Fishing Basics

Unless you are exempt, the first thing you’ll need is a fishing license. Licenses and permits are available at:

• GoOutdoorsFlorida.com
• Fish|Hunt Florida mobile app
• In person at a license agent
• At a tax collector’s office
• By calling toll free 888-FISH-FLORIDA (888-347-4356)

Learn more about who needs a fishing license and who does not.

Saltwater Fishing Licenses

A saltwater recreational fishing license is required when attempting to catch saltwater species such as fish, crabs, clams and other saltwater organisms regardless of whether in state or federal waters. Avid Florida resident anglers are recommended to purchase a lifetime license for convenience and to save on annual costs.

Special permits: Florida has a few special licenses or permits you need to have when targeting certain species, including snook, lobster, tarpon, reef fish or when shore-based shark fishing.

Freshwater Fishing Licenses

Fishing for freshwater species requires a freshwater recreational fishing license. This license can be purchased the same way as the saltwater license and has similar costs.

What if I’m fishing in brackish water?

Whether you need a freshwater or a saltwater fishing license depends on what species you are targeting, not how salty the water is. If you are targeting snook upriver in fresh water, you’ll need a saltwater fishing license. If you’re targeting largemouth bass in a saltmarsh, you’ll need a freshwater fishing license. Or you can purchase a combo license if you are a Florida resident and plan to fish for both saltwater and freshwater species.

License-free Fishing Days

License-free fishing days provide an opportunity for anyone to try out fishing or share their passion. On these days, the fishing license requirement is waived for all anglers, resident or not.

*Seasons, bag and size limits still apply. 

License-free Freshwater Fishing Days

• First consecutive Saturday and Sunday in April
• Second consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June

License-free Saltwater Fishing Days

• First consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June
• First Saturday in September
• Saturday following Thanksgiving

There are six main types of reels; Spincast, Spinning, Conventional, Bait-Casting, Fly, and Cane. Watch a video on the types of rods and reels. Rod style should be stiff for offshore rods and provide a fair amount of give for inshore rods.

Choosing the right size rod and reel depends on both the style of fishing and species you are targeting. With a little research, practice and talking to your local tackle store, you’ll be on the water in no time! 

The type of fishing line to use depends on your situation and personal preference. Types of fishing line include:

• Monofilament: Single strand of nylon. It typically holds knots better, is easy to cast, has low visibility, shows some abrasion resistance and is less expensive than other fishing lines. But, it can stretch out over time and deteriorate from ultraviolet light exposure. 
  • Suggested uses: A good all-around fishing line to use in many different situations.
• Fluorocarbon: Single strand of polyvinylidene fluoride. It has very low visibility and stretch, resistance to abrasion and ultraviolet light, good knot strength and it sinks to the bottom. However, it can be very stiff to tie and is more expensive than monofilament. 
  • Suggested uses: As leader material or in clear water.
• Braid: Fused or braided strands of polyethylene. It has a smaller diameter, further casting distance, low stretch and exhibits resistance to ultraviolet light and abrasions. But, only certain knots (such as the uni knot) should be used with braid, it is highly visible in the water and it costs more than monofilament. 
  • Suggested uses: Fishing near structure or on the bottom and while using lures that spin.
• Leader: Material attached between the fishing line and the hook. Leaders can be made of low-visibility fluorocarbon, hard monofilament, steel, titanium or other materials depending on the target species. They provide increased protection from sharp edges and can be less visible than most fishing line. 
  • Suggested uses: When targeting large or toothy fish and when fishing near sharp structure

Artificial Lures

Several bait options are available when saltwater fishing, including artificial and natural baits. The type of bait to choose depends on your targeted species, bait availability and personal preference. Remember, fish find food by detecting scent, sound and movement. Artificial Lures imitate the colors, shapes, sounds or scents of baitfish.

Natural Bait

Usually preferred by fish, but can be difficult to catch and maintain. Natural bait can also be purchased. REMINDER: Circle hooks are recommended when fishing with natural baits.

