Alabama

UPDATE (05/02/2023): Please note that a Freshwater Fishing License is REQUIRED to fish the Lake Shelby watershed in Gulf State Park.  Click Here for more info.

Saltwater/Brackish .  If you fish saltwater areas as defined below, you will need an Alabama saltwater license.   It’s free if you’re under the age of 16.  An annual saltwater license is $26.50 for Alabama residents, $48.15 for Florida residents, a whopping $129 for Louisiana residents, and $57 for all other states.   There is a 7-day trip license which is much cheaper:  $11 for Alabama residents and $31 for all other states – including Louisiana.  We strongly suggest non-residents purchase the 7-day trip license.

Freshwater.   If you fish Lake Shelby or any waters not defined as “saltwater” below, you’ll need a freshwater license.   The annual non-resident license for Louisiana and Mississippi is much higher than other states, so for that reason we suggest the freshwater 7-day trip license.  It’s $32, except for Georgia residents it’s $33.

This map defines the saltwater areas for Alabama.  Please note that it includes Lake Shelby chain of lakes which is defined as FRESHWATER for license purposes.   LINK TO MAP.

If you fish strictly from a qualified pier, there’s also a pier license which is about half the cost of the saltwater license.  Also, there’s a Disabled License and a Disabled Veterans License (20% discount).

To purchase an Alabama fishing license online, go to www.outdooralabama.com.

Florida

Saltwater.  If you are a Florida resident and fish strictly from the shoreline, or a structure affixed to shore, then there is NO COST for your saltwater license.   Otherwise, the resident annual license is $17.  Non-resident annual license is $47.  A non-resident 3-day license is $17, and a non-resident 7-day license is $30.

Freshwater.  If you are a Florida resident, an annual freshwater license is $17. For non-residents, an annual license is $47, a 7-day license is $30, and a 3-day license is $17. 

Military.   All active duty and retired members of the military stationed in Florida or claiming Florida as their primary residence can get the Military Gold Sportsmans License that encompasses freshwater, saltwater, as well as various hunting priviledges for just $20.

To get a Florida fishing license online, go to https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/

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The highest level of sponsorship is the Tarpon Level – a donation of $2500 or more. The Tarpon Level is also considered our Sponsor Level, and like in the movie “Highlander”, there can be only one!

Tail Magazine has agreed to be our 2023 Tarpon (title) Sponsor. Tail is the voice of saltwater fly fishing. It’s feature-rich content is published in a lush bi-monthly print. Tail focuses on delivering the best photography, destination travel, expert commentary and technical features for the saltwater fly fishing enthusiast.

Some of you may have thought that there was no longer a saltwater fly fishing magazine. Well, there wasn’t for many years. But Tail emerged in 2016 and is still building a following. Speaking on behalf of the Gulf Coast Council, we couldn’t be more thrilled than to have Tail Magazine as a title sponsor.

As such, you will see “co-hosted by the FFI Gulf Coast Council and Tail Magazine” on our promotional posters, as well as other announcements. Their logo will also be featured on every page of our Classic website, as well as prominently on our Classic t-shirts.

To learn more about Tail Magazine, go to www.tailflyfishing.com

To learn more about becoming a sponsor, an exhibitor, or a donor to our event, click on “Sponsors” on the website menu.

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Once you register, you’ll be asked to download the Whova event app.  It’s a great tool for organizing the presentations, workshops, tying demonstrations or vendor presentations you wish to attend.

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2023 Gulf Coast Fly Fishing Classic

Next year, the Gulf Coast Council of Fly Fishers International will once again hold a major event the first weekend of May. Unlike our recent Sweetwater Classics – which were mostly tournament events with a splash of casting and fly tying – the Gulf Coast Classic will be more like our “conclaves” of the past. However, we’ll still have a fishing contest as well as the Fly Fishing Film Tour and much more!

More details will be forthcoming on this website over the next few months.  The goal is to have registration available starting January 1st, 2023.

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