Anybody Ever Get Caught Without Their License?

[Tlauz]

In my experience the CO has always pulled up near my boat and  asked me to hold up life jackets.  I have never been asked to produce a license.  I have even had my fish checked at a ramp and had an invasive species check, but not asked for my license.  

[jemstone90]

Living in an apartment on Lake Minnetonka that has docks on the lake, one of my neighbors was fishing out back and had a game warden come up to the dock in a boat and issue him a fine for about $145.00 for fishing without a license. It's a lot cheaper to fork out the $23.00 up front, and not have to worry about the water patrol or game wardens. About 50% of the fee goes to the DNR’s fisheries section which has a yearly operating budget of about $35 million. Just do your part and buy a license!

[CybrSlydr]

I've only been stopped and asked once, and that was on Labor Day weekend (I think) when I went with a buddy to fish the Alum Creek reservoir in Columbus.  Thankfully I had my license (as did all of us) so it was a short interaction.  However, being a holiday, I saw a couple of them with other people who apparently did not have theirs.  Most often they were taken over to the DNR vehicle and run through their computers - I assume checking for license status.  I saw one get ticketed but no gear confiscated.

 

Regardless, in Ohio anyway ($19/yr resident license) it's a trivial fee that goes towards keeping these great places fishable.  There's no reason not to get one.

[iceintheveins]

On 4/7/2017 at 11:55 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

Confiscating gear for fishing without a license isn't a punishment, the fishing gear is evidence to a crime just like any other time a crime is committed. It's up to the judge to hand out the punishment they deem fit. 

 

If they keep your gear though that's completely excessive, if they return it after the court case that's more reasonable. Like I said, I can see permanent seizure of gear for severe offenses, like being way over your limit, especially repeatedly.

[tander]

Been checked a few times and have always had my license. All I need now is my drivers license, you don't need a fishing license if your over 65 in Mississippi.

[Bluebasser86]

4 hours ago, iceintheveins said:

 

If they keep your gear though that's completely excessive, if they return it after the court case that's more reasonable. Like I said, I can see permanent seizure of gear for severe offenses, like being way over your limit, especially repeatedly.

I agree with you there, but that's up to the judge.

I'm all for strict punishment for those that intended to violate the laws, but the guy who just made an honest mistake doesn't deserve to lose everything for making a human error.

What I hate is how minimal F&G violation penalties are. Usually works out to about $10 a fish when someone is busted over the limit here it seems like. 

[MTBassin]

MT state licenses expire the end of February and I always buy my new one within a week. It goes straight in my wallet and never gets taken out so I always have it with me. I think I've only been checked once and it was by a Federal Wildlife Officer. He was a polite, checked my license, and was on his way in no time at all. I also carry my wife's fishing and hunting licenses with mine so she doesn't get caught without one either. 

[DogBone_384]

I keep a digital copy on my phone in case I forget my print copy.

 

I've never come across a green cop here but have friends who have. There doesn't seem to be any tolerance for not obeying the law here in MA, accidental, or otherwise.

[jimf]

On 4/8/2017 at 3:42 PM, papajoe222 said:

I left my wallet in my car and was stopped in Wisconsin one time. DNR wanted to fine me, but had no way of IDing me. They were going to confiscate my boat and gear.

I pointed out all they needed to do was run my boat registration. The idiots were able to get it and my DL information from another state but couldn't get my info from their own department. 

 

The only time I've been checked in many years was in Wisconsin trout fishing.   I can't remember the last time I was checked in Illinois.  I actually got checked during the early trout season in Wisco which requires barbless hooks - they put the hook in their shirt and pull it out and if it gets caught at all you are in violation.  Fortunately I de-barbed correctly.

 

I've always actually admired the Wisco DNR compared to Illinois.   I think it's a much better run, more forward thinking department than we have here.   Even printing the license off is goofy in Illinois, if you fold them by the lines they have printed off it doesn't come close to matching up.  

