Well I am glad it is such a simple and easy question. I have coffee with several commercial fishermen each morning at the Sebastian McDonald's on US1 in Roseland. Several are or have been commercial kingfishermen for part of their lives. Let me just say it can be good to very good at times, but not always. If you are willing to invest the time and work hard, you should do well. If your family situation can adapt to that, then go for it.

What I have seen happen is someone will buy a boat and gear up, spending a lot of money to get things going. Then the wife (substitute family member or girlfriend) can put a damper on the whole thing.

Stop and have coffee some morning, say about 6:30 and get real facts from those who have lived it. I fished kingfish many times, but only part time. I would go just ahead of the fronts that sweep down in the fall and winter, but would never leave my home base to follow them as a kingfisherman would. If you can do that and fish for some other species or work at a job, then I would get the license. It will retain value unlike the boat. Unless you know who and how well the boat was redone, be very cautious. An old diesel tub can be hard to give away.

Good luck and best regards,
Frankk