Saltwater Fishing License!

[BigFish]

I hear and read more and more about towns which happen to be on the water turning beaches, parking areas and such into "Resident Only" areas......so if they do institute a saltwater fishing license.....where the hell is a surf guy who does not reside in a shoreline town supposed to go???

I will never pay to fish the salt.....is there anything left in this world to do that is free??

[l.i.fish.in.vt]

i just returned from Florida where i paid paid 32 dollars for a years fishing license.so i have no problem paying for a license to fish.anyone who has fished florida will tell you that there fishing has improved over the years due to fishing regulations which are strictly enforced.the FMP was out checking just about everyday that i fished.if a license in the northeast meant an enforcement of the regulations i am all for it.nothing in life is for free.

[Gunpowder]

Originally Posted by l.i.fish.in.vt

nothing in life is for free.

well surf casting should remain that way! i can somewhat understand tryin to regulate beach buggies and such because they think that driving on a beach will ruin it? but payin money to be able to enjoy a beach wherever is rediculous. granted i would pay but would be mad if if i had to.

[JohnR]

Rhode Island has state constitutional guarantees to access the water while fishing so we are lucky in that respect... Expect to see (or at least fight) a federal mandate for saltwater licensing with the premise being if your state does not require one than the feds will...

[Swimmer]

The thought of a license really rattles my cage. oke:

[derf]

ok , let's see ..
fla , nc , va have one now .
de is getting ready to pass one .
nj you have to have a 'tag' to even walk on their beaches in the summer ; will a fishing license be far behind ??
i may be mistaken , but isn't a license gonna be required to get federal money from the magneson ferguson act ??
that's the reason for de putting one into effect ...
i guess the best that can be hoped for is an 'east coast' saltwater license so we don't get nickeled and dimed to death ......
derf

[BMEUPSCOTTY]

That's true what vt said about the enforcement in FL. They are all over the place. I've been checked every time I have fished down there, so at least they are spending the money in the interest of the sportsman. That being said, it would be nice to find a way to fund that level of presence without selling licenses.

[Backbeach Jake]

When they start vigorously enforceing the present laws (which they won't) then maybe. We're already paying all outdoors for no help from the authorities. On the Cape I see people freshy fishing EVERYDAY without a displayed license. I also see EPO trucks driving around to do not a friggin thing. I feel that we surfcasters (and boatmen) are generally more conservation minded that those we hire to enforce the laws. pant,pant,pant...I'm done...

[macojoe]

Well if they ever want to see a penny from me they better do a couple of things first!!
1. Access has to be given for free!! and more of it!
2. All dragger's better be banded from the 3 mile limit to protect the inshore fishery!
3. Size limits, (I will use Fluke cause thats what I like to do most) Commercial allowed 14" 200 to 300 pounds a day while recreation has to go 17.5 bag limit of 5 fish?
Recreation guys have had to pay the price for the commercial fleet long enough!!

[beachwalker]

whats the big deal ?

[slow eddie]

the one thing that will iritate me about the r.i. saltwater license would be that the funds collected would go into the general, read slush, fund. fla. fishing in the keys are a surf dream. plenty of parking and access. trash barrels p.u twice a day. special bridges to fish off of. then look at r.i., where they seem to go out of there way to restrict access. my 02.

[gone fishin]

Originally Posted by Backbeach Jake

When they start vigorously enforceing the present laws (which they won't) then maybe. We're already paying all outdoors for no help from the authorities. On the Cape I see people freshy fishing EVERYDAY without a displayed license. I also see EPO trucks driving around to do not a friggin thing. I feel that we surfcasters (and boatmen) are generally more conservation minded that those we hire to enforce the laws. pant,pant,pant...I'm done...

MA no longer displays the license. It must be carried on your person and produced when asked. Sort of makes it easy to fish without one.

[striprman]

What about the poor folks that have no cash, disabled, elderly, unemployed. Really poor folks that are basicly "subsistance" fishermen. Not a good idea.

[captrobbie]

Hey guys we might not like to have to purchase a license for s w fishing but it's coming. We talked about this at the barnstable county league of sportsman's club the other night. It's supposed to happen by 2009. They tried to do this before but they couldn't say where the money would go so we fought against it and put it off for a while. From what I heard if the states don't do it the feds will step in and we'll have nothing to say about anything. On the up side, they'll be able to track the number of us and have a handle on just how much power is behind the recreational anglers.

