I think it depends on where the money goes. If it goes back to marine recreational fishing needs and SUPPLEMENTS existing funds AND their is a local recreational body with guidance and oversight for spending the money, I'm for it. If the funds are just to pad the coffers I'm against...

Patrick, for those of use without the luxury of making the last meeting, how about an update.

Thanks,

John

What i learned about where the money goes when I read the freaking thing!!! Every other state that has this in effect has no problems with it... other then the occasional fine and confiscation of gear from those that choose to violate the rule in effect...

This doesn't mean that every area will require people to have a license...

I know from what i have read on-line that you don't need to buy a license when fishing on a head/charter boat... Also some piers have a "pier license" that allow you to fish off the pier without having a license...

Rates range from $12.50 to $21.00 for residents and $30.00-$90.00 for non-residents depending on the State...

From what i read the rates would change to $15/$30 once we reach 2009 when we go federal.. I believe Rhode Island will be the only state exempt from participating in the license on a Federal Level.

I fished VA last summer and needed a saltwater license. I was the only guy at the inlet with one. Everyone else chose to ignore it. The fishing was bad as well.

like everyone has said - where will the money go. Obviously 100% of the money wont go to fishing but what type of % are we talking about.

Also how will this be enforced. The freshwater license thing is a joke for the most part as I think i am the only person who ever has one.

what happens to the raised funds and who will enforce the rules???

That's right. People don't read the fine print or take the time to understand that this is a good opportunity, not a tax as the sensationalists claim.
Perhaps I'm too optimistic, but having the opportunity to implement a data gathering mechanism aids in formulating informed opinions and potentially objective management decisions. Right now that kind of stuff doesn't exist.
This thing isn't about enforcement; it’s about positioning for the future. No doubt there will be some fallout from this thing and some feathers will be ruffled, but my feeling is that it’s a good first step. Those that think the funding is going to put more green police on the beat so as to catch and prosecute the choggie poachers are missing the point. It’s a lot bigger than that.

Rates range from $30.00-$90.00 for non-residents depending on the State...

SUCKS big time. I have a Arizona fishing license and because i don't live next to the ocean and fish ONE week a year i pay more to do so? I don't believe in "nonresident" fees. I AM A CITIZEN AND RESIDENT OF THE USA. Just another "TAX" to line their coffers with. If any of it gets back to the fisheries after management / enforcement costs it wont be enough to do squat. What I pay in travel costs is bad enough. This doesn't sit well with me.:realmad::deadhorse:
ps where does it cost more to check which state you live in to implement a data gathering?

IMO if the gov. needs us to have a saltwater lic. , then it should be valid in all states just like a drivers license .

If they just need my name and phone number, then a simple stamp is all it should cost me.

the upshot of a recreational saltwater license is that we will be able to be identified and quantified as a political group.

by state.

also
 

and i am not particularly in favor of it...myself
===========================================
but when an EPO is called because you spot some people
filling buckets with undersized schoolies
their license (if they even have one )can be YANKED
and the fines should be increased....dramatically
not to mention their cars taken as well as all their gear

Ok, Here are some facts and opinions of the situation...

Fact...When the Magnuson Stevens Fisheries Reform Act was re-authorized by congress in '07 there was a great deal of discussion and even congressional hearings around the horrible data on all things related to Recreational Fishing. Included in the bill was a clause that requires all coastal states to have a "registry" of recreational anglers by 2009. The Feds will institute a "registry" for any state that does not do so on thier own.

Fact...The wording in the bill is not well written because politics is politics but "something" must be done to comply by 2009.

Fact...This afternoon "Monday 1/28 I spoke with a "senior official" with /MA DMF and there is currently no proposal on the table.

Opinion...The EPO referred to in the beginning of this thread was probably stating what has been running around for rumor and inuendo for over a year.

Fact...All East Coast States currently either have a Recreational Salt Water Liscense or a Bill filed to create one, except MA & Rhode Island.

Fact...All New England Coastal States have been meeting on this issue.

Opinon or Confirmed Unofficial Information...From all info I have gathered, the feeling amongst the New England States except Maine is that Salt Water Licenses should/will be reciprocal.

Fact...Besides Florida, Salt Water Anglers in States with a License are NOT RECEIVING THE POLITICAL BENEFITS/ATTENTION/CLOUT THAT SOME ARGUE WILL COME WHEN A STATE GETS A LICENSE. In a few States the license is still too new to tell.

that is all for now...

Last frontier Mike ... The foot is in the door ... Its not the money . Its the End of the World as we know it .. I hope the "fee" stops global warming .. I personaly don't care .. was quitting fishing and joining a bowling team anyway .. cool shirts ..

what if you fish multiple states?

in one season I fished NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ (okay it was a party boat), DE, MD, VA, and NC.

not that would happen every year, but you can imagine the non-resident license fees piling up!

mike P
 

quote: Listening to you people complain about a lousy fee
that'll run less than the cost of an inflated plug is almost comical.

in essence i agree


on the other hand :

its a matter of principle....

and it's the same old story occurring
just in a different century

taxation without representation...

meaning a fee without guarantee of access to fish
or any other improvement to the fishery...

as all the richies don't want to see a fishermen

when they sip wine in the evening....:mad:

This may be our saving grace right here, a FISHING license! Since the guys who check up on you in the sweet water would be the same guys checking up on you in the salt (I am assuming?), make a dual license that covers both.

