30 for 7 days or $47 for a year, per FWC. Kids under 16 don't need one, and Florida residents 65 or older are exempt with proof of age and residency.
Do kids need a fishing license in Florida? +
No. Anyone under 16 is exempt from the Florida saltwater fishing license. On a charter it doesn't matter anyway, since the boat's charter license covers everybody aboard.
Rules checked against FWC's published license pages in October 2026. FWC sets prices and exemptions and can change them, so if you're buying a license for your own fishing, confirm on myfwc.com first.