Fishing Licenses in Florida
Fishing in Florida is a huge recreational sport. You see people fishing all the time on fresh water lakes and ponds and in the saltwaters of Tampa Bay or in the Gulf of Mexico. On the weekends, you can always see someone pulling a boat on the road. The plentiful bait shops around MacDill AFB are open early in the morning and late into the night. Of course MacDill AFB is located right on the water and it has its own fishing piers right by the Bayshore Club along Bayshore Blvd. For those who PCS to MacDill AFB from out of state are pleasantly surprised by the cost of a fishing license. Under most circumstances, you do not need a fishing license! Yes, for most people fishing is free! These rules apply to most people when trying to decide if a fishing license is required:
- 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.
- Any resident fishing in saltwater from land or from a structure fixed to the land.
- Any person fishing from a for-hire vessel (guide, charter, party boat) that has a valid vessel license.
- Any person fishing from a vessel, the operator of which has a valid vessel license issued in the name of the operator of the vessel.
- Any person who holds a valid saltwater products license (SPL).
- Any person fishing for recreational purposes from a pier that has been issued a valid pier saltwater fishing license.
- Any resident fishing for a saltwater species in fresh water from land or from a structure fixed to land.
- Any resident fishing for mullet in fresh water who has a valid Florida freshwater fishing license.
Freshwater fishing requires a license that costs $17 annually.
On MacDill AFB, the piers have lights and available 24 hrs a day. There is a small canal on the road to SOCCENT that always has catfish biting and the occasionally sheepshead. By Seascapes Beach Club and the Marina are some good spots that you can pull your car right up to or wade through the shallow water to get to some grass flats.
