Surf fishing in my opinion is the last best "free" activity that we have available to us. That said, I agree that pressure will continue to be applied to implement some sort of SW license along the whole coast. Now some would say what's 20 bucks a year to fish...., I agree but consider this. I fish with my wife and we fish in Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and will probably try Maine, New Hampshire and New York. If each state has a license and it costs $20 and there are two of us (8 states * $20 * 2 family members = $320) it starts to add up. That's just the first year. As the years go by license fees will go up and $320 becomes $640 or more. Check out the license fee increases in your own state or the increases in the Chesapeake Bay license. All of a sudden my last best "free" activity is becoming expensive and that's without equipment costs, beach permits, gas costs etc. So what am I saying - if we believe that SW licenses are going to be a reality, then let's work together on a proposal to implement SW licenses that would benefit state programs and not hurt anglers too much. Some things that might be considered: Reasonable license fees that cannot be increased by more than a certain percentage over a certain number of years, Reciprocal agreements among states from Maine to North Carolina.

You could buy your license in any of those states and the revenues would be tied to the state where the license was bought, and license fees could only be used on programs that improve access and enhance saltwater fishing opportunities
What do you think?

This is by no means a done deal,you can read about it herehttp://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ocs/mafac/m...%20License.pdf

OSSCA,
Wasn't a done deal when that booklet was drafted but it is now. The question is what will the new system look like, and that's where we need to direct our efforts.

You kinda do now, you have to produce some id

I hate the Idea yet like already said it would be alot easier to pay If I know it would come back to us in one form or another,it will probably be set up much like the freshwater system,hopefully with out a stamp.As far as not paying and still fishing, no way!I'll really be in trouble if a e.p.o. trys to take my outfit.:nailem:

How about a fish stamp, sorta like a duck stamp. goes on your state fishing license. entitles you to fish in salt water.
Naa too easy.

now that would make it alittle easier kill two birds with one stone, one license for booth fresh and salt a combo fishing license.

Just dont charge me for the freshwater part!

I don't see how they could charge you to fish in each state.

My drivers lic. is good in all 50 the last time I checked.

Jeff

but my fishing license is'nt of course the theory there is that the license pays for stuff related to...

I HATE the idea...one of the last free things to do
and what Karl said

I just think if this is going to happen it has to be one licence for all states.

Say you are out in your boat and drift into anothers state's waters are you going to be in viloation of that states law?

Who will inforce the open waters?

The Coast Guard. ,I think they already have their hands full.

I'm against licenseing for almost ANYTHING unless the fees are for the betterment of the activity or sport or what-ever.

The license will be here soon, I understand that, so what can a license accomplish.
Lets say, that eels are on the verge of being extinct for arguments sake and there needs to be some way of controling the amount being purchased for fishing. There can be x-amount of eels allocated be license per week with no roll over eels (like roll over minutes).

Pete is right! I don't think it is legal for the State of Rhode Island to require a saltwater fishing license. I thought they already settled that a while back when trying to get more tax revenue.

I have no idea whether I'm right or not. I'm just reading the law in a way that fits how I'd like things to be. ;) All I know is I don't like it.

As long as Lic. fees stays out of the General Fund in Massachusetts and the money goes towards Evnviromental Police overhead and fisheries managment-restoration, I am all for it.

Recreational lic. fee should be a small fee for the year. Let the commerical anglers fork out a higher fee.

It's unlikely that any of us will notice any difference in policing after the law is passed. We can only hope that a good chunk of money will go into more research of the bait fisheries habits and protection.

Article 1, Section 17; The people shall continue to providing adequate resource planning for the control and regulation of the use of the natural resources of the state and for the preservation, regeneration and restoration of the natural environment of the state.

Regardless of what state your in, somehow we're all bound to except the new saltwater licensing..... Like it or not!

freshwater licenses are sold per each state... but that doesnt apply
to driving in each of those states.... true....

there must be something given back to the sport or resource.

all though i have envisioned already....fishermen in numbers
marching down the streets... i'd rather we didn't have to resort to
throwing dead fish on the court house steps to be heard.

States can easily manipulate these funds. They can promise you the monies will go back into fisheries and not into the general fund. Then they can turn around and appropriate that much less to the DEM budget therefore amounting to the same thing. If you don't think this sort of thing happens, I've got a great deal on a bridge for you. It the one that connects Newport to Jamestown and the price is a steal!!!. Catch'em up, ThomCat

Excellent Point TC.
It would be interesting to see if the state funding in Florida stayed the same in reference to increases.Or leveled off after they implemented the saltwater licensing down there..

I'd be in favor of a FEDERAL saltwater fishing license IF they got rid of the Fishing Excise Tax. By Federal I mean $20-30 a year and good anywhere in the country, Feds dole out the $$ like they do for the excise right now.

NO LICENSE PERIOD. If no one bought one and we all/everyone still fished, what could they possibly do?

Just one more revenue source for them.......
 

They might as well tax you every time you flush, because at some point in time what you flushed ends up in the aquafier. Once water use becomes a source of revenue watch out.

I bet they'd fine us, if we don't pay the fine, then we won't be able to register our cars or renew drivers licenses and crap like that. I guess if they catch you fishing you just give them a fake name right? ;)

I want to know why this is already happening. makomike must know something he's not telling us

Not at all. I told you the law than enacted it at the federal level, the fact that NH has already cited that law in introducing a salt water license. I hear "through the grapevine" that CT will introduce a licensing bill next week. The federal law opened up the floodgates on this and I'm hoping that if we can get enough people motivated before this train leaves the station we may be able to influence what the new systems look like. See my next post where I'll lay out some more details.

More parking and access.
Towns could be required to create more parking and/or remove those "no parking" signs in areas that are mutually agreeable.

O.K. I just posted a poll on the subject, please let me have your views on that thread.

just finished reading
 

this article by Charley Soares

http://http://www.fishingthesalt.com/previous_tips.htm
http://www.fishingthesalt.com/article_month.htm

I am beginning to get a more clear perspective....

especially the difference between a conservationist
and a preservationist....

and another good point he made is that a Saltwater license
regardless of the first fee... for it... will make us all more
politically involved in the whole process.

I'm not sure but I think your talking about what is known as he "Pittman-Robertson Act". This is one tax I don't mind paying. It goes into the restoration of wildlife. Not sure it effect fishing. I'll have to check.

[QUOTE=NIGHT STRIKES;457274]Personally I just do not trust any federal,state or local goverment to use the entire proceeds of a fishing license towards our fishery..

yes night strikes ...you strike again!!

no trust=no liscense....they'll take the money and protect the plovers.

or worse feed the seals.:fishslap:

to hell with it. let the bird lovers pay for the liscense.