How to Get Your Saltwater Captain's License in Florida

The state of Florida requires that all charter or head boat operators and boating guides obtain a commercial fishing captain's license. Commercial operators and guides who hold a captain's license may allow paying passengers to fish without having to get a Florida fishing license themselves. There are different types of captain's licenses depending on the number of passengers you take on your boat each trip. You can get saltwater licenses through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Freshwater operators need to obtain different licenses because of where their boating tours are undertaken.

Instructions

1. Register your boat with your local county tax collector. You must present your registration information to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in order to obtain a captain's license. You can find your local county tax collector by going to the Florida Department of Revenue locator website. The cost to register the boat will depend on the type of boat, its value and the fees of your local county.

2. Call the U.S. Coast Guard at 800-982-9374 to purchase a Coast Guard captain's license. You must have this license before you can apply for a Florida state captain's license. The Coast Guard charges a $100 fee, as of 2010, to issue the license.

3. Apply for your saltwater captain's license through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Call the commission at 850-488-4676 to request that an application be mailed to you or find a commission office nearby to get the application in person. Complete the application and include proof of your boat's registration and Coast Guard captain's license. Submit the application with payment for the necessary fee. The fee charged for the Florida license depends on the number of individuals you will take out on your boat each trip. The prices, as of 2010, range from $201.50 for four or fewer customers to $801.50 for 11 or more customers.

Tips & Warnings

• If you intend to operate your vessel in a freshwater lakes, a national park or in federal waters (between 3 and 12 miles from shore in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean), you may need to obtain different permits to properly operate your boat in those areas. Once you are in international waters (more than 12 miles from shore), Florida law does not apply. Contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to determine if different licensing requirements apply to your particular situation.

References

• U.S. Coast Guard: Charter Boat Captain
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Licenses For Charter and Headboat Operators, Guides, Vessels and Piers

Resources

• Florida Department of Revenue: Contact List For Tax Collectors in Florida
• "New York Times": Reagan Extends Territorial Waters to 12 Miles