If you're visiting Florida from out of state and planning to fish, here's the current state of things: short-term 3-day and 7-day non-resident saltwater licenses are available online again after FWC briefly removed them earlier this year. This page covers where to buy, what it costs, what you don't need a license for, and the alternatives if you'd rather skip the paperwork entirely.
Online short-term licenses are back. FWC reversed the March policy change after backlash from tourism operators, charter captains, and the visiting-angler community. As of mid-May 2026, 3-day and 7-day non-resident saltwater licenses are again purchasable online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
For nearly all visitors, the right move is buying online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com — FWC's official portal. Takes about 5 minutes, you get a digital copy emailed immediately, and you can save it to your phone wallet or print it. No tax collector visit required.
In March 2026, FWC updated its licensing system and removed the option for out-of-state visitors to purchase 3-day and 7-day saltwater fishing licenses online, citing a goal to "reduce the high volume of short-term license purchases and encourage anglers to buy annual licenses instead." For about two months, visitors who used to buy a 7-day license from their phone on the way to the beach had to drive to a county tax collector office instead.
Local charter captains, bait shops, tourism boards, and visiting anglers pushed back hard. The policy was reversed within ~60 days. Short-term licenses returned to online sale in May 2026, and that's where things stand now. The annual non-resident license has remained online-available throughout.
Tax collector offices still issue Florida fishing licenses on the spot — useful if you don't have a credit card handy, prefer cash, or already need to visit a tax collector for something else. Bring a photo ID and a method of payment. The closest options if you're staying in the Jacksonville or St. Augustine area:
| County | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Duval (Jacksonville) | Duval County Tax Collector | Multiple branches around Jacksonville. The Yates Branch (Downtown) and Beach Branch (Jax Beach) are typically fastest. Some branches require appointments — check online first. |
| St. Johns (St. Augustine) | St. Johns County Tax Collector | St. Augustine main office on US-1, plus a Ponte Vedra branch. Walk-in service for license purchases. |
| Nassau (Fernandina/Amelia) | Nassau County Tax Collector | Yulee main office, Fernandina Beach branch. Smaller offices, shorter waits. |
| Flagler (Palm Coast) | Flagler County Tax Collector | South of St. Augustine; useful if you're staying around Matanzas or Crescent Beach. |
Verify hours before you go. Most tax collector offices close by 4-5 p.m. and are not open weekends. The website for each office lists current hours. Some offices use appointment systems for ID renewals but allow walk-ins for licenses — confirm before you drive over.
Tax collector pricing matches FWC. As of 2026:
If you'll fish more than two trips a year in Florida, the annual license is the better deal — and you can still buy that one online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
The "Do I need a license?" FWC page has the full exemption list.
This trips up out-of-state visitors regularly: the home-county shore exception is for Florida residents only. If you're visiting and surf-casting at Jacksonville Beach, Vilano Beach, or any St. Augustine surf, you still need a non-resident saltwater license. FWC officers do check, and the fine is meaningfully more than the license cost.