 

I carry three licenses.  One in my wallet that I always have on me, one with my boat registration that is on the boat, and one in my truck.  

 

 

[TOXIC]

Just got checked this weekend on the Potomac River.  I put a copy of my current license in all of my buddies boats and keep one on me as well.  We got a full safety and livewell check.  Funny thing, I go to Wisconsin every year with my boat and stay in a cottage on a chain of lakes.  These lakes are patrolled by the local Sheriff's department.  Been going there for 20 years.  Last year I watched Johnny Law stop and check a dozen boats.  I idled up to him and asked why he never checked me.  His response:  You bass guys always have your act together so I'm just wasting my time.  

[BassThumb]

I've never fished without having a current license on file, but I have fished before on many occasions without a license in my possession.

 

I used to wade rivers for smallmouth in my teens and early-twenties, and in one case I had my license blow out of my tackle bag and float away.

 

Not long after that, I was stopped by a warden as I was exiting the river. Using the electronics in his truck, he was able to see that I had purchased a license for the year. He wasn't upset and didn't make a big fuss about it, but he did say that it's the law that one must have a copy on them at all times while fishing. I went to a local retailer and had a replacement printed for like $2.

 

Now I keep the original copy in my wallet, a photocopy in the boat, and have a picture taken of it on my phone. I haven't had to show it in quite a few years. Most of the wardens are more concerned with DWIs and life jackets nowadays.

[Snipe Hunter]

Caught once. About 20 years ago before I had a boat. I got up early Easter morning and headed to a pond on Maryland's eastern shore. It was drizzle and light rain, no sun. I was standing on the shore throwing a Rat-L-Trap into a large flat and crushing them. I saw the GW in his truck and I didn't think twice about it. He asked for my license and I didn't have it on me. An hour drive home and a ticket.

[Falkus]

On 4/10/2017 at 0:06 PM, TOXIC said:

 His response:  You bass guys always have your act together so I'm just wasting my time.  

 

How true..... 

 

[tholmes]

On 11/24/2014 at 8:14 PM, Missourifishin said:

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.

 

The advantages of living in a sparsely populated area. I know all of the KDWP officers around here and they all know that if I'm fishin', I have a license. 

 

Tom

[Jacob Phelps]

I've only ever been asked once myself, and when I was younger I remember my dad being asked for his license once, and my grandfather getting asked for his license once. Usually this happened on high fishing days like the beginning of the season or holidays. With that said, I would still get one and carry it with you at all times while fishing. It's not worth getting your gear taken away if you get caught without one. 

[BCline]

I had recently moved from Georgia to Florida and was discovering the amazing bass fishing south Florida has to offer.  I was also learning the often vague and confusing signs posted near water in this state such as "Private Property" and "No Fishing beyond this Point".  I mean really what does a Private Property sign mean?  It doesn't say No Trespassing, doesn't say no fishing just that someone owns the land, good for them.  The No Fishing Beyond this point sign really confused me, I mean how do you know which side of the sign is legal and which is not.  It all depends on where you approach the sign from.   

 

So I found a very productive canal with one of these "No Fishing Beyond this Point" signs and am slaying them.  Caught 10 in less than an hour with several 2 - 4 pounders included.  I always catch and release.  I am fighting fish number 11 when a F-150 pulls up next to me.  The officer tells me I am not supposed to be there.  I explain my confusion regarding the "No Fishing beyond this Point" sign, but he was not sympathetic.  He asked for my license and I explain that I just moved from GA and have not changed over to FL.  I asked if GA and FL reciprocate and was quickly informed that they do not.  He then asked for my GA license which I did not have on me.  He lets me go with a warning and I ran to the tag office and purchased a FL drivers and fishing license.  I have not left my house without one on me since.

[quanjig]

With the interwebz and a smart phone, most fishing licenses are just a couple clicks away!!