Before considering tackle, bait or your lucky rod, watch this safety checklist video and learn what additional gear you may need.

Make sure to include these necessary items in your tackle box:

• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• First aid kit
• Saltwater Regulations and/or Freshwater Regulations
• Fish identification guide
• Extra hooks and lures
• Line clippers/Pliers
• Extra line
• Several different sized weights and floats
• Measuring device
• Scale
• Knotless, Rubber-Coated Landing Net

Learn about proper fish handling tools and tactics.

Things to Remember: Match the knot to a function, tie the knot correctly, wet the knot prior to fully tightening it and trim the tag end to 1/8 inch after the knot is completely tightened. The tag end is the active end of the line used to tie a knot. The standing line is the longer end of the line that is not used to tie a knot.

Loop Knot

A Loop Knot can be tied very easily under various circumstances, and attached to swivel and hook. It is a simple starting point for fishing knots.

Improved Clinch Knot

Used to tie line to hook, swivel or some artificial lures. 

1. Thread line through the eye of the hook and double-back parallel to the standing line.
2. Using the tag end, make five or more twists around standing line.
3. Take the tag end back toward the hook and push it through the first loop nearest the eye. Then, bring the tag end through the big loop that was just created.
4. Holding the hook and line, moisten the knot and pull it tight against the hook eye.

Uni Knot

Used to tie line to hook, light line to heavy line and in many other applications.

1. Run line through the eye of the hook and double-back parallel to the standing line. Make a loop by laying the tag end over the doubled line.
2. Make six turns with the tag end around the doubled line and through the loop.
3. Moisten the lines and pull the tag end to snug up the turns. 
4. Slide the knot down to the eye or leave a small loop, if desired.

End-Loop Knot

Used to tie leader to lures that require freedom of movement, like jigs and plugs, by leaving a loop near the lure eye. 

1. Tie a simple overhand knot in the line several inches from the tag end; do not tighten the knot at this point.
2. Insert the tag end through the lure eye, then insert the tag end through the wide portion of the overhand knot while keeping the knot loose.
3. Loop size is determined by moving the overhand knot a desired distance from the lure eye. Make a simple half-hitch with the tag end around the standing part of the line ABOVE the overhand knot.
4. Moisten the knot and pull tight on the line and lure to cinch the knot.

Albright Special

Used to tie light line to heavier line, such as a leader.

1. Make a loop with the heavier line. Run about 10 inches of the lighter line through the loop.
2. Hold the three lines between your thumb and index finger. Wrap the light line back over itself and both strands of the loop.
3. Make 10-15 tightly wrapped turns with the light line.
4. Feed the tag end back through the loop, exiting the loop from the same side as it entered.
5. Hold the light line and pull on both ends of the heavy line to slide the wraps to the end of the loop. Moisten and pull knot tight.

Palomar Knot

Considered one of the most reliable knots and one of the strongest knots to tie for braided line. Used to attach a line to a hook, leader, etc. and is also best when tying braided fishing line to a hook.

1. Double about 10 inches of line and pass through the eye of the hook (step 1).
2. Tie a loose overhand knot in the doubled line, letting the hook hang loose at the bottom (steps 2-4). Avoid twisting the lines.
3. Pull the end of loop down, passing it completely over the hook (step 5).
4. Slide the loop above eye of hook. Moisten and pull both ends of the line to tighten the knot (step 6).

Surgeon's Knot

Surgeon's Knots may be used with two unequal diameter lines. It may be necessary to have one line on a spool to help pass it through the loop.

1. Lay the two lines against each other, and overlap about 8-10 inches.
2. Working the two lines as one, tie an Overhand Knot. It will be necessary to pull one line (say the leader) completely through this loop.
3. Pull the leader through this loop again.
4. Pass the other end through the loop.
5. The formed knot can now be worked into shape.

