Anybody Ever Get Caught Without Their License?

[Senko lover]

I'm not old enough yet to require my possession of a fishing license, but just curious: have any of you gotten caught fishing w/out a license?

[gulfcaptain]

I've seen a bunch of people get in trouble without a license but not myself.  Normally they are posted up with 5 rods keeping everything they catch and really don't care about following the rules.  Depending on who caught them, I've seen it go from a pack up and leave without the fish(park ranger) to the actual fish and game warden take everything, run their names while writing the ticket for each offense(each fish kept is a seperate charge btw) and if they come back with any kind of warrant, well off to jail.  So if you're asking is it worth it to fish without a license I would say when you come of age, go ahead and get one unless you think you can pull off 15 for another year. Otherwise just get the license and carry it with you at all times.

[B-Dozer]

get your license, not worth worrying about it every time you see a DEP guy. 

[Paul Roberts]

There's an old saying. (I say it's old bc I'm old lol.) It goes something like this: "There may be only a handful of CO's (Conservation Officers) in the state. But if you are in the wrong they have a way of being there." It can be uncanny.

 

Licenses go (or should go) toward bettering fisheries and fishing in most cases so they are worth the investment. Plus, they're cheap if you figure how much pleasure you get out of a year of fishing for the price of a single dinner out.

 

Only once was I in the situation of not having my license on me. I was just putting my (rather well equipped) float tube in at a local town park pond when a CO came riding up on a mountain bike and asked to see my license. I usually have a combo license (hunting, fishing) and I'd just returned from a backcountry elk hunt. I realized right then that I'd left my license in my hunting pack. I explained this to the officer and then, making light, said, "Look at all this stuff. I wouldn't have put all this together and and NOT bother with a license." The officer laughed and gave me his card, asking that I email or fax him a copy of my license. He rode off and I went fishing. I scanned and emailed my license to him that night and that was that.

[aavery2]

I got caught without my hunting license once.  It was a complete accident, I have hunted and fished in KS for more years than I care to reveal, our State License expires in Dec.  Just so happens that our goose season carries over into Jan.     I was at the truck loading my guns finished up for the day when the Game Warden asked if he could check my gun and asked my for my license, I told him sure thing, handed over the gun and reached into my wallet to fish out my license.  Just about then it hit me, and I think he knew it by the look on my face.  I showed him about 3 years of hunting/fishing licenses and explained what had happened.  He cut me some slack and told that it happens quite often, he also told that technically he did not see me hunting but only loading my guns, and told me to be sure and get the license before the next trip.  He was extremely courteous and I believe he may have cut me a little slack anyway. 

 

I have never repeated this mistake.

[Senko lover]

Oh, I'm definitely planning on getting a license. I just thought this would make a good thread.

[Preytorien]

My buddy got stopped minutes before we were going to launch. I told him early in the year to get his license, he just spaced it.

 

The CO was very friendly, and didn't do anything since we hadn't actually fished yet. Told him a local place to get a license and then told him to tell him he sent him and to issue the license for 2 years instead of 1. Nice guy.

 

My brother-in-law got stopped with me once. The CO's just asked his name, drivers license number, and birthdate and confirmed it over the radio, but gave him a good talkin' to about having it on his person.

[Darren.]

I was dock fishing one day and an officer

came by checking licenses. Handed him

mine and he said it had just expired.

Let me off because I promised to renew it

ASAP. I did so and have done so on time

ever since. Was an honest error on my

part.

Where I fish not only do you need a license

but also either a shoreline permit and/or a

boat permit. So I'm always keeping up on

those.

Worth the effort because a fine is a LOT of

money.

[F14A-B]

Ok, I will man up, yep, spur of the moment trip, with my then 4 & 6 year old. I was taking them to a small park for bluegill fishing, ok.. So I decide better take a loomis CBR & TDX , just so I could throw a bit if need be, 20 mins into the trip, idk why I just happened to look & here he come, conservation officer... Of course after that 1000' walk, he popped the question, I promptly told him I had not aquired it and he proceeded to write a citation, I then asked where Mac was, ( old dog C..O ) he ignored me, handed me a 100$ fine, I gave him a bit of fed back about it( he was a new guy) he said he saw me cast twice... Ok.. Fine , paid the fine & that, believe it or not, was the only time I had ever been without a hunting or fishing license. By the book & no mercy... Lesson learned on a few fronts... Always have paper on you! Always, always , always.....

[Sam]

Nope.

 

A friend got caught on Lake Gaston four years ago and the fine was over $280 when you throw in court costs.

 

What is so sad is that his license expired on the Friday before he was stopped on Saturday and he immediately got a new one that Monday.

 

But the Mecklenburg County judge did not care and fined him a lot of money.

 

Hey, that is one way to increase tax income to the County.

[Sam]

Senko Lover, check with your state's game and fisheries department and find out if you can get a special fishing license that you pay for once and it is good until you are 18.

 

I got my grand son and grand daughter their Virginia fishing licenses for only $125 each under the Legacy Program.

 

So far my grand son has caught one largemouth bass and two turtles.

