recreational saltwater fishing license
January 7th, 2007 by Fishing admin
After a 10-year contentious debate, the recreational saltwater fishing license became reality on Jan. 1. Thus far, license-sellers say sales are brisk.
Nancy Fish, public information officer for the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries said the only calls she has received have been from fishermen in Virginia. “They are calling to find out if they come here to fish, do they need a license,” said Fish. She said the answer to that question is yes. “If they are not beyond three miles from the shore line, and are fishing in North Carolina.”
“Our people have been very busy since January first,” said Wes Littlefield, assistant manager of Kitty Hawk Wal-Mart. “Since this happened, these people are not leaving the counter like they used to.” Littlefield said that he has not heard any complaints from customers about having to purchase the saltwater license. “I guess since it has been in the works for so long, no one is complaining.”
Keith Tongier, manager of TW’s Bait & Tackle in Kitty Hawk said he has not heard any complaints from fishermen who have purchased the new saltwater fishing license from his store. He said the only complaint he has received so far, was the speed of his typing as he would ring up his customers.
“We did a pile of them on the first day,” said Tongier. “The only thing bad about it was that the online credit card system went down the first day, so they had to come in here to purchase them. I just tell people, our first concern is to sell merchandise and that they can get their licenses online.”
Fish also said out of state property owners who own property in North Carolina have called to find out if they qualify to buy the in-state license. Fish said they do not because they are not registered to vote in the State of North Carolina.
“If you are out recreational fishing,” said Fish. “For right now, we are educating them by just verbal warnings. We haven’t got a certain date when we will be handing out citations, but it will be within the next few months before shifting from reminders to enforcements.”
Fish said that after the enforcement of the license takes affect, a $35 citation plus $110 cost of court fee will be applied to everyone who is caught fishing without the proper license. Fish said that 100 percent of the revenue from these fines will go towards the Board of Education and the county in which the citation was written.
An annual license is $15 for state residents and $30 for non-residents. A short-term license, valid for 10 consecutive days, is available at a cost of $5 for residents and $10 for non-residents. Children under 16 are not required to purchase a license, and a resident subsistence waiver is available through county social services departments.
Charter-boats, headboats, and pier operators may purchase blanket licenses to cover their customers. Under the blanket license, customers would not be required to purchase an individual license. For-hire boats authorized to carry six or fewer passengers pay $250 for the license, while boats authorized to carry more than six passengers pay $350. Piers pay $4 per linear foot.
paul@obsentinel.com | 480-2234
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