You are not required to obtain a Freshwater Fishing License if:

• You are a child under 16 years of age
• You are a Florida resident, age 65 or older, possessing proof of age and residency (Florida DL) or a complimentary senior citizen resident hunting/fishing certificate obtained from the Tax Collector's office
• You freshwater fish in your county of residence on your homestead or the homestead of your spouse or minor child or if you are a minor child freshwater fishing on the homestead of your parent
• You are a Florida resident who has been certified as totally and permanently disabled and you possess a Florida resident disabled person hunting and fishing certificate
• You are a resident who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, you are not stationed in this state and you are home on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders
• You are a resident who is fishing with live or natural bait, using poles or lines that are not equipped with a fishing-line-retrieval mechanism, and you are fishing for noncommercial purposes in your home county. You must have a valid fishing license to fish by any method in a fish management area.
• You are fishing in a fish pond of 20 acres or less which is located entirely within the private property of its owner. A fish pond is a man-made pond constructed for the primary purpose of fishing entirely within the property lines of the owner and with no surface water connection to public waters.
• You are fishing in a fish pond of 20 acres or more whose owner has purchased a fish pond license at a fee of $3 per surface acre
• You possess a resident freshwater commercial fishing license
• You have been accepted as a client for Developmental Services by the Department of Children and Family Services; the department must furnish proof to such clients
• You are fishing in the St. Mary's River or Lake Seminole (but not including tributary creeks in Florida) and have a valid Georgia fishing license
• You are freshwater fishing during the free fishing weekend (1st weekend in April)
• Any employee of or any other individual authorized by the commission to take freshwater fish for scientific and/or educational purposes