Guide School and Training in Florida

In Florida, our research showed the below requirements to become a hunting guide or fishing guide.  Before operating as a guide ensure that you contact your states wildlife agency directly to verify all requirements.

*Always ensure that you and your clients have the necessary hunting and fishing licenses for the game you will be pursuing.

Basic requirements for Fishing Guide Jobs in Florida:

  • To operate a charter fishing business in Florida and charge a fee for taking, attempting to take or possessing saltwater fish, you must:
  • Comply with U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requirements
  • Purchase a FWC Charter Boat License or Charter Captain’s License, USCG charter boat captain information is available on the USCG web pages.
  • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission does not require a guide license for hunting, fishing from shore, in the surf, or fishing in fresh water or sell a guide license that covers customers while hunting, fishing from shore, in the surf or fishing in fresh water. When hunting or fishing from shore or in fresh water, guides and customers would be required to comply with Florida’s recreational hunting and fishing license requirements.
  • Outfitters and guides(hunting, fishing, boating or wildlife viewing) can register with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and be listed on a searchable *directory of Outfitters and Guides on the FWC web site. To be listed in the FWC Outfitter and Guide directory, use the online Outfitter and Guide Submittal Form.
  • For complete information on fishing in Florida visit the Visit Florida – Fishing Captial of the Worldweb page.

Other Fishing Guide Requirements that May Be Helpful:

  • Driver’s License
  • Good communication skills
  • Well organized
  • Ability to work with diverse groups of clients
  • Willingness to teach others effective fishing techniques
  • Outdoor survival and first aid skills
  • Swimming skills
  • Good physical fitness

Basic requirements for Hunting Guide Jobs in Florida:

  • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission does not require a guide license for hunting, fishing from shore, in the surf, or fishing in fresh water or sell a guide license that covers customers while hunting, fishing from shore, in the surf or fishing in fresh water. When hunting or fishing from shore or in fresh water, guides and customers would be required to comply with Florida’s recreational hunting and fishing license requirements.
  • Outfitters and guides(hunting, fishing, boating or wildlife viewing) can register with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and be listed on a searchable *directory of Outfitters and Guides on the FWC web site. To be listed in the FWC Outfitter and Guide directory, use the online Outfitter and Guide Submittal Form.

Other Hunting Guide Requirements that May Be Helpful:

  • Driver’s License
  • Good communication skills
  • Well organized
  • Ability to work with diverse groups of clients
  • Willingness to teach others effective hunting techniques
  • Outdoor survival and first aid skills
  • Firearm safety skills
  • Good physical fitness

State Wildlife Agency Contact:

Agency Name: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Website: http://mygovhelp.info/FLFWC/_cs/site.aspx

Phone Number: (850) 488-4676

Email Address: fwc@mycusthelp.net

 

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