Plus, you also have to make sure of acquiring the right licenses to keep your angling activities on the green radar of the law.
In this Gomexus Fishing Guide, we will be looking at some of the necessary and important information that you need to know to make the most out of your fishing trips in Florida.
Let’s get started.
Introduction to Florida Fishing Hours
One of the first things that you have to properly acquaint yourself with before going fishing in Florida is the right fishing time. There’s a time for everything, and the same goes for fishing in the Sunshine State.
There are certain types of fish that only surface (quite literally, in this context) during the Spring and Fall times whereas there are other species that are in full bloom during the hotter summer months.
And, the good thing about Florida is that even during the colder times of the year, you can still find some game to reel in. Even though things slow down and thin out a little, you’ll still be able to catch something should you decide to take your tackle to the waters sometime during…November.
To help you get a good idea about the types of fish that you’ll be likely to catch during the different times of the year, here is a brief list of some of the common species and the months in which they’re likely to appear.
| What is the best fish to catch in Florida each month | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| fish species | Trout, Flounder, Sheepshead | Pigfish and Flounder | Bluegill, Tarpon and Redfish | Tuna and Mahi-Mahi | Amberjack, Trout and Vermillion Snapper | Yellowtail, Grouper and Red Snapper | Tarpon and Largemouth Bass | Snook | King Mackerel and Blackfin Tuna | Redfish, Bluefish and Snook | Flounder, Trout and Mullet | Blackfin Tuna and Kingfish |
Introduction to Florida Fishing Locations
Just as you have to find the right time for angling, you also have to find the right place. A certain species can exist in abundance in a certain area while having an excessive dearth in some other location.
Other than the species, the places that you’ll need to visit for your angling sessions can also differ depending on the type of fish you want to catch. You can’t go to the same places for freshwater fishing as you’d go for saltwater fishing.
Considering the above, here are some good locations in Florida that you can try out for both types of fishing.
| Best Florida Fishing Spots | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
| freshwater fishing locations | Everglades Canals | Winter Haven LakesWinter Haven Lakes | Lake Marian | Orange Lake | Wascissa River | Tampa Bypass Canal | Holmes Creek | Lake Trafford | Turkey Lake | Lake Harris | Eagle Lake | Escambia River |
| offshore fishing locations | Palafox Pier | Destin Bridge | Marler Park | Anclote Keys | Egan Park | John's Pass | Banana River | Parrish Park | Daytona Beach Pier | Highbridge Park | Sunrise Park | Cockroach Bay |
Introduction to Florida Fishing Companies
If you’re experienced enough and if you have the right gear for it, you can easily go fishing on your own. But, if you’re a rookie or just new to the state, there are a lot of fishing companies that you can take help from.
By hiring the right fishing company, you’ll be able to snag a proper boat for your angling session as well as the necessary equipment. You’ll also get to enjoy the guidance of an expert angler on board.
There are a lot of companies and charters that you can find in Florida. For your ease and edification, we’ve singled out these twelve along with their starting costs.
| Best fishing companies in Florida + boat charter costs | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
| company name | All Good Charters | Dreamaker Fishing Charters | Boca Grande and Beyond | Old Town Charters | Rebel Coast Charters | Florida Panhandle Charters | Reel Floridian Fishing | Mangroveman Charters | Capt. Evan Denis Charters | Full Throttle Fishing Charters | B & B Charters | JT Fishing Charters |
| charter fee | $300 | $500 | $550 | $500 | $300 | $500 | $495 | $360 | $500 | $350 | $350 | $300 |
Do I Need a License for Freshwater Fishing in Florida?
Yes, you require a license for freshwater fishing in Florida. Fishing is governed by several rules and regulations in the state. Not carrying a license when fishing can bring out certain legal consequences, such as monetary fines.
There are different licenses for both freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing that necessarily have to be possessed by anglers unless they are exempt as specified by state laws
How Much is a Freshwater Fishing License in Florida? How Much do Residents Need and How Much do Non-residents Need?
The cost of the fishing license depends on the time period for which it is required. It also depends on the types of fishing activities it covers.
For Residents: Freshwater licenses start at $17 (on an annual basis). They can go up to $100 if you’re buying the Lifetime License.
For Non-residents: Freshwater licenses can start at $17 for a three-day period. The amount can go up to $47 for the annual license.
How to Get a Freshwater Fishing License in Florida?
There are several methods for getting a freshwater fishing license in Florida, such as:
- Visiting your tax collector’s office
- Calling the toll-free 888-FISH-FLORIDA number (888-347-4356)
- Visiting com
- Retail stores like Wal-Mart and K-Mart
Florida Freshwater Fishing Regulations
There are a lot of different rules and regulations that you have to abide by when doing freshwater fishing in Florida. There are guidelines for different species of fish as well as for different areas in the state. For details, you can refer to the regulations provided by the official Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website.
Consequences of Unlicensed Fishing in Florida
If you are caught fishing without the proper license in the state of Florida, you will have to pay the licensing fine as well as an additional penalty. The latter can start from $50 and go to $100 depending on the frequency of the violation in a specified time period.
Conclusion
Before you bring out your tackle and “tackle” the Sunshine State’s angling opportunities, you need to make sure that you have the rules all noted down. And of course, other than the official and legal requirements, you also need to acquaint yourself with the ideal locations and times for angling.
In this post, we covered all of these aspects in detail. We hope you learned something here that can come in handy the next time you decide to go fishing.
