Kiss it goodbye....

[zimmy]

nc has one and it is cheaper than buying bait or a plug. I understand some of the feelings about this, but maybe it will get used for the intended purpose?

[NIGHT STRIKES]

Originally Posted by zimmy

but maybe it will get used for the intended purpose?

I think thats what is the main concern and the real reason why most are again'st this fee/charge etc., if everything went back into the fishery and or enforcement of the laws I believe most would be onboard here...

[striperondafly]

thats my position - if you can show me how it is gonna help the rec angler by putting the money into the fishery and not the politicians pockets than I am all for it

otherwise I will fish without a license and pay the fine if I get caught

[Mike P]

How many of you guys would buy a Beachmaster on eBay for $50?

Bet the license will cost less, and it'll last longer than the first bluefish that swims along.

Listening to you people complain about a lousy fee that'll run less than the cost of an inflated plug is almost comical.

I don't like it any more than you do, but it's inevitable. Big Brother calls the shots. The days when states could thumb their nose at Washington are over, and have been for 40 years. You either toe the line or lose billions in funding (remember how DC shoved the .08 OUI limit down the throat of every state, and the 55 mph speed limit back in the 70s). Suck it up. What most of you spend on fishing in a year could buy licenses for a whole Boy Scout troop.

[JohnR]

I think it depends on where the money goes. If it goes back to marine recreational fishing needs and SUPPLEMENTS existing funds AND their is a local recreational body with guidance and oversight for spending the money, I'm for it. If the funds are just to pad the coffers I'm against...

Patrick, for those of use without the luxury of making the last meeting, how about an update.

Thanks,

John

[leptar]

What i learned about where the money goes when I read the freaking thing!!!

Originally Posted by OntheWater_Reg_Watch_4_07.doc

" The purpose of a national registry of saltwater anglers, according to Forbes Darby, National Recreational Fisheries Coordinator at NOAA, is not to create a new tax to squeeze money out of anglers. “The goal is to make it possible to collect the best data to best manage the fishery,” said Darby. Currently, NOAA’s Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey (MRFSS) is the primary way scientists and managers count how many fish recreational fishermen are catching and keeping each year. The survey relies on randomly dialing households in coastal counties to track recreational fishermen, a highly inefficient process in which many anglers are missed and many non-angler households are phoned. By building a virtual phonebook of anglers, the registry would make counting fishermen and conducting a survey substantially more accurate and efficient."

Every other state that has this in effect has no problems with it... other then the occasional fine and confiscation of gear from those that choose to violate the rule in effect...

[leptar]

This doesn't mean that every area will require people to have a license...

I know from what i have read on-line that you don't need to buy a license when fishing on a head/charter boat... Also some piers have a "pier license" that allow you to fish off the pier without having a license...

Rates range from $12.50 to $21.00 for residents and $30.00-$90.00 for non-residents depending on the State...

From what i read the rates would change to $15/$30 once we reach 2009 when we go federal.. I believe Rhode Island will be the only state exempt from participating in the license on a Federal Level.

[Striperknight]

I fished VA last summer and needed a saltwater license. I was the only guy at the inlet with one. Everyone else chose to ignore it. The fishing was bad as well.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by leptar

What i learned about where the money goes when I read the freaking thing!!!

Every other state that has this in effect has no problems with it... other then the occasional fine and confiscation of gear from those that choose to violate the rule in effect...

That's right. People don't read the fine print or take the time to understand that this is a good opportunity, not a tax as the sensationalists claim.
Perhaps I'm too optimistic, but having the opportunity to implement a data gathering mechanism aids in formulating informed opinions and potentially objective management decisions. Right now that kind of stuff doesn't exist.
This thing isn't about enforcement; it’s about positioning for the future. No doubt there will be some fallout from this thing and some feathers will be ruffled, but my feeling is that it’s a good first step. Those that think the funding is going to put more green police on the beat so as to catch and prosecute the choggie poachers are missing the point. It’s a lot bigger than that.

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by Mike P

Listening to you people complain about a lousy fee that'll run less than the cost of an inflated plug is almost comical.

Last frontier Mike ... The foot is in the door ... Its not the money . Its the End of the World as we know it .. I hope the "fee" stops global warming .. I personaly don't care .. was quitting fishing and joining a bowling team anyway .. cool shirts ..

[fishpoopoo]

what if you fish multiple states?

in one season I fished NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ (okay it was a party boat), DE, MD, VA, and NC.

not that would happen every year, but you can imagine the non-resident license fees piling up!

[Raven]

quote: Listening to you people complain about a lousy fee
that'll run less than the cost of an inflated plug is almost comical.

in essence i agree


on the other hand :

its a matter of principle....

and it's the same old story occurring
just in a different century

taxation without representation...

meaning a fee without guarantee of access to fish
or any other improvement to the fishery...

as all the richies don't want to see a fishermen

when they sip wine in the evening....

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by fishpoopoo

what if you fish multiple states?

in one season I fished NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ (okay it was a party boat), DE, MD, VA, and NC.

not that would happen every year, but you can imagine the non-resident license fees piling up!

Last year I fished in Maine, NH, Mass, and RI
The year before I also fished in NY
I guess I will just pick some, NH will be the first to go.

[FishermanTim]

Let's mot forget the incident a few years ago when the state tried to take the federal funds earmarked for the Mass Wildlife Dept.
I wouldn't be so skeptical if I knew that the lazy SOB's on capital hill wouldn't be trying to stick their filthy hands into those funds obtained from a saltwater license.

Let's face it, if the state EVER gets ahold of these funds, then I will stop buying ANY fishing license in this state. I didn't buy them to give to some no good worthless politician, who's only goal is to take your money and line his/her own pockets.
Remember, they closed how many of the state's fisheries(?), and lost how many game wardens(?) in the past 5-10 years.
Don't they now buy their stocking fish out of state?

Just so I'm clear, I would not be against a saltwater license, but I want to know EXACTLY where it goes and what it's for.

[Grampy]

Originally Posted by Tagger

Last frontier Mike ... The foot is in the door ... Its not the money . Its the End of the World as we know it .. I hope the "fee" stops global warming .. I personaly don't care .. was quitting fishing and joining a bowling team anyway .. cool shirts ..

M.M.M.M.M , Let's see, would the team be called "The Ditch Trolls Bowling League"?

[spence]

Originally Posted by Mike P

How many of you guys would buy a Beachmaster on eBay for $50?

Bet the license will cost less, and it'll last longer than the first bluefish that swims along.

Listening to you people complain about a lousy fee that'll run less than the cost of an inflated plug is almost comical.

I don't like it any more than you do, but it's inevitable. Big Brother calls the shots. The days when states could thumb their nose at Washington are over, and have been for 40 years. You either toe the line or lose billions in funding (remember how DC shoved the .08 OUI limit down the throat of every state, and the 55 mph speed limit back in the 70s). Suck it up. What most of you spend on fishing in a year could buy licenses for a whole Boy Scout troop.

Very well said

-spence