简体中文
EnglishHow to Find Licenses, Permits, and Boating Information on the FWC Website
Updated
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) site at myfwc.com organizes licenses, permits, and boating information under a small set of top-level navigation links on the home page. To reach them, start from the "How Can We Help You?" section, which lists Licenses & Permits, Boating, Saltwater Fishing, Freshwater Fishing, and Hunting as separate entries. Use Licenses & Permits for the actual license and permit transactions; use the fishing, hunting, and boating links for rules, seasons, and safety content that sits alongside those licenses.
Where each task lives
| What you need | Where to start on myfwc.com |
|---|---|
| Buy or renew a fishing or hunting license | Licenses & Permits |
| Saltwater fishing rules, seasons, and species info | Saltwater Fishing |
| Freshwater fishing rules and "Learn to Fish" content | Freshwater Fishing |
| Hunting regulations, WMAs, and rule-change input | Hunting |
| Boating safety and boater requirements | Boating |
| Report a violation or wildlife issue | Law Enforcement/Report a Violation or Wildlife Alert |
The home page also carries rotating announcements — for example, a 2026 Recreational Atlantic Red Snapper Season notice, Gulf County and Pasco Zones scallop closures, and a 2027–2028 Proposed Rule Change Hunting Survey — so check the banner area before assuming a season or area is open.
Licenses and permits
Licenses & Permits is the entry point for the license and permit side of the site. It is distinct from the species-specific sections: the fishing and hunting pages tell you what the rules are, while Licenses & Permits is where you handle the credential itself. If you already know which activity you're doing, going straight to Licenses & Permits avoids detouring through species content.
Fishing: saltwater vs. freshwater
FWC splits fishing into two separate sections, and the split matters because rules, species, and seasons differ between them.
- Saltwater Fishing — marine species, seasons such as the Atlantic red snapper season shown on the home page, and photo programs like the saltwater fish photo submission for anniversary prizes.
- Freshwater Fishing — inland waters, plus the "Learn to Fish!" entry that points you to where to go and how to fish for a catch.
Pick the section matching the water you'll fish, then confirm current seasons and closures there before your trip.
Boating
Boating is the section for boating safety information. The home page links it directly under "How Can We Help You?" and repeats a "Boating Safety more information" prompt in the feature area, so both routes lead to the same content. Use it to check safety requirements before launching.
Area-specific rules and closures
Rules often depend on where you are, not just what you're doing. Two tools on the home page handle this:
- WMA Closures and Updates — check the open/closed status of FWC-managed areas, offices, and facilities via the WMA Open/Closed Status link.
- Wildlife Alert — for reporting violations or wildlife issues.
The scallop closure notice for Gulf County and Pasco Zones is an example of why zone-level checks matter: a statewide season can still have local closures.
A practical sequence
- Identify your activity — saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, hunting, or boating.
- Open that section to confirm current seasons, rules, and any closures.
- Go to Licenses & Permits to handle the license or permit itself.
- Before you go, check WMA Open/Closed Status if your destination is an FWC-managed area.
- If you want to influence rules, look for the commenting tools — the 2027–2028 Proposed Rule Change Hunting Survey is one example of an open input channel.
If a page you expect isn't in the main navigation, the home page's "More ..." link and the "How Can We Help You?" list are the two places to look next.