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John,
I think your poins 3&4 hit it on the nail: Most anglers would accept, maybe even support, a license if all the money collected went towards helping the sport in terms of jetties and piers, law enforcement, stocking (as much as you can do or similar in saltwater), some habitat protection etc.
Most of the saltwater license issues here in NY have been the same thing. Only a fraction of the money ear marked for the fishery and the rest into the general fund. So it's another hidden tax.
Given the size and growth of the saltwater fishing industry even if a license did start out with all the money going back to the fishery I don't see how you could prevent the eventual redirection of the funds into other things, little by little.
I think a license is inevitable either way.
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