Recreational License?

[Mark Cahill]

See the Staten Island Advance story on our NewsWire page... (http://www.reel-time.com/newswire.php)

[tom crowley]

NEVER .Until the feds regulate regionally , Until any money I give is ear marked for nothing but Marine fisheries, I will not pay one dime for any kind of license.The water has to be cleaned up .People have to stop keeping shorts .Do away with treble hooks , umbrella rigs and any gear that will make it difficult to release any fish
Enforcce the laws we have and The fish will be there.
Don't blame it on the commercial guys they have their own restrictions.

[DavidS]

This seems to be the new state money maker. Gov McGreedy in NJ floated the idea last year and then denied he had anything to do with it when the uproar started. Once one state has a license all will follow.

[Smcdermott]

Great article in the latest CCA magazine regarding this topic. Certainly changed my view. The chairman argues that regardless of the use of the funds a license is merely a way of providing a count of the number of recreational anglers. This will provide statistics around the value of the recreational fishery and allow groups such as CCA and Stripers Forever the leverage they need for their voices to be heard. I am all for it!

Sean

[DavidS]

Great article in the latest CCA magazine regarding this topic. Certainly changed my view. The chairman argues that regardless of the use of the funds a license is merely a way of providing a count of the number of recreational anglers. This will provide statistics around the value of the recreational fishery and allow groups such as CCA and Stripers Forever the leverage they need for their voices to be heard. I am all for it!

Sean

Problem with that theory is New Jersey is not looking to track how many saltwater anglers they have. In fact alot of folks in NJ feel the State is trying it's best to curb access to fishing spots by the State. Some would say if it was up to the current administration there would be no hunting or fishing allowed anywhere within the boarders of the state.

The current administration has basically took the stance that tourism and the sporting public are where they are going to raise money for the general fund. They passed the hotel tax, floated the idea of a sw license and got shot down by public opinion and under the cover of darkness raised the fees for all state parks.

Unless someone official from the State of New Jersey comes forward and explains that the funds will go directly towards the upkeep of the fishery I'm still saying no to a license.

[Smcdermott]

David,

Although it may not be the point of the administration the data would be available. Total Revenue/License fee=# of Recreational Anglers. Once this value becomes transparent it will make it harder for the politicians to ignore. Most of them seem to care when a large number of voting constituents are identified. Without the data we are very easy to ignore. I can't summarize all the points of the article here but I believe CCA will send out a copy of the magazine if requested if you aren't a member. Hope you reconsider.

Sean

[DavidS]

Sean,


I understand your point completely. NJ however is a different beast. To make it short it's not only NJ residents we are talking about here. There is also a extremely large number of Pennsylvania residents that spend alot of time fishing the shores of Jersey that would have to get a license also. This would include those who have saved up for the year to spend anywhere from $2000.00 to $5000.00 to rent a house along the shore during the summer for one week only to have to put out more money to go fishing for that one week.

Like I said, I understand the rational behind the groups reasoning but if NJ is going to go through with it I would still like to know where my money is going.

[Frequent Fly-er]

New York is also considering a saltwater fishing license with the blessing of CCA. You would think that there would be a different less expensive way to count fisherman. Why not not just ask who fishes saltwater? In New York we have a hunting license for a set fee. Now this started out to be a good idea. Then we have a small game and a big game license for two fees. Not happy with this the state has a Turkey license, Duck stamp, Doe permit and bear permit, all for additional fees. Once the state has a saltwater fishing license (to count saltwater anglers) and money runs short of expectations will we have a Striped Bass, Fluke , Bluefish and False Albacore permit with added fees? Also as with hunting licenses will the state limit the number of licenses issued? I am not in favor of a saltwater fishing license no matter where the money winds up. (just remember the NYS Lottery was supposed to go to education). As for the argument of more clout as a group how much clout do we have as drivers with a drivers license on the shaping of vehicle traffic laws or how much clout do charter captains have as a group with the charter boat license. None.

[Mark Cahill]

Truer words may never have been typed...

[jmccall]

'I am not in favor of a saltwater fishing license no matter where the money winds up. '

Just out of curiosity do you have any objections when money from fresh water licenses goes to support salt water fishing

[tom crowley]

Maybe, I'm kidding myself but I believe my fresh water license is paying for stocked fish and stream access. If the new york state DEC has money left over to allow people to get to salt water so be it . All the money in any state is not going to have any effect on any purely salt water species .If the state is helping any anadromous species thats a help

[Frequent Fly-er]

'I am not in favor of a saltwater fishing license no matter where the money winds up. '

Just out of curiosity do you have any objections when money from fresh water licenses goes to support salt water fishing

jmccall
I'll bite. Yes. Fresh water license money should stay for fresh water projects. The money collected from the federal tax I pay on all my fishing gear, boat, outboard and marine fuel should be used for fresh and saltwater projects not roads or the general fund.

[jmccall]

jmccall
I'll bite. Yes. Fresh water license money should stay for fresh water projects. The money collected from the federal tax I pay on all my fishing gear, boat, outboard and marine fuel should be used for fresh and saltwater projects not roads or the general fund.. Unless things have changed and I don't think they have. Money from the tax on fishing gear is returned to the states based on license sales. So by not pying for a license that money goes to States that sell salt water licenses

[jmccall]

Maybe, I'm kidding myself but I believe my fresh water license is paying for stocked fish and stream access. If the new york state DEC has money left over to allow people to get to salt water so be it . All the money in any state is not going to have any effect on any purely salt water species .If the state is helping any anadromous species thats a help
Who is paying for things like wardens ramps access etc. In most states not the Salt Water fishermen

[Bob Parsons]

Saltwater equipment and bait is taxed. And since often saltwater tackel and bait is more expensive they pay pleny of taxes. It is money from these taxes that contribute to the funds that pay for wardens, ramps etc. So much for the free ride theory.--124-3

[jmccall]

Saltwater equipment and bait is taxed. And since often saltwater tackel and bait is more expensive they pay pleny of taxes. It is money from these taxes that contribute to the funds that pay for wardens, ramps etc. So much for the free ride theory.--124-3
Again Money which is returned to the states based on license sales

[Frequent Fly-er]

Again Money which is returned to the states based on license sales

No! A small amount of the money collected from alot of fishing and boating federal taxes on all fishing and boating items is returned to the states for fresh and saltwater programs. The bulk of the federal tax money collected from fishing, boating and marine fuel taxes goes to road building, road maintainance, bridges etc. and the general fund. To my knowledge no fresh water license sale money from states goes to saltwater programs in NYS. The NYS DEC has told me that state fresh water license sale money goes to support wardens, stocking programs, fresh water ramps and such fresh water activities. Saltwater money comes from the NYS DEC budget, some general fund money (not very much money) and some federal money (not very much compared to the amount collected) from taxes on fishing, boating and marine fuel taxes.
In NYS as a federaly licensed charter boat captain (for a fee of coarse), if I step out of my boat onto a saltwater sand bar, flat or beach with a customer to fish I must have a NYS guides license which is issued by the forestry service. In order to obtain a guides license I must pass a fresh water written test. I must also have a fresh water fishing license (for a fee of coarse). The money collected for the guide license fee upon passing the 90 fresh water questions goes to the forestry service. Go figure? I also pay a NYS charter boat license fee of $250.00 a year and to this date I have not been able to find out where the money goes. It sure doesn't go to charter boat license enforcement. It was enacted to count the number of charter boats in NYS in 1998. Bill A.8479 has been introduced in the NYS Assembly to limit the amount of charter boat licenses issued by the way.
Lets use the money from taxes and fees already collected for saltwater projects first before adding more fees just to count saltwater fisherman.