[Squid kids Dad]

Although I might not like it,if one is needed I will get one...My luck Phil Schwinds(sp) ghost will get me..Just like he used to chase me around Eastham when I was a kid..lol

[Backbeach Jake]

Originally Posted by gone fishin

MA no longer displays the license. It must be carried on your person and produced when asked. Sort of makes it easy to fish without one.

Well that adds meat to my point. Used to have to display so the Warden could check you out through his binos. Now that he's an EPO he doesn't even do that. The last time that I was interviewed by an EPO, he wasn't even real. Just some JQPublic risking a beating by pretending that he was. That was in 1985. That is also very sad..

[Redsoxticket]

Then there are those that invite their spouces, children, family or friends fishing once a year which otherwise would never fish. That would make for an expensive outing.

[ilovetwofish]

You know the state will take most of it for new vechichles or what ever and the rest of the money will be going to the boat launches.The surf fishermen will keep getting SCREWED as more and more good fishing spots become private.

[texican]

I have lived in Mass for 4 years now and love that I do not have to pay for a sw license. Before moving here I lived in Texas and would have to pay to fish in sw. about 30 dollars for the licence and a redfish tag. The game wardens would patrol the fishing very heavily. I thought that was great it kept our waters and shore cleaner. It did not bother me paying because the wardens were doing their jobs and it was great to feel the fishing grounds were gonna be there intact for my children and future fisherman. I just hope if we get a fishing license that the people who enfoce the laws do it well and if so we will see a difference. But it will take years to see.

[thewaterfordstriper]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Rhode Island has state constitutional guarantees to access the water while fishing so we are lucky in that respect... Expect to see (or at least fight) a federal mandate for saltwater licensing with the premise being if your state does not require one than the feds will...

this is a very true statement. i talked with some guys at the dep in ct and they basically said the same thing.

i really hope that our area states come up with some kind of reciprocity act. us, new england fishermen do not have the coastal linear miles that the bigger southern states have.

living in ct, i am going to have to buy 5 licenses? that sucks.

[bloocrab]

Originally Posted by beachwalker

whats the big deal ?

It's not a big deal.

Send me $35 a year and I will do what our DEM has been doing for as long as I can remember....

[jkswimmer]

The license would not be a bad thing but you know what is going to happen with the money? Even with the hiring of enforcement police they could be funneled of for more important duties. The fact that we already pay for the boat ramps that are in, we also pay again to use them. If Mass is to put in any parking spots, they will be shut down by the locals because of the kids.

[Raven]

if you have to pay for it.... (eventuality)

a second tag for the license plate or bumper
should come with it....

to circumvent that residents only garbage
allowing you access to fish...

[spence]

I don't have a problem with a SW license, as long as the money goes towards conservation...

-spence

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by spence

I don't have a problem with a SW license, as long as the money goes towards conservation...

-spence

I don't have a problem (too much) with a saltwater license provided that the funds raised do not just free up more money for the general ledger. The RI state constitution does not allow for creating dedicated receipt accouts, ergo any money raised by one particluar user group cannot be guaranteed allocated back to that group... One of the chief reasons a previous RI license intiative failed, there was no guarantee the money would remain with DEM...

[RIROCKHOUND]

I agree with the general consensus. General fund = no, back to fishing, enforcement etc. yes.

[Raven]

you can't take our fishing license money
and collect millions of dollars!!!
and then say at the same time
that you don't have the money
for enforcement
or improvements for access

[beachwalker]

Originally Posted by bloocrab

It's not a big deal.

Send me $35 a year and I will do what our DEM has been doing for as long as I can remember....

like whatever.....

not throwin this at you bloo. just gets tiring every year having to hear this gob.

We will still be able to fish. I am more concerned about $ 4-5 p/ gallon of fuel !

[MeanStreak]

I will agree to a SW licence if we get the money (local) and it dosent go in a State Parks General Fund . Then they can hire more people to enforce the rules.

Dead Mike

[Newboater]

Heard that New Hamshire might get into a SW fishing license. If it would help enforcing laws and fix up ramps etc, I'd have no problem giving up $10 to $20 a year for SW Fishing license with no restrictions.

Lee