FWC lists the Spiny Lobster permit at “Annual: $5.00” and “Five-Year (Residents Only): $25.00” (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, retrieved October 2026). The agency says it is “required, in addition to a saltwater fishing license, when taking or attempting to take lobster.”
| Option | Price per FWC |
|---|---|
| Annual | $5.00 |
| Five-Year (Residents Only) | $25.00 |
FWC also says the license or permit vendor “may also charge an issuance fee of 50¢.” The prices FWC lists already include the issuance fee allowed by Florida statute.
The permit does not replace a saltwater fishing license. FWC words it as an addition, so a diver or boat angler targeting lobster needs both. Our saltwater versus freshwater license post explains which license you hold.
FWC says the Gold Sportsman’s License includes the “Snook and Lobster permits,” along with Saltwater Fishing, Hunting and Freshwater Fishing licenses and several hunting permits. FWC lists the Annual Resident Gold Sportsman’s License at $100.00 and the Five-Year Resident version at $494.00. If you already buy several of those separately, compare the totals before you pay for a stand-alone lobster permit.
The license page does not give the lobster season dates, bag limits or gear rules. Those live on FWC’s lobster regulation pages, which this post does not summarize. Check them before you go, and see our SWFL license guide for the other permits on the same FWC page, such as snook.