Do You Need a License to Lobster in Florida? License & Permit

Yes: to harvest spiny lobster in Florida you need two things, a recreational saltwater fishing license and a separate spiny lobster permit, unless you fall into one of a handful of exemptions. It's a common point of confusion, partly because there's no document actually called a "lobster license," and partly because people assume wading or snorkeling from shore doesn't count. It does. Here's exactly what you need, what it costs, who's exempt, and how to get it in a few minutes before you go.

The short answer: license plus permit

Unless you're exempt, harvesting spiny lobster in Florida requires both of these (FWC):

1. A recreational saltwater fishing license. This is the same license you'd need to catch any saltwater species in Florida.
2. A spiny lobster permit (sometimes called the lobster stamp or endorsement). It's an add-on to the license, specific to lobster.

You need both to attempt to take lobster by any method, whether you're scuba diving from a boat, freediving, snorkeling, wading a flat, or grabbing them from shore. The license covers the act of harvesting a marine species; the permit is the lobster-specific piece on top.

What it costs

The fees are modest. Here's the current breakdown (FWC saltwater license fees):

So a resident is looking at about $22 a year all in, and a visiting diver down for a long weekend can cover a 3-day license plus the permit for around $22 as well. Small transaction and agent fees are usually added at checkout. If you lobster every year, the resident five-year permit at $25 quietly saves you money.

Who's exempt

You do not need a license or lobster permit if you fall into one of these categories (FWC exemptions):

• Children under 16 (resident or non-resident).
• Florida residents age 65 and older, with proof of age and residency.
• Anyone harvesting from a licensed for-hire vessel (a charter, guide, or party boat that holds a valid charter license), which covers you under the vessel's license.
• Anyone on a vessel that has a valid recreational saltwater vessel license.
• People harvesting on a designated free saltwater fishing day.
• Certain disabled Florida residents with the appropriate certification, and residents receiving specific public assistance (fishing from land or a fixed structure).

If you're exempt from the saltwater fishing license, you're generally exempt from the lobster permit too, so kids and seniors don't need to buy either. When in doubt, confirm your situation on the FWC "do I need a license" page before you rely on an exemption.

"Lobster license" vs. the license and permit

People search for a "Florida lobster license," but strictly speaking that document doesn't exist. What you actually buy is the recreational saltwater fishing license (which lets you harvest marine species) plus the spiny lobster permit (which adds lobster specifically). Two line items, one checkout. If a friend tells you they "got their lobster license," that's the combination they mean.

Where and how to buy

You have a few options, and none of them take long:

• Online (fastest): GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, the official FWC portal. Add the saltwater fishing license and the spiny lobster permit to the cart, pay, and you'll have proof on your phone in minutes.
• County tax collector offices.
• Bait, tackle, and sporting goods retailers that sell licenses.
• By phone, through the FWC's licensing line.

Buy before you get on the water. A license and permit are required the moment you start harvesting, and "I was going to buy it later" is not a defense at a check.

The license is just the entry ticket

Having the license and permit doesn't mean anything goes. You still have to follow every harvest rule:

• Size: a carapace larger than 3 inches, measured in the water. See how to measure a Florida lobster.
• Bag limits: 6 per person in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, 12 elsewhere during mini-season. See the rules guide.
• Season: mini-season in late July, regular season August 6 through March 31. See the season dates.
• Egg-bearing females are always off-limits and must be released.

Sort the license and permit first, then the rules, then the spots, and you're set.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a license to lobster in Florida?

Yes, unless you're exempt. You need a recreational saltwater fishing license and a spiny lobster permit, whether you dive from a boat, snorkel, wade, or work from shore. Children under 16 and Florida residents 65 and older are exempt from both, along with people harvesting under a licensed charter and a few other categories.

How much is a Florida lobster license?

For residents it's $17 for the annual saltwater license plus $5 for the lobster permit, about $22 total. Non-residents pay $47 annual (or $17 for 3 days, $30 for 7 days) plus the same $5 permit. Small transaction fees are added on top. There's no standalone "lobster license"; it's the saltwater license plus the permit.

Where do you buy a Florida lobster license?

Fastest is online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, where you can buy the license and lobster permit together in minutes. You can also buy them at county tax collector offices and many tackle and sporting goods retailers, or by phone. Buy before you get on the water.

License fees and regulations change. Always confirm the current fees and rules on GoOutdoorsFlorida.com and the FWC spiny lobster page before you buy. Last updated July 2026.