Fishing Forum FishTalk At The Beach

[oceanbottom]

I spoke with a DNR officer last week in Ocean City and he said next year there will be a fishing license required. I believe it will be a federal license, not state. I'm asuming that the feds will be controlling all the Atlantic waters, perhaps. Anybody else hear anyhting along these lines?

[JimB]

This is a federal requirement.

The feds had hoped the states would administer the process (Delaware has) but Maryland has not.

So..........

You will have to register federally for 2010 for free. If Maryland does not implement the regulations by 2011, the feds will start to charge a fee.

It makes sense for Maryland to do this as soon as possible since they will be able to set the fees and retain them rather than have them go to the feds. Although they may be a little gun shy. After doubling the tidal fishing license fees, the number of licenses fell way off and they didn't make anywhere near close to double the revenue.

The talking heads on the OC City Council will of course oppose it because it will cost tourists more. Fishing License = Less Booze Money for Seacrets. The PA Navy will have fits.

[JimB]

See:

http://www.oceancitytoday.net/news/2009/0904/front_page/003.html

and

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/saltwaterAR.html

[oceanbottom]

thankx for the links, JimB