Last year I fished in Maine, NH, Mass, and RI
The year before I also fished in NY
I guess I will just pick some, NH will be the first to go.

Let's mot forget the incident a few years ago when the state tried to take the federal funds earmarked for the Mass Wildlife Dept.
I wouldn't be so skeptical if I knew that the lazy SOB's on capital hill wouldn't be trying to stick their filthy hands into those funds obtained from a saltwater license.

Let's face it, if the state EVER gets ahold of these funds, then I will stop buying ANY fishing license in this state. I didn't buy them to give to some no good worthless politician, who's only goal is to take your money and line his/her own pockets.
Remember, they closed how many of the state's fisheries(?), and lost how many game wardens(?) in the past 5-10 years.
Don't they now buy their stocking fish out of state?

Just so I'm clear, I would not be against a saltwater license, but I want to know EXACTLY where it goes and what it's for.

My first reaction is : i do not want or need no stinking license !
i do not wish to see any gov't agency be empowered to
confiscate a fishermans equipment . But reading that this is
a done deal, we should demand better access (open state parks to overnite fishing ) improve or build boat ramps and
piers etc.
If the state controls the license our state reps and senators should be targeted to hear an earful !

IMHO, there is NOOOOOO way there will be one federal license for multiple states. You think the southern states are going to give up the money they already get from state licenses? Forget that, you think the northeast states are going to pass up on all that money into the general fund?

It would suck for the shops (and the fishermen), but if fishermen really wanted to protest this, they'd get together and stay home for a year. The states would have to take notice.

I like your idea Bedford, but we have no leverage to demand anything. You have to be in a position of some kind of power to negotiate, and we aren't short of doing something extreme and unpleasant. Write your congressman all you want, but there's money involved here.

A big myth
 

Licensing recreational anglers will give us about as much clout with fishery management, as licensed drivers have with auto insurance management.

Licensing changes nothing in that regard.

Holy Sheet Batman....Mike....did we just agree....Oh my GOd :huh:Armegheddon must be at hand:bshake: :wave:


:pats:

BOWLING?
 

M.M.M.M.M , Let's see, would the team be called "The Ditch Trolls Bowling League"?

Just found out too that I have to obtain a $135 Transportation Workers Identification Card, TWIC, (or something like that) because I hold a captains license and run charters in the summer.

Guess they want to make sure terrorists are not going undercover as charterboat captains, while they plot the demise of the US.....

A Tax by any other name is still the same:bs:

I keep going back and forth on this issue,
today I'm anti.
I can think of no instance where paying the government for permission to do something has gotten me more permission. Quite the contrary. Oversand Permits are my glaring example. The more we've paid over the years, the less access we've gotten. Before Race Point had permits we had total access 365 days a year. Dunes,shore and trails. Now what do we have? 4/15-11/15 minus part of June, all of July, and part of August. For 150 bucks. A license or a permit is used soley to raise the funds to deny you access to what you have already. Without the fees from permits, the government doesn't have the funds to remove the users. In short, by paying, we fund our own demise as sportsmen.
When the government does something for your own good, you can bet the farm that it ain't going to be good.

[QUOTE=Hooper;560145]Just found out too that I have to obtain a $135 Transportation Workers Identification Card, TWIC, (or something like that) because I hold a captains license and run charters in the summer.

Hooper,
You got some more info on that and where you found out?

unreal
 

your not running a ferry service from shore to shore....

what's next.... a plug license ??

because your transporting plugs
across the water back and forth

and they may have been built by
terrorist plug builder's :rotf3:

:think: come to think of it
there are some nefarious lookin plug guys
on this site.... hmmmm

i better call the homeland security office...
just in case...

as a few said, "Can't beat them join them"

Yep so with everything the gov says we should just lay down and take it in the A**

And that is just why we are getting all these rules!!

Everyone complains but no one does anything about it!

I use to go to all the meetings and you know how many people be there for rec. fishing??
A handful thats it!! we have 1 million fisherman and 25 show at a meeting?

And thats why we will be taxed to do something we love!! And this is the beginning!!
Because if you don't get up and fight now, you will contunie to get taxed more, less access, less fish, ect ect...
There are more complaining here on this board, then what show up at meetings!!

We ALL need to take a stand!!! ALL!! Don't leave it to the few!
If you just showed up at the meetings and not said anything would be better then doing nothing!!

So how do we organize to make sure the funds are directed in each state to the fishers and the fisheries?
FL has done a phenomenal job. The whole process of getting out and back in Sebastian Inlet is a breeze. I even have filet stations and wash downs hoses right there.

I'm starting to hear rumors that the states are talking to each other about this and, with big push from the feds, they are talking about making all of the licenses reciprocal for all of the states. Keep you fingers crossed!

Well we will see this guy is higher up than most. Justb remember this post come January 2009.