Universal Fishing License

[lionpshark]

It would be cool if there was a universal fishing license option for the 50 states. I do so much traveling during the year and so many missed fishing opportunities because I don't have a lot of time to get a local fishing license in each area i travel. Would love to hear your thoughts on this

[Biz-R-OWorld]

Manny, just an FYI - most (if not all) states allow you to buy your fishing licenses online and carry the receipt with you, if you dont get the hard copy in the mail in time.  I have done this with fishing & hunting licenses in Florida, Penn, Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota etc, etc....the nice thing about fishing licenses in other states is that they offer 3 day or 7 day non-resident licenses so they arent as expensive.

I even buy my NYS fishing and hunting licenses online now, its much more convenient.

[KenH]

Manny, as much as the idea of a Universal, or rather a National Fishing License,
would facilitate your situation I'm afraid it's unlikely to ever happen. At least as long as this country remains a federation of states with most of the responsibilities in the hands of the individual states.
 

[lionpshark]

I understand each state has there own agendas. And thanks Biz about the online stuff but the problem is I travel Via truck or plane across the states most of the time last min or weeks notice but its not enough time to know where you are going to go. And in my travels although not planned sometimes I come across some nice bodies of water and I cant fish there because I don't have there correct paperwork. Half the time I don't even know what state im in. But if I had a universal option I wouldn't have to worry about it.
If they made an expensive lets say $100 or $200 a season universal card it would still leave them a possible new revenue or source of monies toward the sport. Without affecting each individual state. Because lets face it if you live in NY and dont travel much your not going to shell out $200 bucks for a fishing license for possible travel. But for those of us that do it adds to the economy.

[JulesArcher]

I think states do a good job with management of fish resources in their states.  That's why I don't mind paying out the money for a license.  To go to a universal license, the Federal government would have to get involved and I have no confidence in them doing as well.  Plus, if you paid $200 for a "US Fishing License", then you wouldn't be buying a NYS license and how much of that $200 would NYS get?  I would think that their revenue would go down.

[Biz-R-OWorld]

I understand each state has there own agendas. And thanks Biz about the online stuff but the problem is I travel Via truck or plane across the states most of the time last min or weeks notice but its not enough time to know where you are going to go. And in my travels although not planned sometimes I come across some nice bodies of water and I cant fish there because I don't have there correct paperwork. Half the time I don't even know what state im in. But if I had a universal option I wouldn't have to worry about it.
If they made an expensive lets say $100 or $200 a season universal card it would still leave them a possible new revenue or source of monies toward the sport. Without affecting each individual state. Because lets face it if you live in NY and dont travel much your not going to shell out $200 bucks for a fishing license for possible travel. But for those of us that do it adds to the economy.

I understand what you are saying. But I think each states answer would be that you shouldn't be fishing random bodies of water without knowing exactly what town or state you are in along with all the rules, regs, etc. on that body of water anyway.

[BigWilly]

Universal fishing soldier.......

[lionpshark]

Guys good points and thanks for sharing. I like good debates. I was just figuring that if my drivers license is universal in the states they could do the same for fishing. I am no accountant in any way nor do I know state finances I was just making an assumption about an option for universal fishing licenses. Obviously they are not going to do it anytime soon but If they ever did do it it would make my world a lot more fun and possibly easier. I know that if I travel and plan it wont be a problem but in my line of work and others like me it just always seems like lost opportunities. I Def know CDL Semi Tractor trailer drivers that don't give a S#$% about rules and licenses and they go fishing where ever they stop. I don't personally do that but I know its a $$$$$ loss for every state.

When I speak with my company truck drivers they say the same thing about the license. They have fishing licenses from there home states (they live in different parts of the US) but they don't have time to get other state license so they just take a chance and fish the Lower 48 states without licenses. They also stated to me that for the majority of the time that they get caught that they show there fishing licenses from there states and say they didn't know and they are just passing through and they are usually let off with just warnings.
Those are just the few drivers I know but imagine how much revenue is lost if you factor in that all of US and imported goods are transported from all areas of the US to there final selling point Via Truck driver, and Figure that at least a quarter of these drivers are avid fishermen. Now that is a $$$ loss for each state

PS: I am not promoting fishing without a license! I only fish with the correct paperwork and I try to abide by all the laws (especially now with the three rod rule )   

[canoejon]

