Application Forms
New applicants for the RS must be at least 16 years old, hold a Saltwater Products License and qualify by one of the methods listed below:
A person or firm (unless otherwise exempted below) must provide acceptable proof of $5,000 in income from the sale of saltwater products to a licensed Florida Wholesale Saltwater Products Dealer during any 12 consecutive months in the last 36 months, or 25 percent of income during 1 of the last 3 years.
A crew member on a commercial fishing vessel must submit a notarized Crew Share Statement signed by the vessel license holder verifying $5,000 in income earned from the sale of saltwater products to a licensed Florida Wholesale Saltwater Products Dealer during the 12-month period specified on the statement.
A charter boat operator must provide acceptable proof that 50 percent of his annual income is derived from charter fishing and that he had $2,500 in sales to a licensed Florida Wholesale Saltwater Products Dealer during the same calendar year.
A person age 62 or older must provide acceptable proof of $2,500 in sales of saltwater products to a licensed Wholesale Dealer during any 12 consecutive months in the last 36 months. *
A person age 70 or older will be granted permanent exemption to the income requirements listed herein if the applicant's license records show that the SPL was held 3 out of the last 5 years. *
A disabled resident must provide acceptable proof of disability from the Railroad Retirement Board, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Armed Forces, Social Security Administration or a licensed physician and must have held the SPL for 3 of the last 5 years prior to the date of disability. *
A military veteran must provide acceptable proof of the income as specified in the appropriate method listed herein. However, active duty may be excluded when calculating the previous 36 months and will not be counted for purposes of determining qualifying time.
The buyer of a commercial fishing vessel from a seller who holds or is eligible for the RS must submit a copy of the original vessel title showing the purchase price and a copy of vessel registration showing use as Commercial at the time of sale. The RS will expire one year from the date of purchase of the vessel. You will only have 12 months from the date of purchase to produce trip tickets and document the required income from the sale of saltwater products necessary to renew the endorsement.
An immediate family member of a fisherman who held the RS and has died or become disabled must provide a copy of the birth certificate and proof of death or disablement. The RS will expire one year from the date of death or disability. You will only have 12 months from the date of death or disability to produce trip tickets and document the required income from the sale of saltwater products necessary to renew the endorsement.
Aquaculture producers should contact the licensing program if they wish to qualify for the RS endorsement.
* Applies only to an SPL issued to an individual.
Top of page
Acceptable Proof of Income for New Applicants
Income attribution must apply to any 12 consecutive months of the previous 36 months.
Crew Share Statement - Notarized Crew Share Statement 
signed by the license holder for the vessel under which the landings have been reported verifying the applicant's income earned from the lawful sale of saltwater products must be provided. The dates of harvest (month and year) must be specified on the Crew Share Statement.
Out-of-State Landings - Fishermen who have landings from locations other than Florida must submit copies of sales records documenting the sale of saltwater products and the applicable out-of-state license. Sales documentation must include the name and address of the company to which the qualifying sales were made.
Unless otherwise exempted from providing proof of income, all new applicants must submit acceptable proof of commercial income from the lawful sale of saltwater products, as evidenced by trip tickets generated pursuant to the FWC Marine Fisheries Management Information System. Income from sales must be attributable to sales to a licensed wholesale dealer.
Trip Tickets/Landings - A trip ticket is a form provided by the Commission on which wholesale dealers and others are required to report saltwater fish, bait or other marine life species purchased or produced for the first time (landings) pursuant to s. 379.362(6), F.S., and chapter 68E-5, F.A.C. Trip tickets should be embossed and must show a dollar value, date of harvest and the applicant's SPL number. Fishermen are encouraged to obtain and retain copies of their trip tickets. Trip tickets showing sales of restricted species or landings reported under a Retail Dealers License are not acceptable and cannot be used for the purpose of qualifying for the RS.
Tax Returns - A copy of the applicable federal income tax return (including Form 1099 attachments) verifying income earned from the sale of saltwater products, may be submitted to prove the percentage of income attributable to the sale of saltwater products. If a joint return is submitted, the applicant must provide all documentation necessary to separate the spouse's income. Trip tickets or out-of-state sales records must accompany your tax return. The dates of harvest on the trip tickets or out-of-state sales records used to qualify must fall within the same 12-month period as covered by the tax return.
Top of page
Persons with Disabilities