 

My grand daughter has not been fishing as she is only two and a half but she is ready to go at any time.

[HoosierHawgs]

No. It's always in my box. I never take it out so I don't lose it. I did hear a story about one guy sitting next to his friend who was fishing and had his license, but he did not, and he was holding a rod, not even a line in the water, and he got fined big time.

[roadwarrior]

No, never,  and none of the guys I fish with.

 

 

 

[OK Bass Hunter]

I haven but have had it happen to guys next to me. This was after I warned em.

[Jolly Green]

No way.  I did once unknowingly take a few casts with a small inline spinner into what I realized on my way out was an officially designated trout stream. Had my license, did not have a trout stamp, but fortunately nobody in authority was around to be entertained by my weak excuses.  'Twas my first season fishing, and the only proof I had that I was fishing for bass was that my laughably awful Shakespeare combo actually said "BASS" on the rod.  

[Missourifishin]

My local conservation guys don't even ask me for my license anymore. They know I fish legally. I've seen them hand out some hefty fines though.

[Rhino68W]

Here on Fort Riley we have our ow personal Game Wardens. One day I was bank fishing on the other side of a large pond and he pulled up. As he got closer I saw the brass. I set my rod down and started to meet him halfway. I always leave my wallet in my car when I am fishing, don't really know why though. I asked if he needed to see the License and he politely said yes. So we both headed to the car, chatting along the way about the quality of fish in the pond. I was super respectful and he thanked me for meeting him halfway (it was a long walk). He then proceeded to point out every single feature in the pond that I had no clue about. A tree here, ledge there, couple of laydowns there. He even told me about dozens of other ponds that are hardly ever fished there on post! 

 

Moral, is to always follow the rules, and be respectful. It will help you out more times than not.

[BaitMonkey1984]

Do as you said and get the license. For one, you can enjoy fishing and not worrying about losing all your equipment and fines. And two, equally important some of the money you pay a license will go towards ensuring that your resources are protected for years to come. And three, if you get caught without a license you may be subject to license revocation. Imagine not being bale to fish for a year.  A license is well worth the price for a year of enjoyment. 

[geo g]

In Florida Seniors don't need a license. It pays to be an old timer, there are some benefits!

[Tony L.]

I have been checked only once, and I was carrying my license. Doubt I'll be checked again soon, but to me, the license is cheap and the potential of fines and confiscation of all my gear (which I have a lot invested in by this point) is not worth the risk. I also like the idea of being able to help fund continued efforts to preserve the waterways that I fish so that I can keep fishing them. I actually take it to a point of paranoia and print off at least 5 copies when I buy it online. I keep one in my wallet, one in each vehicle, one extra, and above all, one in my tackle box.

[Long Mike]

I have a lifetime fishing license here in Oklahoma.  Because I am a senior, the license is honored in Texas.  Regardless, when I fish in Texas, I always buy a temporary out of State license.  Just doing my little part to help out the Fish and Game budget.  I travel around a bit, so I always buy the necessary license(s) for the state I will be fishing, regardless of the amount of time I will be there, whether it be one hour or one week.

[RSM789]

Never been cited for fishing without a license, but did get arrested once (and hauled off to Santa Ana jail) for fishing where I shouldn't. It was a small feeder resevoir above Lake Mission Viejo, loaded with bass and no signs declaring it to be offlimits. No matter to the rent-a-cop who called the sheriff and said he wanted to press charges for trespassing.

Ironically, having purchased a license 2 days prior helped my argument to the judge that I believed the area was State water & not private property. Fine was reduced to $5 and the arrest removed from my record.

[Bluebasser86]

Never been caught without one because I've always got mine on me. If I had it to do all over again, I would have bought the lifetime permit when I turned 16. Now they're double the price they were then and provided the price doesn't increase a bunch, I won't save any money by the time I'm old enough to not have to buy one anymore to make it worthwhile. 

[BammerBass]

Never go without my license. Before in even set foot out the door I makensure it is in my wallet. And when I arrive at th destination I check again to be sure, before I even so much as touch any of my equipment.

Too much to risk by not carrying your license with you.

[PersicoTrotaVA]

Nope.

 

A friend got caught on Lake Gaston four years ago and the fine was over $280 when you throw in court costs.

 

What is so sad is that his license expired on the Friday before he was stopped on Saturday and he immediately got a new one that Monday.

 

But the Mecklenburg County judge did not care and fined him a lot of money.

 

Hey, that is one way to increase tax income to the County.

Same here.  It was messed up though.  I was at a camp ground for a good friend of mine's bachelor party weekend.  His cousin from Italy came to visit and didn't know how to cast.  All I did was cast it in for him and handed him the pole.  Game warden was in a boat around a point hiding behind a tree.  He came up and asked me for my fishing license and I told him I wasn't fishing.  He said he saw me casting in so technically I was fishing.  So I got that 280 dollar ticket, only I wasn't fishing.  I always have a license now.  When I visit another state, the first thing I do is get a fishing license.  The money goes to keeping our fisheries in good condition and it is a lot less inexpensive than if you get caught without one.