Manny, it can be done. I fished in many states last time I was out on the road. It was a lot cheaper than just drinking in the hotel bar. While traveling, I would also be looking on line to find swimming pools in the next town as well as jazz clubs and good restaurants. I had many licenses printed out at hotel desks. I travelled with a little Okuma pack rod kit with a few extra spools. I probably fished in at least 20 states in the 12 weeks I was out and most of the time I walked from the hotel or took a cab. The crew, who would be on location before me knew to put me in touch with any local crew guys they picked up that fish. Occasionally I would rent a car (in the Canadian Rockies, you think I'm just going to it around the hotel?) but it's amazing how many towns like Sacramento, Boise, Grand Rapids, and Spokane (to name just a few) have fishable rivers running right through them. I would also just go into a redneck bar and offer to pay for gas, bait and lunch (or if the local producer was cooperating a free pair of tix) to who ever would take me out fishing. A couple of times i rented a rowboat in the High Sierras. And when we were in Corpus Christie with a couple of days off, when I went on a party boat and even had a guide take me out kayaking for trout and redfish, but most of the time I did it myself.

It's also cool to go to tackle shops around the country. Even the big box stores have different stuff. And stuff that doesn't sell in one part of the country works great in another part and so one can get lucky and cash in on a distributor's mistake when they put it on sale for a song in Fort Worth and I pick it up for a song and fish it in NY.

I think a universal license would be prohibitively expensive

[Montrose]

I think a universal license would be prohibitively expensive

CJ makes a lot of good points Manny, but the last thing he wrote says it all about a federal lic.  As a RESIDENT in NYS to enjoy all my outdoor pursuits  costs $100 a year.  There is no way for the state to recoup this money from the feds especially at 100-200 dollars for a national license.

Plus at a federal level, the management of the local water bodies would be taken away from the states.  I shudder to think what our lakes would look like if the Feds were to try to manage them.  Just look at what they've done to the local SW fisheries.

[lionpshark]

Thanks again for the informative contributions. But I guess you guys just cant quite understand what exactly it is that I do and how limited time is. Of course CJ is a musician so his Job is different then mines as it requires less time at the venue then I. Basically my company gets a call I go home pack my bags and get on the next plane and I don't find out what hotel most times until I land then straight to work I stay there from 6AM - about 2 or 3am the next morning so an artist like CJ might have better notice and def has more time in the other state before and after soundcheck and show to explore the local area. I will sometimes get an hour or so off during these times and sometimes 3 hours or so and I see bodies of water from the hotel ride to the venue or sometimes there are bodies of water near the venue and I sometimes think to my self if I traveled with my small antenna style fishing rod with a couple of good lures I could throw a couple of good cast to see if I could catch anything. This same scenario is what happens if I travel in the Semi with the equipment to the shows instead of via airplane and I see even more bodies of water. So I get what you both are saying and I am not saying its impossible to do. I am just saying its extremely difficult for me to do. I get the whole Fed vrs State deal and no I don't want the waters less taken cared of. I just wanted an easier solution. But there is none nor have I heard any other ideas of one . So it will continue to be a loss of fishing opportunities for me 

[Biz-R-OWorld]

A smartphone might help you out. Using GPS you can see what state, county, town you are in. Then buy your license online and it gets emailed to you instantly, then if your stopped just bring your email up which would match your drivers license.

[canoejon]

Manny, I know your frustration. It has happened to me plenty of times. I remember in the  middle of a month of one nighters, years ago, we were all pissed at being in some lousy motel outside of town by the highway because everything was booked. So I'm taking a stroll and it turned out that right by the hotel is the Susquehanna and I'm watching this huge musky getting boated by some local guys. It's probably a good thing I didn't have a rod with me because with my luck, I probably would have gotten pooped by some game warden or fishing without a license. That was back before people even had computers and cell phones. That's when I refined my technique of going into the local bars and buying drinks until I found the guy that was taking me fishing the next morning for an hour or two before we went to the next town. Even now with a laptop at my disposal, it doesn't always work out. And I know it's a lot tougher for the crew. But the possibilities are definitely increased these days with modern technology. Sometimes I would get on local fishing forums like this one and someone would be kind enough to hook me up for a few hours to get a line wet. Try that next time you know where you're headed. You have to be resourceful.

[lionpshark]

thank you guys for the great suggestions. I will try to do better at searching online for info when i travel.

[canoejon]

Manny, I've been on the road with no free time and have caught fish at lakes by rest stops and truck stops. Even on that last tour, when sometimes we would bus (which was always preferable to flying) I would ask the bus drivers where they were planning to stop for a lunch break (we would get an hour on a longer trip). A quick check on google earth often revealed fishable water right near the stop. I would have someone pick up a sandwich for me and I would head for the water with my pack rod. That's when I would chance it and fish for a few minutes without a license. And that's when authorities will be most sympathetic, when you tell them your life is on the road and those few minutes are all you have and you're going to release everything.