OK - you all know where i stand on striper limits.
I stand completely behind a saltwater license modeled along the lines of Florida with a reasonable $16 annual license for residents, a higher annual fe ($30) for out of state residents, a premium fee ($17 out of state- not sure
of in state) for a weekly license.
Every time I go to Florida, with my wife and kids, a trip in which I spend
many thousands of dollars on travle, food, and lodging, I very gladly go down to the local tackle shop and fork over my 17$. If I were a resident/ or more than semi annual visitor I would gladly and proudly walk into a tackle shop each Jan 2 and plunk do
wn my $$$ for an annual license.
Given the fact that I can spend more than $16/weekend on eels, hooks, flies or plugs without even trying, and have thousands of dollars of equipment, not to mention a 5 digit+ investment in a boat, what's $16 for a license. Maybe that $16 might help buy
a few more DNR patrols, or a nice fishing pier like you see in Florida. As well as a more communal attitude than I see in Mass.
Every time I am in Fla I am struck by the sense of size limits, out of season fish, let it go ethos, from a cultural and economic melange of fisherman/women.
Anyways; I ramble, bring on a license - it doesn't scare me.
L.