NOAA Fishing License

[jer2]

07/08/10 C-Brats-

FYI...NOAA has a web site (below) to register (no cost) for off shore fishing license. You print out the temp license after registration and subsequently get a permanent NOAA license in the mail w/i 30 days. License does expire but can later be renewed again on line.

www.countmyfish.noaa.gov

John Roark
"R&R"
2008 CD 16' Cruiser w/ Honda 50 HP Four Stroke
Upper Potomac River (VA) Flotilla

[Grumpy]

Good info.

I notice that if you currently hold a state issued recrational fishing permit you are automatically enrolled. (Didn't check if ALL states participate)

Merv

[starcrafttom]

so where is is good for? and what is it good for? in Washington you have to have a state issued license to fish and land fish in Washington waters and ports. I can see it now, some of the tuna guys are going to get their FREE noaa license and try and talk them selves out of ticket for no having a state license with a game officer. Good luck with that one. Again another example of the government policy of "regulate it and they will come" kind of like the vhf license I will never buy.

[starcrafttom]

After reading the FAQ section( note none of these questions are asked, they are all perceived questions) i learned a few things. All anglers in states that do not have a salt water license will have to BUY this additional slip of paper.

[Larry H]

Tom,

Did you read the section called 'Do I need to register?' ?

[starcrafttom]

yes Larry i did , thats why i listed the stated not covered. unless you were writting while I was writting, which happens.

[teflonmom]

Just one more way that big government is trying to rule our lives.Each day the news from Washington means less freedom for us. When I was a kid you did not need any license to fish in tidal waters in Maryland. Not the case now and the feds want a piece of the action.

Fred, Pat and Mr Grey (the cat)

[Wefings]

Does this mean I can fish the closed area of the Gulf ?
Marc

[rogerbum]

[DoryLvr]

They don't call this a license, but it is. Read the NOAA page. While it is "free" to "register" in 2010, they will begin charging to register in 2011 to ostensibly "cover the costs" of the program. However, it also goes on to state that all money goes to the general treasury, not NOAA, so it is really a tax or licensure fee, not a cost recovery fee.

Even if your state has a saltwater license, you may still need to register. Virginia has a saltwater license but refuses to play with the federal government on this so we all have to register.

It is still unclear to me if I need this if I don't fish in the offshore federal waters and stay within the 3 miles the states control. And as far as them finding out what I am catching, I don't get it. Am I required to file a report after all my trips now? Fat chance of that happening, I can barely get my boat washed and put away much less spend time on paperwork.

From their site:

8. Is there a fee to register?

There is no fee to register in 2010. A fee will be required as of January 1, 2011.

9. How much will registration cost in 2011?

The fee for registering in 2011 has not been established yet, but NOAA estimates it will cost between $15 and $25.

10. How will the fee be determined?

According to Federal law, the registration fee will be calculated based on the cost to administer the program. That means that NOAA will look at the total amount of money it takes to run the registry, and divide that by the anticipated number of people registering. In other words, if the program costs $25,000 to operate and 1,000 people were registering, the fee would be $25 per angler.

11. Where will the money go?

Fees collected by the National Saltwater Angler Registry will go to the Federal treasury. They will not be designated for any specific purpose. In the case of anglers who are automatically registered when they buy a state license, money paid to the state will be used for purposes determined by that state. If you have a saltwater fishing license, call your state department of natural resources for more information.

[Will-C]

Hi,
The feds have done a fine job in the area of fisheries management so far. . I mean the stocks are not in the best of shape now. And the same folks are going to be able to come up with a plan to fix it? While large commercial fishing fleets use spotter planes and purse seines and drop fast boats to encircle whole schools of tuna. The gumint is worried about what john Q public is catching? Sportsfisherman are required to throw back flounder under 18 1/2 inches while commercials can keep them down to thirteen inches, their by catch usually goes back dead anyway. Reasonable catch limits I have no problem with, but allowing commerical to drag huge nets close to the beach for menhaden (baitfish)which cleans out the food for the sportfish is just one example of things that need to change. Coastal anglers get the shaft as the fish follow schools of bait. No Bait the fish go further offshore from their normal patterns to look for food out of reach of the surfcasters and small boaters. Powerful polititians are in the corner with the commercials as they provide campaign contributions. The recreational fishermen dibble money from the time they leave the house for boats,motors, gas, food, bait tackle,etc. until they return home. Until fisherman join to form a large voting block expect more of the same. The meek shall inherit the world, I don't think so! Wonder where the money is going to go? More entitlements would be my guess. Too political pull the plug, I'm an independent don't like politicians in general.
D.D.

[starcrafttom]

Will-c , join or look in to the CCA in your area.They are the only national fishing group with a proven record in Washington d.c with getting things done. please have a look at them. I know that in some states they have gotten the near shore commercials moved off shore. Here in the sound they are helping with the removal of ghost nets. In the Big c river they are working to get ride of all nets and have the few commercial left there move to a more selective harvest.

[Will-C]

Tom,
I just joined the CCA. On the east coast they have the Recreational Fishing Alliance and many others. I wish they would all merge into one to be more effective.
D.D.

[starcrafttom]

I could not agree more.