Obtaining Your Charter Boat Captain License in Florida

To obtain your charter boat captain license in Florida, you'll need to meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years old.

The U.S. Coast Guard issues the license, which is divided into three categories: OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels), Master (for commercial vessels), and Master (for commercial vessels with a tonnage of 100 or more).

To qualify for the OUPV license, you'll need to complete a Coast Guard-approved training program, which includes a minimum of 360 days of experience as a mate or deckhand.

To get a Florida charter boat captain license, you'll need to comply with U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requirements and obtain the necessary licenses from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

The FWC requires all operators of for-hire vessels to have a captain license/merchant mariner credential, and charter, headboat, and saltwater fishing guide operations must have an FWC charter captain or boat license to cover their passengers.

Here are the key things the FWC saltwater charter license authorizes:

However, the FWC saltwater charter license does not authorize several things, including:

To get a charter boat captain license in Florida, you'll need to choose between two main types of licenses: the 6-pack license and the Master's license. The 6-pack license allows you to carry up to six paying customers on your fishing charters.

The 6-pack license comes in two categories: Inland and Near-coastal. The Inland route covers bays, rivers, and lakes, while the Near-coastal route covers everything the Inland route does, plus waters up to 100 miles offshore.

To get your captain's license, you'll need to meet certain requirements, which include spending time on the water, passing a Coast Guard exam, and providing proof of U.S. citizenship or a Green Card.

Here's a breakdown of the requirements:

You can choose to attend a school that teaches you what you need to know to pass your Coast Guard exam, which can cost between $500-$800. Alternatively, you can prepare on your own and take the exam directly.

The cost of a charter captain license in Florida varies depending on the number of customers you plan to carry. For example, a license to carry 1-4 customers costs $201.50, while a license to carry 11 or more customers costs $801.50.

There are different types of licenses that charter boat captains need to operate their vessels. The most common license is the 6-pack license, which allows you to carry up to six paying customers on your fishing charters.

The 6-pack license has two different categories: Inland and Near-coastal. The Inland route covers bays, rivers, and lakes, while the Near-coastal route covers everything the Inland route does, plus waters up to 100 miles offshore.

If you want to carry more than six paying customers on a boat up to 100gt heavy and travel up to 200 miles offshore, you should strive for the Master's license. The Master's license is a more advanced certification that allows for larger vessels and longer offshore trips.

The FWC saltwater charter license is another type of license that allows you to carry a certain number of fishing passengers and take saltwater fish or organisms for non-commercial purposes. This license also allows the charter captain to use their "Charter Captain" license to recreationally fish from a vessel without needing to purchase a recreational saltwater fishing license.

Here are the key differences between the 6-pack license and the FWC saltwater charter license:

FWC saltwater charter licenses have some important limitations. The license does not authorize harvesting in commercial quantities or the sale of fish.

If you plan to take passengers on your charter, be aware that the license only allows the number of passengers specified on the FWC vessel license. This means you can't carry more paying passengers than your license allows.

The captain and crew are also subject to the same limits as the passengers. This means they can't take or possess a limit of fish or organisms under the vessel license.

FWC saltwater charter licenses also don't cover freshwater fishing guides. If you're planning to guide fishing in freshwater, you'll need a different type of license.

Here's a summary of what FWC does not authorize with a saltwater charter license:

To become a licensed captain, you'll need to meet certain requirements. You'll need to have spent 360 days at sea, with at least 90 days in the last three years and a minimum of 90 days offshore as sea time.

You'll also need to pass the coast guard exam, which can be taken after attending a school that costs between $500-$800. The exam will test your knowledge and skills as a captain.

A United States Social Security Card and proof of U.S citizenship or Green Card are also required. You'll need to complete your application form (CG Form 719B) and pay the application fee.

You'll also need to provide proof that you've completed and passed your captain's exam, as well as a copy of your TWIC card. If your TWIC card is still in process, you can provide proof that you've applied.

Additionally, you'll need three reliable written character references and a medical certificate including recent vision testing, valid CPR and first aid certification.

Here's a list of the required documents:

If you're looking to get a Charter Captain License, you'll need to have a valid License to Operate or Navigate Passenger Carrying Vessel License from the USCG. This license allows you to operate a vessel for charter purposes.

To get a Charter Captain License, you'll need to pay a fee that varies depending on the number of customers you plan to carry. The fees are as follows:

Additionally, you'll need to obtain a charter snook permit for $10.00 and a charter lobster permit for $5.00.

To become a charter boat captain in Florida, you'll need to obtain a Captain's license. The US Coast Guard requires a 6-pack license to carry up to six paying customers on your fishing charters.

There are two main categories for the 6-pack license: Inland and Near-coastal. The Inland route allows you to operate in bays, rivers, and lakes, while the Near-coastal route covers everything in the Inland route plus waters up to 100 miles offshore.

You should aim for the Near-coastal 6-pack license, as it covers everything you'll need. If you want to carry more than six paying customers on a boat up to 100gt heavy and travel up to 200 miles offshore, you'll need a Master's license.

You can obtain a Captain's license through various online and in-person courses. Mariners Learning System (MLS) offers USCG-approved online courses, while Florida Keys Community College (FKCC) provides marine engineering, management, and seamanship education.

Online Captain School and Captain School Key West offer USCG-approved online and blended maritime training programs. You can also take in-person courses at Chapman School of Seamanship at Stuart, Maritime Professional Training (MPT) at Fort Lauderdale, and Adams Marine Seminars at Crystal River.

Here are some USCG-approved Captain's license programs in Florida:

To operate a charter boat in Florida, you'll need to obtain the right licenses. The most common license for charter operators is the 6-pack license, which allows you to carry up to six paying customers.

There are two categories for the 6-pack license: Inland and Near-coastal. The Near-coastal route covers everything the Inland route does, plus waters up to 100 miles offshore. This is the route you should aim for, as it covers everything you'll ever need.

The FWC saltwater charter license authorizes the vessel to carry a specific number of fishing passengers and allows them to take, attempt to take, or possess a limit of saltwater fish or organisms for noncommercial purposes without purchasing a recreational saltwater fishing license.

Here's a breakdown of the FWC saltwater charter license:

However, the FWC saltwater charter license does not authorize:

If you plan to carry more than six paying customers or travel more than 100 miles offshore, you'll need to obtain a Master's license. The cost of charter captain licenses varies depending on the number of customers you plan to carry:

Additionally, you may need to obtain a charter snook permit ($10.00) or a charter lobster permit ($5.00).