what would you like to see in a licensing system

[MakoMike]

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?

[snake slinger]

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

[stripersnipr]

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.

[macojoe]

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!

[ThrowingTimber]

Enforcement

[Pt.JudeJoe]

NO LICENSE. There are not enough people now to enforce the regulations,there certainly will not be enough money to hire enough officers to go through the exercise of checking all of the fishermen out there.The ocean is there for all of us to fish ,we should not need permission from the state to do so.

[Pete F.]

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.

[Rockport24]

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.

[Karl F]

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...

[Jimbo]

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.

[wheresmy50]

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.

[Redsoxticket]

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.

[Slipknot]

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

Originally Posted by Karl F

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...

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.

[macojoe]

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!!

[fcap60]

I would like to see a significant return of revenues from licensing fees go towards salt water fishing related projects (i.e. wardens, habitat, conservation, access, handicap access, repairs, etc) and not use the license revenues generated towards the respecive State's General Fund.

Possible-yes, probable-no

[MakoMike]

Lets face facts, the cost of administering the license system has to come from somewhere, and with the way all governments are scrambling for money they aren't going to pay for it out of the general fund. But I think part of my idea may address that issue.

[OSSCA]

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

[shadow]

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.

[Forester]

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?

[MakoMike]

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.

[Pete F.]

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.

[shadow]

Originally Posted by bluefishercat

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.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Just dont charge me for the freshwater part!

[jbuck]

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

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by jbuck

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...

[Slingah]

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

[jbuck]

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.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by jbuck

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

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.

[thortum]

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

[NarragansettBil]

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.