Spider Hitch

A double line can create an easier handle for a long fishing line and may be tied by means of a Spider Hitch

1. Form a loop of the desired length, say 3-4 feet.
2. Twist a section into a small loop.
3. This is the only tricky part - hold this loop with thumb and forefinger, the thumb extending above the finger, and with the loop standing up beyond the tip of the thumb.
4. Wind the doubled line around the thumb and the loop 5 times.
5. Send the rest of the long loop through the small loop, and pull gently to unwind the turns off the thumb.
6. The knot is now formed and worked into tight coils.

Swivel Knot

This knot is used for attaching a swivel to a double line.

1. Put the end of the double line through the eye of the swivel.
2. Rotate the end half a turn, putting a single twist between the end of the loop and the swivel eye.
3. Pass the loop with the twist over the swivel. Hold the end of the loop, together with the double, with one hand, and allow the swivel to slide to the end of the double loops that have formed.
4. Continue holding the loop and the lines with the right hand. Use the left hand to rotate the swivel through both loops 6 times or more.
5. Keep pressure on both parts of the double line. Release the loop. Pull on the swivel and loops of line will start to form.
6. Holding the swivel with pliers, or (better still) attaching it with a short length of line to the rigging, push the loop down towards the eye while keeping pressure on the double line.

Surgeons End Loop

Loops are made for the purpose of attaching leaders, traces or other terminal tackle. They have the advantage that they can be tied quickly even in the dark.

The Surgeon's End Loop is an easy way to go.

1. Take the end of the line and double it to form a loop of the required size.
2. Tie an Overhand Knot at the desired point, leaving the loop open.
3. Bring the doubled line through the loop again.
4. Hold the line and the end part together, and pull the loop to form a knot.

Blood Bight Knot

Another end loop can be tied quickly and easily using the Blood Bight Knot.

1. Double the line back to make a loop of the size desired.
2. Bring the end of the loop twice over the doubled part.
3. Now pass the end of the loop through the first loop formed in the doubled part.
4. Draw the knot up into shape, keeping pressure on both lines.

The Blood Bight Knot is often used for attaching a dropper when fishing deep water with several hooks.

Some anglers attached the hook directly to the end of the loop, which should be at least one-foot from the end of the line.

However, this is not a productive practice, when the fish are apprehensive. Far better to attach a single strand of nylon to a short Blood Bight Knot, using another Blood Bight Knot, or a Surgeon's Knot.

Dropper

Another method of forming a loop, or loops, in the line above the sinker is to use a Dropper Loop, which that stands out at a right angle to the line.

The loops can be made long enough to have a hook set on them, but that isn't necessarily the best presentation for many fish.

1. Form a loop in the line.
2. Take hold of one side of the loop, and make 6 or more turns around the line itself.
3. This is the tricky part - keep open the point where the turns, or twists, are being made.
4. Take hold of the other side of the loop, and pull it through the centre opening. use a finger in this loop so that it is not lost.
5. Hold this loop between the teeth. Pull gently on both ends of the line, making the turns gather and pack down on either side of the loop.
6. Draw up the knot by pulling the lines as tightly as possible. The turns will make the loop stand at right angles to the line.

Tucked Sheet Bend

Usually employed by the fly fisherman, the Tucked Sheet Bend is commonly used for joining the backing line to the tapered line. It is not an especially compact knot, but has a very strong attachment, which cannot be said for the more aesthetically pleasing Perfection Loop.

1. Make a Blood Bight (see above) at the end of the backing line.
2. Take the end of the tapered line. Pass it through the Blood Bight and make a simple Sheet Bend.
3. Now pass the end of the tapered line back through the closed loop of the Sheet Bend.
4. Hold both ends of the tapered line to tighten and draw into shape.

Float Stop

The float fishermen who use a running float for casting use the Float stop to prevent the float from running up the line. This knot will move readily over the rod guides, but grip a monofilament nylon so tightly that it will not slide over the line.

It should be made with about 6 inches of nylon, usually the same diameter as the line itself.

