what would you like to see in a licensing system

[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.

[Raven]

i was thinking of a federal license to fish in any states waters.
that way.... a lawbreaker (poacher) can't fish anywhere without it.
otherwise... no salt license at all.

and....
a web site to report violators and submit photo's too
...even short video's of violators and or poachers in the act.

just my .04 cents

and what Karl Said

[BigFish]

Funny....the thought have having to pay another fee to fish in the ocean! I pay $150.00 to fish Race Point (when I can get out there because of the freakin birds).......so on top of that I will have to pay another fee? How about the guys with boats??? They have the boat payment, gas, insurance, maintenance, slip fees if they have them and....oh yeah.....now they will have to pay for the priviledge of fishing off the side of their boat!?!?!?!?! Sorry....I think some things in life should be unencumbered and.....FREE!!!! Like fishing!!!! When is enough enough??? Us poor shore guys can't get enough freakin access as it is and they are gonna want us to pay for the right to fish the few places we can go now???? They want to open up more access to folks to fish from shore.....I am all for it but as it stands now.....NOPE!

[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!!

[fishermanjim]

no way do we need to pay to fish in our bay,,, can you see the wait at the boat ramps,,,, just don't see what it would do for me

[eelman]

As much as I am against it, it is coming so like it or not may as well shoot for something positive, I would rather see a state licence so long as the money generated goes into perserving and maintaining the marines fisheries, they just want to put the money in the "General fund" to bail out other areas.Thats why it failed last time..

But I do think the Ocean should be free to fish.....