[RPreeb]

I've been checked twice, and the first time I was truly fishing without a license.  I was 18, living in Montana, and I'd always bought my license as soon as fishing opened up in the spring, ever since I was old enough to need one.  That year I had gone into the Army Reserve and been sent for basic training in March.  I didn't get home again until the first week of August, and that first weekend went camping with my family.  It never dawned on me that I had never bought my license that year, and naturally I was checked for the first time in my life.   I think it was about a $25 fine back in 1965.

 

The second time I was checked I was a bit surprised.  I had moved to Colorado in 1973, and in the 80's I was spending most weekends hiking in the mountains.  In early spring I did a lot of rambling in the lower hills west and southwest of Denver.  This day in April I was up on a ridge about 1000 feet above the South Platte river, a popular stretch of catch and release only water below Cheesman Dam and Lake known for it's finicky big brown trout.  The warden was working as a team with a couple of other officers, and my guy was the spotter, hanging out on the ridge with binoculars watching the fishermen below for violations - it wasn't uncommon for fishermen to slip a fish into their waders and walk out with it, so they had been using this method to control that abuse.  He approached me and asked if I had a license.  I said "No."  He asked if I was fishing.  I said "No."  He was looking at my day pack to see if it could hold a backpacking rod.  Apparently he was satisfied, we chatted a bit.  He said they had caught two violators that day - one trying to sneak a big brown out, and another using live bait in the artificial flies and lures area.

[JaxBasser]

Mine auto renews so I never have to worry about it. Only ever been checked once and I just said yes I have it and they didn't even check lol.

[frosty]

It's crazy you guys that have only been checked once, or some of you never. Last year was the first year I haven't been checked in 20 years, other than a couple years I didn't even buy a license, of course I wasn't fishing. 

[RMax]

Nope. Always have my license, never seen a warden though

 

However, my mom has always told me about one of her college friends.  The guy wanted to go fishing but he hadn't gotten his license yet that year.  He went out for just an hour and got caught, receiving a $375 dollar fine! A few years later, he went to a job interview and they told him that was the deciding factor on them NOT hiring him.  Of course, the dude did move to Kansas, started a business, and is now a millionaire; but its crazy that he couldn't get a job because of a fishing fine!

[standman]

Got back into fishing 2 years ago (after 15 year break).  We go to WI (Castle Rock Lake), get our 1 day license, start fishing (shore) and within 15 minutes CO shows up ?.  Living in IL, you have an option to purchase the license, inland trout stamp, and Lake Michigan salomon stamp.  Even though I never fish for trout OR salomon, I still purchase the stamps.  God knows this broke arse state can use the $$$.  

[MIbassyaker]

Never had anybody check me for a license, anywhere. 

[blckshirt98]

I've been checked twice fishing local reservoirs from the shore - once by a warden making the rounds on a boat, another time by one walking the shoreline on foot.  I had my license on me both times, but I'm horrible about signing it so other than that it was okay.  I will say I have a two rod stamp and sometimes when fishing for trout I'll put two PowerBait lines out and when i get bored will throw out a spinner/kastmaster for a few casts.

[Hog Basser]

In Arkansas I get a combo resident sportsman license.  The hunting license expires June 30th, but you can renew for the next year before that.  Just looked at my license (which I always have on me in my wallet) and glad I did because the fishing part of it expires on the date you bought it, which was 5/19 (which I wasn't aware of.)  Looks like I will be going to renew soon.  Our license system is screwy.  I've tried to do it online in year's past, but it is only a temporary license until you get the real on in the mail (deer tags and such need to be mailed).  For three years in a row I never received the one in the mail.  So I just go to a local sporting goods store and have them print it for me now and I'm done.  They're trying to pass legislation to allow for everything to go virtual and you can just have it on your phone.  For deer tags they are talking allowing just a piece of paper with the right info on it.  I already check deer through the app.  I hope it goes through.