FAQs
Licenses
What do I need to buy and sell saltwater fish?
A Saltwater Products License will allow you to harvest saltwater products in commercial quantities from a commercial vessel and sell them to a licensed Wholesale Dealer.
A Wholesale license, County or Statewide, will allow you to purchase saltwater products from a licensed commercial harvester, statewide or within a specified county respectively, and resell it to other wholesellers, restaurants, or a retail dealer. A statewide license will allow the holder to import and export saltwater products.
A Retail License will allow you to purchase saltwater products from a wholesale dealers and sell it to the public.
Note: A person with a saltwater products license cannot sell directly to a retail license holder. The product must be sold to a wholesale dealer.
How do I apply for a license?
To apply for a license, please use CLS Online, our secure and convenient online system. You can complete your Saltwater Products License or Wholesale/Retail License application and pay all fees electronically.
What is a hold?
An account hold or processing hold prevents the purchase or renewal of additional commercial items, or the processing of items purchased (such as mailing printed licenses), until the reason for the hold is resolved. This could be a returned payment, a document needed for qualifying for a license or endorsement, or similar.
How long does it take to receive a purchased license?
New licenses, renewals, and reprints purchased through CLS Online are mailed out within 3 business days.
How do I add a new Vessel License?
To add a new vessel SPL to your account, please use CLS Online, our convenient online system for submitting applications and payments. You can complete the entire process digitally, including uploading your vessel registration and securely paying fees online.
How do I get a replacement license or vessel decal?
To obtain a replacement license, log into your CLS Online account and request a license reprint from the My Licenses page. If your vessel decal is lost or stolen, please contact the Office of Licensing & Permitting at FWCLicensingHelp@MyFWC.com for assistance with replacement decals. The team will provide instructions on how to quickly obtain your replacement decal, including any applicable fees payable on CLS Online.
Restricted Species Endorsement
How do I apply for a Restricted Species endorsement?
To apply for Restricted Species endorsement, customers must log into CLS Online and add the restricted species endorsement to a new or existing SPL and, when prompted, provide all supporting information and documentation required to qualify.
What are the qualification methods for the Restricted Species endorsement?
All of the qualification methods and their explanations can be found on the Restricted Species page.
What is a crewshare statement?
A crewshare statement is a notarized document that allows a SPL license holder to qualify another SPL license holder for a Restricted Species endorsement using their own sales. Both harvesters must have been fishing under a legal license, whether it was a Vessel SPL, Crew SPL, or both applicants possessed an Individual SPL. The crewshare is written by the cardholder whose landings are being used. The crewshare is written by the employer to the employee. View a blank crewshare statement.
Other Endorsements
What do I need to Dive for Spiny Lobster?
In order to commercially dive for Spiny Lobster, you must have an SPL with a Restricted Species endorsement and a Spiny Lobster endorsement with a Dive endorsement/authorization. The Commercial Dive Authorization/Endorsement is currently on moratorium and can only be acquired by purchasing it from someone who wishes to sell it.
What do I need to Bullynet Lobster?
In order to commercially bullynet Spiny Lobster you must have an SPL with a Restricted Species endorsement, a Spiny Lobster endorsement (C), and a Spiny Lobster Bullynet endorsement (CN).
What do I need to catch and sell Blue Crab?
In order to commercially harvest Blue Crab, you must have an SPL with a Restricted Species endorsement and a Blue Crab endorsement. The Blue Crab endorsement is currently on moratorium and can only be acquired by purchasing it from someone who wishes to sell it.
What do I need to catch and sell Stone Crabs?
In order to commercially harvest Stone Crab you must have an SPL with a Restricted Species endorsement and a Stone Crab endorsement. You can harvest them with anything that will not peirce or puncture their shell. If you wish to use traps you will need to have a trap tag per trap that you wish to use. Trap tags can only be acquired from someone who wishes to sell them.
What do I need to catch and sell Lobster with traps?
In order to commercially harvest Spiny Lobster you must have an SPL with a Restricted Species endorsement and a Lobster endorsement. If you wish to use traps you will need to have a trap tag for each trap that you wish to use. The required trap tags can only be acquired from someone who wishes to sell them.
How do I transfer an endorsement from one license to another? (within the same applicant)
If you wish to transfer an endorsement from one license to another existing license, please contact the Office of Licensing & Permitting at FWCLicensingHelp@MyFWC.com for assistance. Be sure to specify which license the endorsement should be transferred from and to, and staff will provide instructions for completing the process, including any applicable fees payable on CLS Online.
Trap Tags
How do I request commercial saltwater tag transfers?
Mailing checks and applications for commercial saltwater tag transfers is no longer required. Customers can scan and email their completed application to FWCLicensingHelp@myfwc.com within 72 hours of the last signature being notarized. Incomplete applications will not be processed, and applicants will be notified via email if their application cannot be processed. Complete applications submitted timely and meeting all requirements will be processed, and an invoice will be posted to the buyer’s CLS Online account for payment online.
How long does it take to process an endorsement/tag transfer?
A transfer can take 2-4 weeks depending on the time of year. Reviewing the instructions on the application and ensuring it is complete will assist with quicker processing.
What do I need to complete a tag transfer?
Review the transfer application, which includes instructions and a checklist.
What are A1, A2, and B trap tags?
A1 tags are tags that have not been previously transferred from the original owner and are subject to a surcharge when transferred.
A2 tags are tags that have been transferred with a family normally due to death or disability. The A2 tags are subject to a surcharge and reduction when being transferred outside the immediate family.
B tags are tags that have been previously transferred out side the original applicant and therefore are NOT subject to a surcharge when being transferred.
All tags are subject to a tag reduction upon being transferred unless they are being transferred to an immediate family member.
What are surcharge fees and how are they calculated?
Surcharge fees are fees that are applied when A1 or A2 tags are transferred to persons outside of the immediate family. The surcharge fee will either be 25% of the total sale price or $1.00 per tag (Stone Crab) or $5.00 per tag(Lobster), whichever is greater.
What are the acceptable forms of payment for a tag transfer?
Payments must be made online. Payments that are mailed or hand-delivered, including certified funds or personal checks, will not be accepted as of November 1, 2025. Payments can be made online using a credit or debit card or by entering in bank account details for payment via ACH/e-check. Invoices will be posted to the buyer’s CLS Online account for payment online.
My tags were lost/stolen. How do I get new ones?
If your tags are lost or stolen, you will first need to obtain a lost or stolen tag report from your local FWC law enforcement office. Then email a completed tag replacement form with a copy of the lost or stolen tag report to FWClicensinghelp@myfwc.com. Complete forms meeting all requirements will be processed, and an invoice will be posted to the customer’s CLS Online account for payment online.
How long does it take to receive my tags once I have paid for them?
From the time the tag payment is received it can take up to 4-6 weeks for the tags to be printed and shipped to the delivery address on your account.