A valid fishing license is required when saltwater fishing, with the following exceptions:

• Any child under 16 years of age.
• Any resident 65 years of age or older - must be in possession of a Senior (65+) license or FL Driver License when fishing.
• Any resident who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, who is not stationed in this state, while home on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders. This does not include family members.
• Any person who has been accepted by the Department of Children and Family Services for developmental services or any licensed provider of services to the State of Florida through contract with the Department of Children and Family Services, where such service involves the need, normally, for possession of a saltwater fishing license and such service is provided as part of a court-decided rehabilitation program involving training in Florida's aquatic resources.
• Any resident fishing in saltwater from land or from a structure fixed to the land.
• Any person fishing from a pier which has a valid pier license for saltwater fishing.
• Any person fishing from a vessel that has a valid saltwater vessel license.
• Any person who holds a valid commercial saltwater products license. Only one person aboard a vessel fishing under that vessel's saltwater products license may claim the exemption at any given time.
• Any resident who is fishing for mullet in freshwater and has a valid Florida freshwater fishing license.
• Any resident fishing for a saltwater species in freshwater from land or from a structure fixed to the land.