If you serve in the U.S. military and are stationed in Florida or claim it as home, you can buy the Florida military fishing license bundle, officially the Military Gold Sportsman’s License, for $20 a year. It covers both saltwater and freshwater fishing, snook and lobster permits, and hunting privileges that would cost $100 at the civilian rate.1Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Recreational Hunting Licenses and Permits Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50 percent or greater pay nothing.
Who Qualifies for the Military Rate
Florida treats you as a resident for licensing purposes the moment you’re stationed here on active duty, regardless of your legal domicile. Your current orders showing a Florida duty station are the proof that matters, not a Florida driver’s license or voter registration.2Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Military Gold Sportsman’s License
Eligibility extends across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Armed Forces Reserve, the Florida National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Coast Guard Reserve. If you fall into any of those categories and are either stationed in Florida or claim it as your primary residence, you qualify for the $20 license.2Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Military Gold Sportsman’s License
What the $20 License Covers
The Military Gold Sportsman’s License bundles together what civilians would otherwise buy as separate stamps and permits:
- Freshwater fishing license
- Saltwater fishing license
- Hunting license
- Snook and lobster permits
- Wildlife Management Area, archery, muzzleloading gun, crossbow, deer, turkey, and Florida waterfowl permits
Even if you never hunt, the $20 package is the best deal available. There is no stripped-down military fishing-only license at a lower price. A single civilian resident freshwater or saltwater license alone costs $17, so paying $20 for both plus the snook and lobster permits comes out ahead.3Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Saltwater Recreational Licenses and Permits
Retired Service Members
You don’t have to be on active duty. Retired members of any qualifying branch who are Florida residents can also buy the $20 Military Gold Sportsman’s License. The documentation differs: retirees need a current white Next Generation Uniformed Services identification card (a red or blue military ID is also accepted) along with proof of Florida residency such as a Florida driver’s license.2Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Military Gold Sportsman’s License
Retired service members age 65 or older who live in Florida are fully exempt from recreational fishing license requirements. Proof of age and residency, such as a valid Florida driver’s license, is all you need to fish.4Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Do I Need a License or Permit? At that point the $20 license only matters if you also want the hunting permits inside it.
Disabled Veterans Fish Free
Under Florida Statute 379.353, a veteran who was honorably discharged and carries a service-connected disability rating of 50 percent or greater (as certified by the VA or any branch of the Armed Forces) qualifies for the no-cost Resident Persons with Disabilities Hunting and Fishing License. It’s valid for five years and renewable on request.5Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 379.353 – Recreational Licenses and Permits; Exemptions From Fees and Requirements
Veterans certified as totally and permanently disabled by the VA, by any branch of the Armed Forces, or through Florida’s workers’ compensation system also qualify for the free license under a separate provision of the same statute.6Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Persons With Disabilities Resident Hunting/Fishing License The threshold matters: 50 percent or greater gets you the free license, while a rating below that puts you back on the $20 Military Gold track if you’re retired military, or the standard resident fee if you no longer have a military affiliation.
Event organizers can also apply for a Military/Disabled Veteran Event License Exemption Permit. When granted, these permits waive all fishing and hunting license requirements for disabled veterans with any service-connected rating (including zero percent), active duty and reserve service members, their immediate family, and one designated assistant for the duration of the event.5Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 379.353 – Recreational Licenses and Permits; Exemptions From Fees and Requirements
Home on Leave From an Out-of-State Posting
This one gets misread often, so the boundary matters. The leave exemption applies only to Florida residents who serve in the military and are stationed outside the state. If that’s you, and you’re home on leave for 30 days or less, you don’t need any fishing or hunting license. You must carry your authorized leave orders while fishing.2Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Military Gold Sportsman’s License
The statute phrases it as “any resident who is a member of the United States Armed Forces and not stationed in this state, when home on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders.”5Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 379.353 – Recreational Licenses and Permits; Exemptions From Fees and Requirements It does not cover someone stationed in Florida (who should buy the $20 license) or an out-of-state resident visiting Florida on leave.
Free Saltwater Permits You Still Have to Get
Two no-cost permits sit outside the Military Gold bundle and outside the disability exemption. If you want to fish for the species they cover, you need them in addition to whatever license you hold.
State Reef Fish Angler Designation
Anyone 16 or older fishing for or harvesting certain reef fish from a private vessel must carry the State Reef Fish Angler designation. It’s free, renewed annually, and feeds FWC’s data collection on reef fish harvests, which is why it applies even to license-exempt anglers.7Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. State Reef Fish Survey Covered species include mutton, yellowtail, red, and vermilion snapper, hogfish, gag, red, and black grouper, greater and lesser amberjack, banded rudderfish, almaco jack, and gray triggerfish.8Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. State Reef Fish Survey FAQs
Shore-Based Shark Fishing Permit
To target or keep sharks caught from shore, jetties, bridges, or piers, you need the no-cost Shore-Based Shark Fishing permit. You have to complete an online educational course at MyFWC.com/SharkCourse first. Once you pass, the system prompts you to obtain the permit.9Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Sharks It must be renewed annually and applies regardless of your license status.
What Spouses and Kids Pay
The Military Gold Sportsman’s License is for the service member only. Family members cannot buy it unless they’re independently active duty or retired.2Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Military Gold Sportsman’s License
Spouses and dependent children of active duty personnel stationed in Florida do count as Florida residents for license purposes as long as they live in the household, so they skip the six-month civilian residency wait.10Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. What Qualifies as Florida Residency? They pay the standard resident rates:
- Saltwater fishing license: $17.00
- Freshwater fishing license: $17.00
- Saltwater and freshwater combination: $32.50
Children under 16 don’t need a recreational fishing license at all, military connection or not.4Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Do I Need a License or Permit?
How to Buy It
You can get the Military Gold Sportsman’s License two ways. Online, go to GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, FWC’s official licensing site, which runs an online military verification check.2Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Military Gold Sportsman’s License In person, visit any Florida tax collector’s office with your current military ID and proof of Florida residency or duty station.
Active duty members bring their military ID and current orders showing a Florida duty station. Retirees bring their military ID (white Next Generation card preferred, red or blue also accepted) plus proof of Florida residency. For the free disabled veteran license, add documentation of your VA disability rating. The State Reef Fish Angler designation and Shore-Based Shark Fishing permit are also obtained through GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, with the shark permit gated on completing the online course.
License-Free Fishing Days
Florida sets aside several days each year when no one needs a license, useful if friends or family without licenses want to join you.11Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. License-Free Fishing Days
- Freshwater: the first Saturday and Sunday in April, and the second Saturday and Sunday in June
- Saltwater: the first Saturday and Sunday in June, the first Saturday in September, and the Saturday after Thanksgiving
On saltwater license-free days, the waiver also covers crabbing, lobstering, and scalloping, and the snook and lobster permits are waived too. Bag limits, size limits, and seasons still apply.