§ 113‑174.3.  For‑Hire Licenses.

(a), (b) Repealed by Session Laws 2013‑360, s. 14.8(o), effective August 1, 2013.

(c) License. – It is unlawful for a person to engage in a for‑hire operation without having obtained one of the following licenses issued by the Division:

(1) Blanket For‑Hire Captain's CRFL. – This license allows individuals properly licensed by the United States Coast Guard to carry passengers on any vessel with a commercial vessel registration with a for‑hire endorsement. A Blanket For‑Hire Captain's CRFL authorizes all individuals on the for‑hire vessel who do not hold a license issued under this Article or Article 25A of this Chapter to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters that are not joint fishing waters. The resident fees for a Blanket For‑Hire Captain's CRFL are two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for a vessel carrying six or fewer passengers and three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00) for a vessel carrying more than six passengers. The nonresident fees for a Blanket For‑Hire Captain's CRFL are three hundred twelve dollars and fifty cents ($312.50) for a vessel carrying six or fewer passengers and four hundred thirty‑seven dollars and fifty cents ($437.50) for a vessel carrying more than six passengers. Any vessel whose operator is licensed under this subdivision and that is engaged in for‑hire fishing must obtain a Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration with a for‑hire endorsement.

(2) Blanket For‑Hire Vessel CRFL. – This license allows any United States Coast Guard licensed operator to carry passengers aboard the licensed vessel. A Blanket For‑Hire Vessel CRFL authorizes all individuals on the for‑hire vessel who do not hold a license issued under this Article or Article 25A of this Chapter to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters that are not joint fishing waters. The resident fees for a Blanket For‑Hire Vessel CRFL are two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for a vessel carrying six or fewer passengers and three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00) for a vessel carrying more than six passengers. The nonresident fees for a Blanket For‑Hire Vessel CRFL are three hundred twelve dollars and fifty cents ($312.50) for a vessel carrying six or fewer passengers and four hundred thirty‑seven dollars and fifty cents ($437.50) for a vessel carrying more than six passengers. Any vessel whose operator is licensed under this subdivision and that is engaged in for‑hire fishing is not required to obtain a Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration with a for‑hire endorsement.

(3) Non‑Blanket For‑Hire Vessel License. – This license allows any United States Coast Guard licensed operator to carry passengers aboard the licensed vessel. This license does not authorize individuals aboard the vessel to engage in recreational fishing unless they hold an individual CRFL issued under this Article or Article 25A of this Chapter. The fee for the Non‑Blanket For‑Hire Vessel License is twenty‑five dollars ($25.00) for a vessel operated by a resident operator and thirty‑seven dollars and fifty cents ($37.50) for a vessel operated by a nonresident operator. Any vessel whose operator is licensed under this subdivision and that is engaged in for‑hire fishing is not required to obtain a Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration with a for‑hire endorsement.

(d) A license issued under this section does not authorize individuals to engage in recreational fishing in joint fishing waters or inland fishing waters. All for‑hire licenses expire on the last day of the license year.

(e) Repealed by Session Laws 2015‑201, s. 1, effective August 5, 2015. (2005‑455, s. 1.5; 2006‑255, s. 7; 2006‑259, s. 20.5; 2013‑360, s. 14.8(o); 2015‑201, s. 1.)