Fishing without a license

[tw1164]

You should see if your state has a free fishing day. In PA you can fish for free on Labor Day, and Memorial Day.

 

[Zedtom]

Here in Colorado they had commercials that trumpeted the false claim that hunting and fishing licenses paid for the costs of running the division of wildlife. Well, they did some investigating and determined that like every other government agency the costs of administration, salaries and health care are budgeted from the tax base.

The public relations campaign backfired when the state legislature decided to merge the wildlife and parks departments when it was revealed that a lot of the game wardens were enjoying paid free time during the hunting off seasons. Many took early retirement and the younger ones now are essentially state park rangers.

 

[shortylickens]

You should see if your state has a free fishing day. In PA you can fish for free on Labor Day, and Memorial Day.

Yeah but that means you gotta fight with 10 million assholes, forget it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

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.

I think you should do it anyway. Stick it to the man bro!

 

[zoiks]

The penalty for fishing without a license is very stiff in CA. $1000 for the first time.
If you're caught catching crab out of season, it's 500 per crab.
I recommend doing the right thing and buy the damn license. Do your fucking part.

 

[BoomerD]

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.

Find out if your state has "Free Fishing Days."

MANY states do.

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

 

[AreaCode707]

Fishing licenses and catch cards help the wardens who manage fish populations. Fishing without a license is called poaching and if lots of people poach (or even a few people, depending on the species) you can do serious damage to the population.

In California, razor and pismo clams were seriously overfished and basically cannot be found today. In Washington, they do a fabulous job managing their razor clam populations, with fishing licenses required and very specific days you can fish and tight rules about how many you can take, and the population continues to flourish and there are plenty of clams for people who want to enjoy them.

Get your fishing license. Even if you only use it once, you're helping the animal population.

 

[Meghan54]

Here in Colorado they had commercials that trumpeted the false claim that hunting and fishing licenses paid for the costs of running the division of wildlife. Well, they did some investigating and determined that like every other government agency the costs of administration, salaries and health care are budgeted from the tax base.

The public relations campaign backfired when the state legislature decided to merge the wildlife and parks departments when it was revealed that a lot of the game wardens were enjoying paid free time during the hunting off seasons. Many took early retirement and the younger ones now are essentially state park rangers.

Well, of course the license fees themselves don't cover the DNR's running. But did they bother to add in the Federal outlay via the Wallop-Breaux Act that CO receives? This, too, should be added to the license fees.....along with all the additional taxes the state derives from the jobs fishing/hunting gives your state. To isolate license fees out of all that the state receives in taxes that are derived from hunting/fishing is just someone trying to sell an agenda.

And about game wardens having months off after "hunting season" closes......almost all states have some sort of "hunting season" year round. Hunting season doesn't start and end with just the big game animals. You have several year round small game species, so you think game wardens don't police those and their hunters?

And the game wardens are also responsible for fishing enforcement, aren't they, which is also potentially a year round endeavor? I know your DNR is responsible for hunting and fishing, so it follows your game wardens are responsible for both, too.

 

[Squisher]

Also, you might need additional licenses (stamps usually) for certain fish like trout if that fish is native to the water you're fishing.

 

[jtvang125]

Many states have single day licenses if you don't do much fishing or just want to try it out for a day. Compared to a annual license it's quite a bad buy but better than not getting one and getting a ticket. That's definitely one way to ruin a start into the hobby.

Also check your local laws and regulations. Fish specific stamps, size and catch limits vary state to state.

 

[Zedtom]

*text*

The government agency used tax dollars to make the false claim in commercials that were shown as a public service but cost money to produce. The game wardens are indeed on duty twelve months a year. That doesn't excuse that some were goldbricking.

I support the department but I don't like them wasting tax dollars. There are probably some residents who don't purchase licenses because of a perception issue.

 

[Alone]

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

Nope.

 

[Kirby]

No way I'd risk it. You can get a license for several days, although here it's $12/year for residents. Several times game wardens have boarded us, check licenses, fish, PFDs, and boat registration.

 

[BornStar]

Nope.

Yep.

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_165301.html

 

[Newbian]

It's like having sex with hot 15 year olds. There's a 99% chance you get away with it, but you're in big trouble if you get caught.

Are we talking about 15 year old fish because if so then it's worth it.

 

[Alone]

Yep.

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_165301.html

Well, I don't know what happened, but I got my fishing license a few weeks ago and I don't have the Outdoors card. I also don't meet any of the criteria that would account for that.

 

[Red Squirrel]

For the very few times I fish, I just do it without a license. I might go a few hours here and there, so the odds of even catching something are slim. If I did it often and went all day then I'd probably get the license.

 

[CZroe]

Buy the license. I bought one religiously for 10 years, never got checked and then one summer decided I didn't need it and guess what? I got busted by DWR, slapped with a $150 fine and a misdemeanor for fishing without a license on my record. Not cool.

Those license fees fund your states department of wildlife.

They are the ones that put the fish in there for you to catch and set sustainable limits so you can keep taking fish to eat.

Get your license.

From the post above yours, it looks more like they are funded from the fines the levee against those without licenses.

 

[spikespiegal]

I believe the only exception to fishing licenses are rather fuzzy 'right of causeway' rules and so forth. If the lake is private, or you are fishing from a private lakefront that doesn't border a public access a license is either not required (or not enforced) as long as you abide by typical catch limits. 'Ranger Rick' is more interested in busting fishermen with multiple poles on a heavily fished public lake or river than some kid fishing off grandpa's dock. Also, if the waterbody is entirelly surrounded by private homes there's really no place to enforce it from. Also consider many smaller lakes are privately stocked, and you can't charge somebody with a license to catch their own fish.

I recall traveling on fishing trips to Cananda that customs could be really strict about this and you needed a strip of skin left on filets to identify the game fish. Otherwise, the Canooks could get really excited about this and cost you a lot of trouble at the border. no arguement - it's all for a proper cause and regulation.

 

[Oyeve]

NYC has implemented a must have a license last year. It pisses me off because it is for the rivers and ocean. I can understand the lakes, which has always been the case, but the East River? They are not stocking the river. Just the city's way of making even more money. I have been fishing there for nearly 40 years and have a lifetime license for lakes but I refuse to pay for a NY river license.

 

[SandEagle]

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

 

[spidey07]

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

My state you can just print it out online.

 

[Jeffg010]

http://www.freefishingday.com/freefishingsearch.html

Use this link for the free day of fishing.

 

[isekii]

it's worth getting the license. you get caught you'll end upwards of 10X as much

 

[DrPizza]

I'm on vacation this week at my favorite lake. I've been stopped by the DEC twice. They've checked my license and everyone's license in the boat, checked that I had adequate flotation devices, flares, horn/whistle, fire extinguishers, paddle, throwable cushion, etc. AND, they checked my catch and measured the length of each fish. The fishing is incredible here partly because of enforcement of well defined size and creel limits. Fish fries for dinner tonight! Filleted over 150 panfish last night and this afternoon.