Federal Fishing License

[fishskipper]

Thats right! what do you think about a federal license instead of individual state license. One license thats good anywhere in the states. When they pushed for a license here in N.C. that was one of the reasons. They said if we don't have a state license the feds would come in with a Federal license. Sounds like a better way to go to me . What do ya'll think?

[captcl]

I think that should be a state issue. The 3 mile jurisdiction seems to work out ok. Consider some of the regional differences, Chesapeake Bay/Delaware Bay/Biscane Bay etc. The feds already pretty much have control outside of the 3mile and how good or bad a job are they doing? We have to get the HMS permit for tuna, shark, billfish and the separete permit from the southwestern NMFS for the dolphin then any comm permits you may carry.
In Md. i carry a HMS/Charter permit and the dolphin permit for outside and in the 3mi or Md. a guides lisc(for charters), comm hook and line and pay a seafood sucharge for comm marketing. My beef is why the $$ are not going back to the resource/research/DNR. I also get yearly a special striped bass permit from Va. as part of a reciprocal aggreement between Md. and Va. for charter operators. IMO everyone, charters,recs and commercials should be paying and turning in catch reports. The fee in Del. to run the beach (surf-fish)is $100(non-resident) and i think $50 for residents and $70+ for asseateaque Is.(that's a rec fihing lisc fee right there!)
There is still no (federal) beach fee in NC and maybe there should be. I don't think the states would want to give up their jurisdiction inside the 3mi and i dont see NMFS breaking up the regional councils.The $$ needs to go to resource mangt/enforcement,DNR/research and everyone who pulls something out of the water ought to fill out a catch report! IMO

[fishskipper]

Hey CaptCL,

I agree with what your saying, but I may of not made myself clear. I'm talking about a fed permit to cover you inside 3 mi. as well as out side for each state. Also agree with you on the job the feds are doing outside. Fish inside 3 mi are also migratory in many cases and one license for the whole coast could make more data available to help in putting monies back into the fisheries. With the 3 mi rule only each state gets that data. The duplication of the same enforcement in each state imo only cost each and every one of us more. I may be wrong in my opinion but if there were, one governing body instead dozens it would be easier to solve fishery problems. Yep maybe I'm just barking up a tree, but thats the way I see it!

Capt. Ron

[gradywhite273]

Hey CaptCL,

I agree with what your saying, but I may of not made myself clear. I'm talking about a fed permit to cover you inside 3 mi. as well as out side for each state. Also agree with you on the job the feds are doing outside. Fish inside 3 mi are also migratory in many cases and one license for the whole coast could make more data available to help in putting monies back into the fisheries. With the 3 mi rule only each state gets that data. The duplication of the same enforcement in each state imo only cost each and every one of us more. I may be wrong in my opinion but if there were, one governing body instead dozens it would be easier to solve fishery problems. Yep maybe I'm just barking up a tree, but thats the way I see it!

Capt. Ron

don't disagree with ya Capt Ron, and your premise about same enforcement is dead on, and thats why i don't thing it will ever happen. there is so much waste and patronage in these things , that it would be tough to reverse it.

[hubris 1]

give it ten years. i bet you'll need both. a federal and state, each so they can count the fisherman and the money. oh, and i bet you'll also need the permit for tuna's too. maybe they should define the difference between a permit and a license.oh well, i'll still go. just gets hard for a charter guy and his charter, different everyday.