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Florida Spearfishing Rules Card

Verified against Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) sources · September 4, 2026

Island Spear Co
islandspearco.com

Legal status

Saltwater LegalFreshwater Not permitted

Spearfishing is legal in most of Florida's saltwater with a recreational saltwater fishing license.

Required: Florida Recreational Saltwater Fishing License

Resident: $17.00 annual (or $79.00 for a five-year license).

Non-resident: $17.00 for 3 days, $30.00 for 7 days, or $47.00 annual.

Spearguns: Allowed. Florida's definition of spearfishing covers a 'hand or mechanically propelled, single or multi-pronged spear or lance, barbed.
Pole spears: Allowed. FWC's lionfish page explicitly names the 'pole spear' as a lawful spearing device, and it is covered by the statutory definition.
On scuba: Spearfishing while on SCUBA is not prohibited by FWC in Florida saltwater; the definition covers a person 'swimming at or below the surface.
Powerheads are prohibited
Bangsticks are prohibited
Rebreathers are prohibited (exception: divers may use rebreathers to spear and remove invasive lionfish)

…and 11 more — full list at islandspearco.com/regulations/florida

Prohibited within 100 yards of a public swimming beach, any commercial or public fishing pier, or any part of a bridge from which public fishing is.
Prohibited within 100 feet of any part of a jetty that is above the surface of the sea, except for the last 500 yards of a jetty that extends more.
Prohibited in Monroe County (the Florida Keys) from Long Key north to the Miami-Dade (Dade) County line.
Volusia County: harvest by spearing is prohibited in Volusia County inland waters, with the exception of flounder and sheepshead, which may only be.

Never dive alone: one up, one down.
Check current seasons and sizes the morning of the dive.
Confirm with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC): https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/spearing/