Registered with the Feds....

[nightfighter]

Hated to do it. Can't believe we'll have to be paying up for the right to fish saltwater next year. Keep hearing Flap's rants about the rights to fish that have been around since the birth of this nation... But I registered through NOAA online, as have some 12 million others, according to the site.

Anyone else?

[Rob Rockcrawler]

Yup, its the law and im a good boy.

[Mugz]

Yup, got my card 2 weeks later.

[DRUMCORPFAN]

Yup, Me Too

[Mike P]

There's no down side to registering this year---why would anyone think that it's a bad idea to let the Feds know just how many (presumably voting) recreational saltwater anglers there are in this neck of the woods?

These are 12 million saltwater fishermen who don't live in states that already have a SW license, as they don't have to register

[nightfighter]

Originally Posted by Mike P

There's no down side to registering this year---why would anyone think that it's a bad idea to let the Feds know just how many (presumably voting) recreational saltwater anglers there are in this neck of the woods?

These are 12 million saltwater fishermen who don't live in states that already have a SW license, as they don't have to register

Why??? Because I think it is nothing more than a cash grab tax that will ultimately be imposed upon us, beginning next year, with an escalating cost down the road. I have absolutely zero faith that the funds generated will be used exclusively for fisheries management, especially given the Patrick administration's and the legislature's record of changing tax basis' yearly to meet their bottom line. They will grab these funds too.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

Why??? Because I think it is nothing more than a cash grab tax that will ultimately be imposed upon us, beginning next year, with an escalating cost down the road. I have absolutely zero faith that the funds generated will be used exclusively for fisheries management, especially given the Patrick administration's and the legislature's record of changing tax basis' yearly to meet their bottom line. They will grab these funds too.

When you can find a case of any Massachusetts governor successfully glomming onto the FW/hunting/sporting license funds, which by law must be kept in a dedicated interest-bearing account and used only on hunting and fishing issues, let me know. Because if memory serves me correctly, Mitt tried and got shot down.

[5/0]

Originally Posted by Mike P

There's no down side to registering this year---why would anyone think that it's a bad idea to let the Feds know just how many (presumably voting) recreational saltwater anglers there are in this neck of the woods?)

They are just playing it smart and planning ahead,this is a dry run for us but they need the figures on how many people are going to register so they can calculate on how much money there going to receive next year

[Rockport24]

yup, got my card and everything

[PRBuzz]

I got 4 registered Buzz's! Just in case the wifey and daughter take a trip when I have poles and get stopped. Next year may be different when we in MA have to pay!

[WESTPORTMAFIA]

Yup. I just hope the money puts more patrol out there to enforce it all. We'll see.

[Mr. Sandman]

Well I think you might be better off not registering everyone. By increasing the number of fishermen (many of whom may never actually fish) these numbers will be used to estimate how many fish are killed. If you put down everyone in your immediate family as a "just in case" and because it is free...you are basically providing bad info which will be used to make regulations, reducing the rec take because of all these fishermen. The assumptions are steep. I have been at fluke meetings...some assume we recs fish 7 days a week taking our limit each day.
I think you need to attache $$$ to each lic to get real number of fishermen. If they charged you 80 bucks per fisherman you are not going to register those who might not fish. You will wait till the last minute.

My bet is the number of fishermen is reduced next year.

Also, I bet you get nasty emails from the government next season if you registered this year and declined next year when the fees kick in. The fed info will be shared with the states. This is not a well thought out plan. Has a "Big Brother" feel to it. I don't think it will do enough for the fish.

And as for where the money goes...what major projects have they done with the 10% fishing tax now on all tackle sold? How have I benifited from the tax?

There will be no more enforcent than what we have now...in fact from what I have seen numbers of enforecement persons at least in my neck of the woods is being reduced. Cops we have plenty but on the water enforcement is another story.

[PRBuzz]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

Well I think you might be better off not registering everyone. By increasing the number of fishermen (many of whom may never actually fish) these numbers will be used to estimate how many fish are killed. If you put down everyone in your immediate family as a "just in case" and because it is free...you are basically providing bad info upon witch will be used to make regulations.
I think you need to attache $$$ to each lic to get real number of fishermen. If they charged you 80 bucks per fisherman you are not going to register those who might not fish. You will wait till the last minute.

My bet is the number of fishermen is reduced next year.

Also, I bet you get nasty emails from the government next season if you registered this year and declined next year. The fed info will be shared with the states. This is not a well thought out plan.

Until "they" figure out enforcement strategy...I'll take the cautious approach! Unless they are going to watch me for an hour and see who does/doesn't touch a pole, I'm covering anybody that sets foot on my boat.

[Mr. Sandman]

Honeslty, what do you think they will do next season if you didn't sign up for the "free" permit. Little to nothing. In fact most (normal) people have never even heard of the salt water fishing lic.