Public Hearings MA Fishing License

[relentless]

Last November (2009), the Massachusetts legislature passed House Bill No. 4309 – An Act Instituting Saltwater Fishing Licenses. The Act requires the Division of Marine Fisheries to establish a “state recreational fishing permit program” in compliance with federal law. To meet deadlines for the upcoming permitting and fishing year, the regulations have been enacted under the Director’s emergency authority. Through the public hearing process, the public can review and make comments on adjustments to the rules.

Synopsis of new rules:
Requires all individuals recreationally fishing in the coastal waters of the Commonwealth, or landing marine species for recreational purposes in the Commonwealth to obtain a recreational fishing permit;
Requires all for-hire vessel operators to inform passengers and visibly post pertinent bag and size limitations and provide measuring devices for use by patrons;
Establishes a penalty schedule for non-compliance;
Allows for 3rd party agents to sell permits on behalf of the Commonwealth;
Establishes permitting exemptions for:
disabled persons;
persons under 16 years of age;
those fishing aboard lawfully permitted for-hire vessels;
those retaining fish caught under the authority of a commercial permit; and
those holding a valid recreational fishing license from a coastal state, that the Director has determined allows, through reciprocity agreement, similar exemption for persons from the Commonwealth;
Establishes annual permit fees and other service charges:
$10 resident and non-resident permit fee;
$125 resident chart vessel permit and $625 non-resident charter permit fees; and
$175 resident head boat permit fees and $855 non-resident head boat permit fees.
Two Public Hearings Have Been Scheduled:

December 8, 2010 at Gloucester Public High School Auditorium, from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (32 Leslie O Johnson Road, Gloucester, MA01930).
December 15, 2010 at Plymouth South High School Auditorium, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (490 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360).

[tomytuna]

thanks for the update Dave! MA Charter boats lic goes to $125.oo? Sure glad thos dem's got elected.looking out for the little guy! I'll be at Gloucester meeting. Tommy

[relentless]

Tom,

Don't forget the $130 for the commercial permit and the Striped Bass endorsement ($30.00) and the charter boat endorsement ($10.00)

It should be around $250 - $300.00 per charter boat, oh yeah the drug testing program for capt and crew $300.00

Dave

[FullStrikeAngler]

Along with the plan to institute catch shares for recreational fisherman it looks like our days are numbered

[relentless]

Catch Shares, what a way to help create jobs - NOT!!!!

[Dauntless]

I'm surprised there is no mention of exception for seniors as had been mentioned often in the past
.
I also feel strongly if those rates hold for charter and head boats with a parade of paying oassengers, there is no reason all onboard rec boats should not be covered for the year for say $50 or less, 1 shot deal as well.

[amarshall]

Tom,

Don't forget the $130 for the commercial permit and the Striped Bass endorsement ($30.00) and the charter boat endorsement ($10.00)

It should be around $250 - $300.00 per charter boat, oh yeah the drug testing program for capt and crew $300.00

Dave

+ Fed Tuna license
+ Mass Freshwater
+ CT out of state freshwater
+ ME out of state freshwater


I figure I'm paying $500 + a year in licenses.

[Junior11]

If I were a recreational boat owner, I would be PISSED.

It takes a lot of the fun of having people hop on your boat with the chance of catching a fish. What about these family cruises over the summer?

This is just another step towards taking the fun out of fishing. The avid recreational anglers will obviously be permitted for the year.

Those that will suffer are going to be the law abiding families that decide its not worth it to dig the rods out and pony up a some cash and paperwork to get the permit.

I don't think this is about the money, but more about having something that they can take away from someone. This is going to keep the honest people honest, and that's about it.

Dave; do you need the striped bass endorsement to run a charter boat for striped bass? I have both, but I am just curious as to why that is required.

[relentless]

Striped Bass endorsement is only needed if you plan to commercial fish for striped bass and sell the catch.

[Dauntless]

Here's the link to the general initially-proposed setup for the 2011 MA SW Rec Fish permit ( scroll down) :
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/recre...ec_license.htm

It does mention seniors over 60 have to have the permit but would have no charge for that (in 2011.)

It's pretty outrageous that everyone fishing on a rec boat would have to preplan to pay the $10 (in 2011) and have the permit on them , even though anyone on the dock could spontaneously hop on a charter or head boat if there is room and fish with no individual permit while the owner makes money off them. Rec boaters will not be able to say "Hey , Ken and Barbie or Barack and Deval, hop on, let's try to catch dinner."

How long do you suppose this state individual permit will remain only $10 in the prevailing economy?