Maybe witht he extra money, the FWC could hire a few more officers
big E has a point. i think when i go buy a fishing license or a hunting license as a resident, i shouldn't have to purchase special stamps or try to keep track of all that. if i want to snook fish and keep one, it should be all inclusive, same with hunting and any required stamps or permits, it would be so much easier if it were all inclusive.
Shoreline anglers need license
Measure awaiting governor's signature also requires $15 fee
BY PAUL FLEMMING • and KAUSTUV BASU • May 2, 2009
Now, you will have to buy a license, if the governor signs into law a bill the Senate passed Friday.
The federal government is set to institute a saltwater fishing fee for those states that don't have their own.
Florida for 20 years has not required a license to fish from the shore or piers. Under the bill passed Friday, Floridians would have to buy a $15 license to fish from the saltwater shoreline.
Doug Blanton of Cocoa Beach said he likes the idea.
"They should have done it a long time ago," said Blanton, who fishes from the boat as well from the coast.
Blanton, an experienced fisherman, organizes fishing charters.
"If you are fishing from a boat in saltwater, you need to have a license. But, on shore, you do not need one. It is a double standard. Some people on land are harvesting fish just like people on boats," he said.
But Charles Levi of Titusville, who said he goes fishing about four times a week, said he was appalled by the bill.
"This is not right," Levi said. "I'm paying taxes every single day. It is something you expect to be able to do when you live in Florida. It is one thing if you need a license to fish for a boat. Now, they want this. If they are going to have this license, I want to see something for my money. I want to more artificial reefs and the water cleaned up."
Under the measure, there are exemptions for those receiving Medicare, food stamps or unemployment benefits, along with those who fish with cane poles.
The cane-pole exemption was hard-won in the House by Rep. Jimmy Patronis, a Panama City Republican.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimates up to 338,000 people would have to pony up for the license, starting in January.
It is among increases in vehicle and court fees that could raise as much as $1 billion when all the budget negotiations are done.
Contact Flemming at pflemminggannett.com or 850-671-6550.
cR0ck wrote
im all for it. why do we need a license to fish in freshwater? so make it salw water also. fishing license for fishing in general. that would stop all the freakin git r done's from putting a 4 lb pinfish on their line and letting it swim and tangle all the lines in the water within 500 feet of him.. lol..
ILuv2Hunt wrote
That stereo type of people are the ones that are fishing w/o licenses from bridges and shore, and IMHO, they are the ones that are more apt to keep under/over slot fish
Guys, just one question on those remarks,,,,,,,,,? What makes you think that by making them pay $15 for a license will change there behavior?, all of a sudden they will stop keeping out of slot fish? or being just overall Jac***sess?
Its not like they will not get busted by the wardens for that stuff just because they are fishing in a manner that doesnt require license, but will now have to obey the rules because of having a license, for fear of being busted. IMHO those behaviors will not change, matter of fact may increase the behavior because now those people are paying for a license so now feel like they have more right to keep whatever.By the way i see nothing wrong with having to have a license for any manner of fishing, will get rid of a lot of the confusion on whether a license is needed to fish that spot like that or whatever
If it stops one idiot from ruining my day thats worth it for me!
