Do you need a fishing licence in Destin? No, not on our boat
Every passenger is covered by the boat's charter licence, and it is in the price. What you can keep is a separate question, set by state and federal seasons that shift through the year.
The licence is already handled
This is the question we get most, and the answer is short.
Nobody in your group buys a licence
Covered by the boatEvery passenger aboard is covered by the boat's charter licence for the duration of the trip. There is nothing to buy, print or bring, and it is included in the trip price rather than added at the dock.
What else is included →It only covers the charter
Worth knowingThe cover applies while you are fishing with us. If you plan to fish the surf or a pier on your own during the week, that is a separate personal licence you would buy yourself.
What you can keep
Catching and keeping are two different questions here, and the second one changes through the year.
Seasons decide, not the captain
State and federal rulesGulf species are managed by a mix of Florida and federal rules, with seasons that open and close through the year and size and bag limits per species. The captain knows what is open on your date and will tell you before you leave the dock.
Red snapper is set fresh each year
Short seasonsThe snapper seasons are announced annually and they are usually short. Ask when you book whether your date falls inside one. Outside the season you can still catch them, you just photograph and release them.
Red snapper →Most sharks are protected
Catch and releaseA large share of the sharks off this coast cannot be kept, so shark trips are catch, photograph and release. If you want the trophy, replica mounts are built from photographs and measurements.
Shark trips →Everything legal is cleaned
At the dock, no chargeWhatever you keep inside the regulations is filleted at the dock when you get back, at no extra cost, and bagged for you to take away.
Where the rules actually live
We keep this page short on purpose, because bag limits and seasons change and a stale table on a charter website is worse than no table at all. The two authorities are the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for state waters and NOAA Fisheries for federal waters in the Gulf. If you want a straight answer for your date, call the boat.
Ask before you book
Next stepTell us the date and what you are hoping to take home, and you will get an honest answer about what is likely to be open.
Call (850) 502-9170 →Questions about licences and limits
Who is covered, what you can keep, and where the rules come from.
Do I need a fishing licence for a charter in Destin?
No. Everyone aboard is covered by the boat's charter licence for the trip, and it is included in the price. You do not need to buy anything or bring paperwork.
Does the boat licence cover fishing from the beach or a pier?
No. It covers you while you are fishing on the charter. Fishing on your own from the surf or a pier needs your own Florida licence.
Can we keep the fish we catch?
Anything inside the current state and federal size, bag and season limits is yours to keep, and it is cleaned at the dock at no charge. The captain will tell you on the day which species are open.
Why can't I keep a shark?
Most of the shark species off this coast are protected, so shark trips are catch, photograph and release. Replica mounts can be built from photographs and measurements if you want to keep the trophy.
Have questions or ready to book your trip? Send us a message or give us a call — we’ll help you plan the perfect day on the water in Destin.