Saltwater Fishing License!

[MakoMike]

All this talk about federal law "requiring" a state license is just a bunch of crap designed to keep you quiet while the states rape you yet again. Here is what the federal law says about the recreational fishermen's registry:

(g) RECREATIONAL FISHERIES.—
(1) FEDERAL PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall establish and implement a regionally
based registry program for recreational fishermen in each of the 8 fishery management
regions. The program, which shall not require a fee before January 1, 2011, shall provide
for—
(A) the registration (including identification and contact information) of individuals
who engage in recreational fishing—
(i) in the Exclusive Economic Zone;
(ii) for anadromous species; or
(iii) for Continental Shelf fishery resources beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone;
and
(B) if appropriate, the registration (including the ownership, operator, and
identification of the vessel) of vessels used in such fishing.
(2) STATE PROGRAMS.—The Secretary shall exempt from registration under the
program recreational fishermen and charter fishing vessels licensed, permitted, or registered
under the laws of a State if the Secretary determines that information from the State program
is suitable for the Secretary’s use or is used to assist in completing marine recreational
fisheries statistical surveys, or evaluating the effects of proposed conservation and
management measures for marine recreational fisheries.

Now someone want to tell me how that federal law reuires the states to license EVERY fisherman in the state, when the federal law only required those fishing in federal waters or beyond or those fishing for striped bass to be "registered"?

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

Now someone want to tell me how that federal law reuires the states to license EVERY fisherman in the state, when the federal law only required those fishing in federal waters or beyond or those fishing for striped bass to be "registered"?

I don't think there was ever mentioned that states were *required* to enact a licensing program. However, I believe states are leveraging section (2) to develop their own registries as a way of "keeping the feds out" and milking more money of their citizens, and are enacting fees to pay for those registries.

The snowball is already rolling and this is going to happen. We can make posts like yours and grumble about something that is now out of our control, or we can send emails, get involved and hope they apply some KY before raping us.

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

I don't think there was ever mentioned that states were *required* to enact a licensing program. However, I believe states are leveraging section (2) to develop their own registries as a way of "keeping the feds out" and milking more money of their citizens, and are enacting fees to pay for those registries.

The snowball is already rolling and this is going to happen. We can make posts like yours and grumble about something that is now out of our control, or we can send emails, get involved and hope they apply some KY before raping us.

The ball may be rolling in MA, but Carcieri stopped it in its tracks in RI and it looks like the courts may throw the ball off the court in New York. Licensing is also in Trouble in NH, ME and NJ. You guys in MA may be too far out in front of this one.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

You guys in MA may be too far out in front of this one.

MA has found another way to milk money out of us, of course we're too far out now.