Atlantic HMS Permits

[Mr. Sandman]

IMO, The comm lic is enforced...the rec isn't.

Have YOU ever been stopped and checked?

Do you know ANYONE who has? (really)

I could catch a small tuna and have it on the grill within hours and no one even bats an eye. Yes I pay the fee (which I think is bogus and does little to help the fish or anyone except employ management jobs that do little) But the point is why do we need a rec lic to catch a shark? or a 40# bluefin. Should their be limits...sure, a lic.... no way.

Sure, if you sell a 1000# fish I think there should be a lic to help monitor the catch, but this HMS thing (for recs) is a joke.

BTW, have you EVER heard of ANYONE being fined or prosecuted for not having a HMS (rec) lic? What's the punishment...a day off the water? This is a joke.
Yes if you pull a 800# fish and try to sell it you are in for a problem but if you kept it, and shared uit with your buds...no one would give a damn. No one checks recs for this. Are their tuna police out there? checking every 30' boat with outriggers? Yes I know the CG and others check this but the targets are serios comm fishermen and they are pretty obvious.
I have to say I don't go that often anymore (maybe 6 X per season) but I have NEVER seen rec fisherman being checked at sea for an HMS lic.