what would you like to see in a licensing system
 

I don't want to divert the menhaden bill thread so I'll start a new one.

You may or may not know that the recently enacted Magnesson-Stevens act calls for a "registry" of saltwater anglers to be established and for the feds to work with the states in developing state licensing plans that the feds can use for their registry. New Hampshire has already cited that provision while defending its current salt water licensing proposal. I have some views on the issue, but beofre I state my views I would like ot hear what everyone else thinks. what say you?

i hope with the revenue the licences bring in we can get some wardens out and checking for short fish

Thats easy. 100% return of licensing fee's to fisheries protection. But what we can expect is the promise of that minus the 95% cost of administering the licensing program.

All moneys stay in the fishery, More Wardens, More access to the water, Dragger's out past 3 mile limit, Only hook fishing inshore to protect the inshore fishery!

Enforcement :tm:

Let's see, I live in VT and last year fished in ME, NH, Mass, RI and NY.
How much will this cost me? Which states will go first cause they will be the first off my list for economic reasons.

a salt water license is riddled with problems, not the least of which is that it is just basically another tax we will have to pay that will most likley just go into a general fund and maybe 1% will go towards our already underfunded wildlife enforcement. It's like, we pay 5% in Mass in sales tax at the B&T and the license fee, same thing.

ACCESS.. Keep what we have open and get more back..
And by Access, I mean, ORV, foot, and the ability to launch a boat.
More Parking.. for fishermen, More Ramps, and areas to park your rig with trailer, hassle free.
Enforcement of existing laws, i.e. poachers, and highgraders..
And Education, so people know the laws....
Also.. the $ should go into a dedicated fund.. for DEM, or F&W.. whoever is going to enforce the regs.. NO GENERAL FUND.. if the $ goes into the GF.. not one penny will come back to the fishermen...

I was thinking along the lines of bluefishercat and maybe reciprocity should be considered. I guess the funds could go to the state in which the license was bought, but going to another state wouldn't mean buying a new license, just obeying thelaws of that state.

I think the best case would be if the states used the money for enforcement, education, clean ups, etc. But I don't think that will happen. I'm not trying to be senselessly negative, but NJ, MA, RI haven't historically done a very good job of spending money on society's "givers".

So, assuming the money will be wasted anyway, I'd rather there be a federal license so that fishers can move between states without needing separate licenses with as small a fee as possible. If the registration is done online, meaning no people are involved, my Kentucky windage math says the license should cost about $5.

Here is an idea, the rec. license will allow that the holder of such license to sell their fish to regulated seafood buyers with a percentage of the monies going back to the fund.

i was thinking of a federal license to fish in any states waters.
that way.... a lawbreaker (poacher) can't fish anywhere without it.
otherwise... no salt license at all.

and....
a web site to report violators and submit photo's too
...even short video's of violators and or poachers in the act.

just my .04 cents

and what Karl Said :btu:

Funny....the thought have having to pay another fee to fish in the ocean! I pay $150.00 to fish Race Point (when I can get out there because of the freakin birds).......so on top of that I will have to pay another fee? How about the guys with boats??? They have the boat payment, gas, insurance, maintenance, slip fees if they have them and....oh yeah.....now they will have to pay for the priviledge of fishing off the side of their boat!?!?!?!?! Sorry....I think some things in life should be unencumbered and.....FREE!!!! Like fishing!!!! When is enough enough??? Us poor shore guys can't get enough freakin access as it is and they are gonna want us to pay for the right to fish the few places we can go now???? They want to open up more access to folks to fish from shore.....I am all for it but as it stands now.....NOPE!:splat:

%$#@! 'em Larry, let 'em find us..:zup:

Read my signature.

In other words, the federal gov't can screw.

Some things were just meant to be public and free.

NIIIIIIIIIIICE,Pete.It was only a couple months ago they refused to change our constitution for a casino.

You need a license to hunt bambi and friends , a license for freshwater and soon ( so it seems) one for Saltwater. One day you will need a license to get a license.....

I am against a saltwater license but if they pass the law for one, then it should be one federal nationwide license, not state.

And what Big K said :claps:



A license will most likely hurt the economy by discouraging the casual rec fisher from bothering to buy fishing stuff to only go on a whim or once or twice a year, so it better not be a lot of dough to buy one , or it should last 2 or 3 years maybe.

I going to fish with out it!! If they no like they can put me in Jail and feed me 3 times a day for free, O yea and put my kids on there pay roll also!

I No PAY!!:behead:

no way do we need to pay to fish in our bay,,, can you see the wait at the boat ramps,,,, just don't see what it would do for me

As much as I am against it, it is coming so like it or not may as well shoot for something positive, I would rather see a state licence so long as the money generated goes into perserving and maintaining the marines fisheries, they just want to put the money in the "General fund" to bail out other areas.Thats why it failed last time..

But I do think the Ocean should be free to fish.....

The only reason I don't like the idea is that I don't want to have to buy a lic. for every state I fish in 3 fresh water Lic. 3 saltwater lic. it gets costly

It is just another way for big brother to keep track of us, and remember only the honest people follow the rules.

Instead of a license for everyone, the money can be raised by increasing the fees for boaters since they use more of the states resources as oppose to a man or child that just wants to catch a few fish from the shoreline.

Having said that.
I'll oppose any salt water license and any increase in boater fees.

What Karl said................:tm:

a license is only one ,ore tax that will never go back into the fisheries . just like freshwater , clamming etc etc all goes into general fund so they can waste it .

I carry way to many now and there are a # I dont have .

How come there isnt a license for people to be parents and even a test . I know I wouldnt have passed .

RST,
Not singleng you out, but your post seems to representative of some of the posts on this thread. I don't know what I have to do to get through to you guys ITS ALREADY PASSED, IT"S THE LAW, YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THERE WILL BE A LICENSE What I'm trying to get a feel for is what would you like the licensing system to be like. While we have lost the battle over whether or not we should have a license we can influence what the system will ultimately look like.

Vic;
you have got to be sh-tting me!
Fees for boaters only?
The mindset of 'he has a boat he can afford it?'
What about taxes, registrations, safety equipment, gas etc.. and you think guys in boats should pay more? What about the man or child that wants to take his 13ft whaler out and catch a few fish... I live for the surf but spend a fair amount of time boating as well... thats beyond ignorant...

Like most have said I'm not pro-license, but if it is passed as a law then so be it. I go to Florida, I pay the fee to fish. for people to say they aren't going to pay, good luck, hopefully the license pays for more enforcement, just hope you don't get caught. 'I wont pay until all dragger's are 3mi out isnt a viable defense....)

I Hope they don't shaft out of staters... F'ng stickey fingered B@$tards.

Personally I just do not trust any federal,state or local goverment to use the entire proceeds of a fishing license towards our fishery..

Somehow,Someway those funds will get lost somewhere.....

It would be great to see the funds go into better law enforcement
and to help protect the enviorment inwhich we fish,not to mention
research to help protect and continue our fisheries for the future...

Prove to me that these things will be 100% completely funded buy this additionial fee/tax ,and I will signup and be pro-active about it around my home waters....