Licenses for Charter and Headboat Operators, Guides, Vessels and Piers

Licenses for charter or headboat operators and professional fishing guides

Charter, headboat and guide operations must have this license to cover their passengers, who are not required to hold a recreational fishing license.

To purchase a Charter Boat license, you must register your boat as a commercial vessel.  The vessel registration documentation will be required in order to obtain a state vessel license.

The license can be purchased at your local tax collector's office.  The county you are doing business in may require you to have an occupational license.

The Coast Guard requires all operators of for-hire vessels to have a Captain license.  In order to purchase an FWC Charter Captain license, you must have a Coast Guard Captain's license.  Call 1-800-982-9374 for information on the Coast Guard Captain's license.  This documentation will be required when obtaining a state vessel license.

If you are operating a for-hire vessel in a park or a refuge (e.g., Everglades National Park), you may be required to have additional permits.  Please check with the park or refuge headquarters for any specific permitting requirements for those areas.

If you are operating a for-hire vessel in federal waters (outside of 9 nautical miles on the Gulf and 3 nautical miles on the Atlantic), you may need a federal charter vessel/headboat permit before fishing for certain species.  Contact the National Marine Fisheries Management Service, Licensing and Permitting Office at 727-824-5326 for information on federal charter vessel/headboat permits.

Vessel and pier licenses

These licenses are available at county tax collectors' offices.