Fishing without a license

[Zap]

As mentioned, free fishing days, plus private ponds/lakes. Some privately owned ponds/lakes are open to the public for fishing, but you pay to fish. Then again, many public lakes these days have a "day use fee." Otherwise, just buy a license.

Until last year, in California you also had to "wear" your license clipped to the exterior of your clothing above your waist. I remember doing that, BITD.

Don't know about elsewhere, but in California you can fish off municipal piers without a license.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/fishing/sportfishingfaqs.html

Q: Is a fishing license required while fishing from a public fishing pier in ocean waters?

A: No, but it must be a public fishing pier. A Sturgeon Fishing Report Card is required to take sturgeon from a public pier in ocean waters. A Spiny Lobster Report Card is required to take spiny lobster from a public pier in ocean waters.

(a) A sport fishing license is not required to take fish for any purpose other than profit by means of angling from a public pier in the ocean waters of the state. (b) For purposes of this section, ocean waters include, but are not limited to, the open waters adjacent to the ocean and any island; the waters of any open or enclosed bay contiguous to the ocean; the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, with any tidal bay belonging thereto; and any slough or estuary, if found between the Golden Gate Bridge and the Benicia-Martinez Bridge (Fish and Game Code Section 7153).

A public pier is defined in the sport fishing regulations as a publicly owned man-made structure that has the following characteristics: is connected, above the mean high tide, to the main coastline or to the land mass of a named and charted natural island; has unrestricted free access for the general public; and has been built or currently functions for the primary purpose of allowing angling access to ocean waters (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 1.88)

Additionally, publicly owned jetties or breakwaters that are connected to land, as described above, that have free unrestricted access for the general public and whose purpose it is to form the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor are public piers. Jetties, breakwaters, promenades, sea walls, moles, docks, linings, barriers and other structures that are not the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor, are not public piers.

Even though licenses and stamps are not required while fishing from a public pier, all other regulations apply (including minimum size, bag limits, seasons and report card requirements).

I used to fish off Ocean Beach Pier in San Diego. They even have a few special 24 hour spots in the parking lot for pier access (normally parking lot closes after a certain time, after which cars are towed). I've also fished off Shelter Island Pier.

List of California piers with info

 

[SandEagle]

i decided to not take fishing up as a hobby. i'm going vegan so it would make no sense to kill those fish. plus, i think i'll put that $20 fee towards Modern Warfare 3 instead

 

[iGas]

Sure you can, but be prepare to pay the fine if you are caught with a fish.

License is cheap IMHO.

 

[adairusmc]

i decided to not take fishing up as a hobby. i'm going vegan so it would make no sense to kill those fish. plus, i think i'll put that $20 fee towards Modern Warfare 3 instead

 

[sao123]

hmm, just found out that you can get a fishing license at Walmart. sporting goods department. sweeet, no waiting in lines at wherever those public employees work

most states offer a few fish for free days without a license, or offer 2-3 day passes... so no need to buy the whole license.

 

[JumBie]

Canada requires licenses, too. Plus you need an "Outdoors card" in Ontario before you can buy the license.

The outdoors card is the license. You can either get a sports or conservation license, only difference is the amount of fish you can keep. 20 odd dollars for the license, and 15 dollars to renew each year.

 

[Ms. DICKINSON]

Funny, everyone on here claim they make six-figure income. I bet you wipe your azz with 20$ bills. But seriously. For realz? 20$ is cheap compare to what my state charges.

 

[arkcom]

Here's something interesting-

Arkansas requires a fishing license starting at 17 through 65, when your license becomes lifetime. An annual license costs $11.50, making a total lifetime cost of $552, if you buy one every year.

Or you could buy a lifetime fishing license for $1100.

What a great deal.

 

[dmcowen674]

Fishing without a license

i'm thinking of taking up fishing as a hobby, but i don't see why i have to pay $20 for the license.

Awesome

Hope they confiscate your car, sell it at auction for $2,000

Profit :thumbsup:

 

[0roo0roo]

eh its fine. need to pay for services.

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/wild-justice/all/Photos
recent series wild justice followed a buncha wardens in california, folks poaching all sorts of stuff, abalone, deer, fish, bears, whatever. but they are underfunded, they got like almost no one covering vast amounts of land.

 

[Kaido]

i'm thinking of taking up fishing as a hobby, but i don't see why i have to pay $20 for the license. are we the only country that does this? has anyone actually got ticketed for fishing without a license?

I got yelled at by an officer once - almost got a ticket. I had a license but had left it at home, so he said he wouldn't ticket me if I left, but he wasn't nice about it - I got a lecture. 2-hour drive to the lake only to realize my day-old license was sitting on my bed

 

[Kaido]

Here's something interesting-

Arkansas requires a fishing license starting at 17 through 65, when your license becomes lifetime. An annual license costs $11.50, making a total lifetime cost of $552, if you buy one every year.

Or you could buy a lifetime fishing license for $1100.

What a great deal.

Not having to go to Wal-mart to update your license every year: priceless

 

[BornStar]

The outdoors card is the license. You can either get a sports or conservation license, only difference is the amount of fish you can keep. 20 odd dollars for the license, and 15 dollars to renew each year.

No, it isn't. You need an Outdoors Card which is good for three years and then you need to buy whatever type of fishing license you want which is only good for whatever length you buy. You need to have both and they both need to be in your possession while fishing.

edit: You don't have to believe me, it's stated quite clearly numerous times on the website I linked to.

Is an Outdoors Card a recreational fishing licence?

No.

 

[Muse]

i didn't say i was going to do it. learn to read man. i don't want to pay $20 to find out that i hate fishing. it's a stupid license to have anyway. fishing should be free.

You could try it and take your chances and then make up your mind. I'm wondering why you want to take up fishing. I have no such inclinations. I have too many other interests. I wonder about people who have nothing better to do than bait a hook and toss it in the water. :\

 

[Kntx]

I was fishing 2 weeks ago off the queen charlotte islands in british columbia. The coast guard sent out a zodiac raiding all the fishing boats. They checked licences, equipment and your fish box to check if you were over the limit. So yes they check, at least in BC.

 

[fatpat268]

Depending on how old you are, it might be worth it to buy a lifetime hunting and fishing license.

Just looked it up... $1000 for lifetime fishing license and $1800 for hunting + fishing. That's quite a bit more than I was expecting...

edit: in texas