For reference:
You can legally collect certain items in Florida with a standard SW fishing license. The number for collection are very low, include total organism limits and FWC will bury you if outside of any of the limits/combined limits. This is lined out very well in the FWC SW Fishing Regulations. I posted some snips for examples below.
If you just want a few things here or there when on vacation, awesome. Buy a standard SW license, collect some critters LEGALLY, and rig up a small cooler with a battery bubbler for when collecting. Then use a cooler with a small power filter and a heat to transport back home. If you are flying in and out, then you can use a cheap cooler with a bubbler to keep things alive in the hotel room and use some of the pre-made coral transport containers built for TSA compliance to get the critter home. But be sure to check with the airline you are flying on and get an email from them stating you can bring live stock on board. This is a just in case, as it is ultimately up to the Airline, even once past TSA. You will also need to be prepared to politley work with the TSA agent and have printed docs that shows what is acceptable per TSA codes. There are so many codes in regards to what TSA allows, you cannot expect them to know them all.
There is a commercial license available, I have one and collect on a regular basis.This is not for the average hobbiest or day tripper. Lots of rules, lots of paperwork and quite a few other things that go into this. So if you are looking at this, do not let the cost of the license sway to it, as yes the cost is not that bad, it is everything else that comes with that license that can get you into trouble if not followed to a "T".
Some examples pulled out of the current FWC SW Regulations printed guide. This is only a part of it and there is a bit more to take in if you plan to collect.
