ochlocknee river

[lizbeth]

question: if you are fishing around the state park, and further up for red fish, do have to have a fresh water license, what type water is that considered ? how far can you fish up the river from the bridge at Angelo's and still be in the bay ?

[FUTCHCAIRO]

THE WATER AT THE PARK IS CONSIDERED FRESH WATER AND REQUIRES FRESHWATER LICENSE EVEN IF YOU ARE CATCHIN SALTWATER FISH.
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA

[Ty one on]

The license depends on the fish you have in your possession

Saltwater fish saltwater license.

Freshwater fish freshwater license.

[wevans]

Ty has ya on that one PA The water itself doesn't matter, it's the fish you are in possession of

[lizbeth]

ok...so if you are in the river and you catch a red fish, you don't have to have a fresh water license ?

[Sir reel]

I'm not sure who has who but here's the straight stuff from the FWC

QUESTION
Do I need a freshwater or saltwater fishing license or both?

RESPONSE
In general, you need a freshwater license to take freshwater fish and a saltwater license to take saltwater fish, unless one of the exemptions specified on this Web site applies to your situation. Obviously if you are fishing in pure fresh water where no saltwater species live, you need a freshwater license and likewise if you are fishing in the ocean you need a saltwater license.
However, when you get into estuarine type areas where salt and fresh water commingle and fish of both types can be found the issue becomes less clear. The interpretation of the rule is:

You need either a freshwater, saltwater or combination license (or appropriate exemption) to take fish (take is legally defined as taking, attempting to take, pursuing, molesting, capturing, or killing any fish, or their nests or eggs by any means whether or not such actions result in obtaining possession of such fish or their nests or eggs).
If you are using species specific gear, your license should be appropriate (e.g., freshwater or saltwater) to the species you are targeting, and
Otherwise you need an appropriate type license to keep your catch and must immediately release any species for which you are not licensed. License requirements follow the species of fish, regardless of where they are caught. In other words, if you only have a freshwater license and are primarily fishing for largemouth bass or bream (freshwater species) in a river, but happen to catch a red drum (a saltwater species), you must immediately release the red drum.
Does everyone on board a recreational fishing boat need a license? No. Anyone onboard that is not fishing does not need a fishing license - even if they are on a vessel which has people fishing. However, you should not be surprised if an officer asks a few questions to ensure the people who are fishing are in fact properly licensed. The officer may have more questions should there, for instance, be more fishing lines in the water than there are licensed (or legally exempt) anglers. Also remember you may only keep the daily bag limit (of species with bag limits) for those persons with a current license (or who are legally exempt). Also non-anglers should not in any way help with fishing, such as attaching lures, netting fish or removing fish from the hooks.

[Ty one on]

In short,

Don't go Redfishing using Crickets if you only possess a Saltwater license.

[wevans]

YEPPER Since I fish in the rivers a lot and catch Bass and Redfish on the same lure, I always purchase the salt/fresh combo aint no sense in throwing back a keeper fish just cause I didn't want ta spend an extra $20 for the yearly license

[Redbelly]

I keep both licenses. So's I can fish anywhere in Fla and Ga.

[FUTCHCAIRO]

I DO NOT KNOW IF THE RULES HAVE CHANGED OR NOT. ABOUT 25 YRS AGO I WAS GIVEN A WARNING FOR NOT HAVING A FRESH WATER LICENSE JUST BELOW THE PARK. I HAD JUST CAUGHT A BLACK BASS THAT I PROMPTLY RETURNED TO THE WATER AND I HAD 1 TROUT AND ONE RED FISH IN THE COOLER. THE WARDEN SAID THAT IT DID NOT MATTER IF I ONLY KEPT THE SALT SPECIES AND THREW THE BLACK BASS BACK, IF I WAS GOING TO KEEP FISHING IN THAT AREA I WOULD NEED A FRESH WATER LICENSE TO FISH THERE. IT DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT KIND OF FISH I WAS FISHING FOR OR THE FACT THAT I ONLY HAD SALT WATER SPECIES IN THE BOX.
THIS I KNOW IS A FACT, OR AT LEAST IT WAS THE RULE BACK THEN.
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA