So I am from Minnesota, but make regular trips down to Fl a lot. All of the times I have been down there I have still yet to fish a lake. Next year I have vowed to change that and looking for some information on fresh and salt water fishing.

 

1) do you need to have a license? (MN requires you to have one even if only for a day)

2) I would like to do some bass fishing, but wanted to know if anyone knows of a charter place to fresh water fish.

3) That and salt water. I have been mainly looking at Mahi Mahi and Sword fish, but wanted to know if there are any recommendations out there for a charter service. (I always see advertisement, but if I am going to spend a day fishing something that I have never done I want my money to be worth it.)

1. Yes. You must buy a non resident liscence covering the time you plan to fish for both fresh AND salt water- UNLESS you hire a guide or a fishing charter that takes care of that for you. Their charter liscence will cover all anglers on board. Check to make sure with whoever you're thinking about hiring.

And that's what you should do honestly.

2.- depends on where you're going to be in Florida.

3. See #2

I generally stay in Orlando. But I hear the type of fish you want in salt water depend on when and where you need to be.

Salt water I am willing to travel to catch the right fish.

Oh and thank you on the lic. info. Little things like that are good to know.

True about charters and guides, their license covers the fishermen.  Fishing from shore or private boat non resident license is needed.  In a private community a license is not needed to fish ponds.

I'm only familiar with the Atlantic, dolphin for the most part are caught 300 fow, sometimes come closer to shore, swordfish are in the gulfstream which is about 6 miles from shore where I live.  When we say 300' that doesn't mean we are bottom fishing, that's just the area the fish happen to be in, dolphin can be caught on the surface.

Be willing to pay for a charter, upwards of  $1000 a day for a private charter for dolphin/swordfish. Remember, it's fishing not catching and there's no guarantee you even catch anything especially swordfishing.

 

A couple of the ones I've used or know the guys running:

http://www.stuart-florida-fishing.com/

 

http://stuartflfishingcharters.com/

 

http://www.palmbeachfishingcharters.biz/

 

Might be worth making it a complete trip down in the keys if you want swords. Also, closer to a guarantee for dolphin there.

Take advantage of  the inshore sw and brackish river  (example- Indian, Crystal,   & St Johns Rivers) fishing opportunities. .. Depending on the  location and season, you may get the chance to tangle with anything from redfish  to sharks and you won't need to spend a thousand dollars to do it.