Salt Water Fishing Licence Proposed

[SPIKE]

A bill is in front the the CT State Legislature to impose a Salt Water Fishing licence. Below Hartford Courant article mentions that many people are in favor of it for a number of reasons. I buy a fresh water licence each year which covers me north of the 95 bridge ~ usually the fresh/salt demarcation line in all of the CT shoreline. We did not need to worry about south of that in the river, and in LI Sound.

This would make things much more difficult not so much for me (I would purchase the combo fresh/salt licence ~ $5 more~ no big deal), but for the variety of people I bring out fishing on my boat whom do not normally fish. So we then would need to run around trying to get a licence for those occasional invites. Yikes! How about the charter fisherman? They would then have the same problem. How about visiting fisherman from NY, RI, MA in CT waters? Who would enforce it on the water? Oops now we need to hire more officers. Thoughts?

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-fishlicense0223.artfeb23,0,1943292.story

 

[giolic]

You make some very good points Spike. I fish from between the bridges old saybrook to NY and although I wouldn't mind the fee for being on the salt it sure would suck for the reasons you mentioned.
Mark

 

[Robyns Nest]

It's just a move to pick more money out of our pockets!!!

This is a bad idea.

Jonathan

 

[JoeBalt]

Comeing from Massachusetts, I've been paying $40 for the freshwater license...My boat is a cruiser and I just like to throw a line off now and again in Hamburg cove or in the marina at Essex. I carry a med. weight salt rod and invite guests to bring one or use mine when out in the sound...this would be the hassle that Spike mentions, would end up taking one small activity away from my guests. Spikes other question...How would they police this??? They going to hire officers and boats to patrol the NY/CT line in the middle of the sound!?!? What if my boat is in CT and I hook a fish over the line in NY...LOL!!

I guess it won't have a big effect on me and I'm not opposed to targeted environmental revenues (if that is where they go), but sounds like another little tax and our already expensive "hobby".

Looking forward to spring...big time!! Joe B.

 

[Robyns Nest]

Targeted revenues never work out. Like a charity that siphons 80% off the top. When was the last time anything the Government did with your money was efficient?

Jonathan