Fishing & Boating Tips

Get to know Florida's rules and regulations for fishing to ensure your day at sea is above board.

Whether you are looking for the most consistent multi-species action or a likely snook or redfish spot, Naples, Marco Island and the Gulf Coast Everglades have nearly endless options for the avid angler.

Fishing Regulations

Before setting out on a fishing adventure, be sure to familiarize yourself with the current Florida fishing regulations. Regulations cover what species of fish you may fish for and keep, open and closed seasons, slot size regulations and more. Find all information and regulations from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission's FWC Florida Saltwater Fishing page. For guidance on regulations covering freshwater fishing in Lake Trafford, canals, and other lakes, familiarize yourself with the FWC Florida Freshwater Fishing rules.

Tides

For information regarding the tides schedule during your stay, visit the Local Tides Schedule.

Fishing Licenses

If you are visiting, you will most likely need to obtain a Florida saltwater or freshwater fishing license, depending on what type of fishing you are interested in. Short-term visitor licenses are available.

If you are a customer of a professionally licensed charter fishing guide and you are on a chartered boat, you do not need a license. If you are fishing from a kayak, even if you have hired a kayak fishing guide, you will still need to have your own license. Children UNDER 16 years of age do not need a fishing license. Be sure to read up on all the information you need about who does and who doesn't need a non-resident visitor fishing license in Florida.

You may purchase a non-resident recreational fishing license good for three days ($17), seven days ($30) or for one year ($47) at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or by calling 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356). You may also purchase licenses in person at any Collier County tax collector's office or at Walmart, Sunshine Ace Hardware, and other bait-and-tackle shop locations.

If you plan to keep any of your catch for dinner, you must be aware of current regulations covering open and closed seasons, as well as slot sizes for legal fish. Take time to study the rules for Florida Saltwater Fishing and understand which months in the Naples, Marco Island, and Everglades Gulf Coast region particular species are closed, meaning they must be released alive. During the open season for snook, if you wish to keep a legal-sized fish, you must also have purchased a Snook Stamp Permit with your non-resident fishing license.