Don't forget to register with the Feds.....

[crabby and son]

Originally Posted by Ralph

Nope, data will be no better than what is produced now - there is no required reporting of catch data - just a requirement to give your name, address, and phone number (and pay another fee next year). Just another government BS program.

I agree with that. There is no way to enforce this reporting as there is no way to enforce the checking of deer in MD anymore. Just another fee.

[drichitt]

Originally Posted by crabby and son

I agree with that. There is no way to enforce this reporting as there is no way to enforce the checking of deer in MD anymore. Just another fee.

Will there really be another fee? If MD gets it's act together and the MD legislature approves it, MD license holders will be exempted from having to pay the additional fee (I think). Not sure of all of the details, but I would assume everyone would need to register with MD (as part of obtaining a MD fishing license) and then MD would submit the info to NOAA. Currently the problem is those who fish in the ocean don't have to have a MD fishing license when fishing in MD waters; have to figure out how to get the ocean anglers in the new system.

[Fish Nut]

Originally Posted by drichitt

Will there really be another fee? If MD gets it's act together and the MD legislature approves it, MD license holders will be exempted from having to pay the additional fee (I think). Not sure of all of the details, but I would assume everyone would need to register with MD (as part of obtaining a MD fishing license) and then MD would submit the info to NOAA. Currently the problem is those who fish in the ocean don't have to have a MD fishing license when fishing in MD waters; have to figure out how to get the ocean anglers in the new system.

Don, The people fishing OC will more than likely have to have a license in 2011. This is just my opinion, but I have heard the idea thrown around. OC is not happy with requiring licenses in OC since a portion of the people fishing are just weekly tourist. I think people are also scared of giving Maryland an excuse to implement a fee. The registration is going to cost us next year if Maryland doesn’t comply. I can see some in political power using this to grab some more money. Honestly, I love the ease of the boating sticker. The easiest way to achieve compliance with the feds and use the Maryland licensing as a data collection system would be to eliminate the boat sticker. This would require all fishermen buy a saltwater license and submit there info. Unfortunately, I think this would also require land owners to purchase a license for fishing off of there private pier.

Catch Shares are bad news. The person with the most money gets all the shares.

[Ralph]

Originally Posted by Fish Nut

Honestly, I love the ease of the boating sticker. The easiest way to achieve compliance with the feds and use the Maryland licensing as a data collection system would be to eliminate the boat sticker. This would require all fishermen buy a saltwater license and submit there info. Unfortunately, I think this would also require land owners to purchase a license for fishing off of there private pier.

That's the way I see it going, too. The MD boat sticker would have to go away and you, your wife, your kids (over 16), brothers, cousins, friends, whoever you take out on your boat would have to buy their own individual MD Saltwater fishing license. The Boat Sticker was the best idea MD has come up with for ease of use in many years.

I think NOAA would get better information if just the boat (captain/owner) was registered and was responsible for reporting all fishing activity on his boat.

I can just imagine the answers NOAA would get on a phone survey if they called some of the guests on my boat - - - Where did you go fishing? "We were out in the bay somewhere near a lighthouse!" Did you catch any fish? "Sure did - a whole bunch of silver ones" How many did you keep? "We kept a few in a water bucket , then put them back in the bay later on a different hook". I meant, how many did you take home and what size were they? "Oh, I took home 4. Don't know how big they were, but they felt like about 20 pounds the way they pulled on the line!!" (Translation - he was fishing near Thomas Point, caught a dozen spot, tried livelining with no success, then caught 4 14" Croaker and took them home.)

[morsax]

I see the end of the boat license in the very near future. As a couple people mentioned, it is nice that you can take whoever you want out and not worry about their having to get a license. We have become spoiled here in MD with that system. There are not many other places that offer that sort of license. Most places charters are exempt from individual licenses. For example, somebody told me that they needed a separate license to fish on a charter in Alaska.

I am honestly surprised that we don't already have a license for the Atlantic. I am honestly all for it. It would create revenue that DNR needs very badly. Don't sit back and ***** about faulty science when the few scientists that we do have working on the problem at a state level are taking furlough days. The sad reality is that we are getting what we pay for. Collecting good data is time consuming and expensive. The budget for DNR wasn't huge in the good times, and it is in pretty bad shape now.

My proposal:
A saltwater license that covers all of MD, not separate for Bay and coastal.
Eliminate the boat license.
Have reasonably priced 3 and 7 day non-resident options available.
Go to an annual license that is good for 12 months from the day you purchase it. Florida does this and it does encourage me to buy a 12 month license when I do get one.
Have a separate, higher priced crab license for non-residents.
If the money can be funneled to programs for a specific fishery, sell "stamps" for them. For example, a rock stamp (or maybe just a trophy rock stamp) to raise funds to help with the management of that fishery. Florida does this with snook and it seems to work out OK.

This would bring MD more in line with other places I fish.

I will climb down now before I hurt myself
Hans

[hippie]

Well, I tried to register today but in typical government fashion I couldn't. It seems the registration form does not accept phone numbers but when you attempt to submit the form it kicks it back saying you need a phone number. Now what happens if an Amishman tries to register and can't because they don't use phones? He cannot be held liable for our governments' mess-up. I get so angry at this stuff, thats why I got into politics. Whomever thought this form up should be terminated from office. Bob
PS- Since this form does not function properly, I'll just print everything it says and carry it with me. If I get stopped I will defy the NRP to cite me!

[morsax]

Hippie:

Worked fine for me--be sure that you didnt use any punctuation in the phone number