JAKCSONVILLE, Fla. – A change to Florida’s fishing license system could affect out-of-state visitors hoping to fish during upcoming travel periods like spring break.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is updating its licensing system, and right now that means out-of-state anglers cannot purchase short-term fishing licenses online like they previously could.
Those temporary licenses — typically valid for three or seven days — previously allowed visitors to quickly purchase permits from their phones before heading out to fish.
According to information posted on the agency’s website, fishing licenses currently must be purchased in person at a county tax collector’s office.
Local charter captains in Jacksonville say the change may make things more complicated for tourists who plan last-minute fishing trips.
Capt. Buddy Price, who runs Life Changing Charter, said fishing became central to his life after a health scare.
“In 2020, I wound up in the hospital, and a nurse simply told me to get outdoors, and it would be life-changing,” Price said.
Price said that advice ultimately led him to the water, where he now operates his own charter business.
While some anglers may hesitate because of the change, Price believes it could benefit charter operators.
“There’s always a silver lining,” Price said.
Price said the inability of some out-of-state visitors to quickly purchase licenses online could lead more tourists to consider booking guided charters instead.
Capt. Joe Curtis, owner of Set Em Up Fishing Charter, told News4JAX reporter Briana Brownlee and photojournalist Jesse Hansom he also sees potential business opportunities tied to the change.
“There is potential,” Curtis said. “You look at the license fees now, and the hassle and the tax collector. Like, who wants to sit at the tax collector on vacation, right?”
Curtis said the Jacksonville area often sees an increase in last-minute fishing trips during busy tourism periods, especially around spring break.
“It really eliminates that last-minute business for them, where they can say, ‘Hey, let’s go fishing tomorrow,’” Curtis said. “That’s definitely a spring break thing.”
Curtis also said the change may create additional hurdles for visitors who are unfamiliar with where licenses are sold locally.
“Here at the beach, I don’t think there is a single retail license,” Curtis said. “You will have to drive out of the way to get there, then you will have to wait around for two or three days. It makes it a bit tougher.”
He also expressed concern that some visitors may choose not to purchase licenses at all if they find the process too inconvenient.
“Part of me wonders how many people are no longer buying their licenses,” Curtis said. “‘Oh, I can’t be hassled doing that,’ and they just take the risk and take the ticket. That’s a lot of lost revenue.”
According to the FWC, the system update is intended to reduce the high volume of short-term license purchases and encourage anglers to buy annual licenses instead.