1. Take 2 turns (3 if necessary) around the main line at the chosen point.
2. Bring both ends around to form a Surgeon's Knot (see above).
3. Tighten into shape bringing the coils close together.

Total Length Measurement

Total Length is measured from the most forward point of the head, with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Girth Measurement

Girth is best measured with a fabric ruler, such as tailors use. It can also be determined by drawing a string around the fish at its widest point marking where the string overlaps and then measuring the distance between the overlapping points on a conventional ruler. The measurement should be taken perpendicular to the length of the fish.  This measurement is analogous to measuring the circumference of someone's waist.

Learn more about how to measure your freshwater catch!

Fork Length Measurement

Fish regulated by fork length are measured from the tip of the jaw or tip of the snout with closed mouth to the center of the fork in the tail. This type of measurement is primarily used for saltwater fish species.

Lower Jaw Fork Length Measurement

Fish regulated by lower jaw fork length are measured in a straight line from the anterior most part of the lower jaw (tip of the lower jaw) to the fork in the tail. This type of measurement is primarily used for large saltwater fish species.

Learn more about how to measure your saltwater catch!

Knowing the limits and executing the appropriate way to catch and release a targeted fish is called ethical angling. Ethical angling means knowing when to keep and when to release your catch while always handling fish with care. This enables sustainable fisheries for generations to come.

Before you go, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the current regulations, best practices for handling fish and important marine habitats and freshwater habitats.

In addition to the recreational fishing regulations, you should familiarize yourself with the marine life regulations. 

• The best general rule is to handle the fish quickly and as little as possible.
• Leaving fish in the water during release is the safest option. Large fish and species prohibited from harvest should be kept in the water at all times to better support their body weight and give them a higher chance of survival when released
• If you must remove the fish from the water, wet your hands first to minimize damage to their protective slime.
• When photographing your catch, keep the fish held horizontally and support its full weight.
• A landing tool like a lip grip helps control the head of the fish and avoids damage to the gills and eyes common to careless handling.
• If the fish appears lethargic upon release, resuscitation may be needed. The goal is to force water gently through the mouth and over the gills. This can be done by using the current, taking the boat in and out of gear while holding the fish in the water, or moving the fish forward in a figure-8 motion.

• Bag limit - How many fish a person can harvest during a given time. This is often measured per person, per day and occasionally also includes a daily vessel limit.
• Minimum size limit - Rules that state a fish must be larger than a certain size for them to be harvested. These rules allow fish to reach a size that enables spawning before being harvested.
• Slot limit - Similar to the minimum size limit, slot limits have both an upper and lower size limit, and only fish that are within that slot may be harvested. This tool allows young fish to mature, while also protecting larger spawning fish.
• Season - Times of year that are open or closed to fishing for a certain species. This tool is used to protect fish from harvest during sensitive times of the year such as spawning periods or times of heavy fishing.

Learn more about saltwater and freshwater fishing regulations.

Regulations can vary based on your location within the state of Florida, make sure to check for any local rules and regulations.

Reel in and Recycle

The Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP) is an innovative statewide project dedicated to reducing the environmental damage caused by discarded fishing line. MRRP aims to educate the public on the problems caused by monofilament line left in the environment, encourage recycling through a network of line recycling bins and drop-off locations, and help citizens host volunteer monofilament line cleanup events.

You can make a difference by disposing of your used monofilament fishing line in a designated bin. You can also cut all your fishing line into small 6-12 inch sections and dispose of in a lidded trash receptacle to keep it from entangling wildlife.

Watch FWC's Video on How to Build a Monofilament Recycling Bin.

Hooked a Bird?

Don't Cut the Line! Reel. Remove. Release. Watch how to safely handle and unhook a bird.

If a bird has swallowed a fishing hook or is severely injured, use our app to find the nearest seabird rehabilitator to care for the bird and/or transporter to take the bird to a rehabilitator. Please stay with the bird until help arrives.