Potomac River & Tidal Rivers Special License?

[Sam]

May I infringe on my NOVA and Maryland friends on the Forum to give me the details of the Virginia Marine Resources & DG&IF special Tidal River license?

We discussed this topic at our bass club meeting this evening and we need more information.

This is a specail license that is needed to fish tidal rivers.

It is not the National Saltwater Angler Registry but a new program.

Thanks in advance for any information you can share with me. 

[JShrock07]

Sam,

You need to sign up with Virginia and Maryland if you fish the Potomac as well as having your regular fishing license. below are the links

http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/fip/

http://dnr.maryland.gov/swregistry.asp

Those are the new guidelines that you must abide by. A buddy of mine works for Stafford County Sheriff's Office and they have been checking up on licenses and all the new requirements.

Also anyone who goes out on the Potomac out of Aquia Creek beware they are doing an underwater survey at the mouth of Aquia and all boaters are supposed to be aware of divers and all boats at the mouth. FYI

Joe

[SteveinVA]

Make sure you read the fine print, the FIP is for fisherman that are exempt from having to get a saltwater license. You do not need to register for it if you have the saltwater license

the fine print states"Important Note: the FIP registration process is only for anglers that are exempt from Virginia saltwater license requirements. The most common license exemptions include fishing on a licensed charter boat, licensed fishing pier, a boat with a private saltwater boat license or from the angler's private property/pier. The free FIP registration is not a substitute for a license when the angler is required by law to purchase and hold a saltwater license. A saltwater license must be purchased if the angler is over 15 and under 65, and does not meet one of the license exemptions. If you buy, or plan to buy a license before fishing, you do not need to register in the FIP. Please read the FIP FAQ below and use the following links for more information:"

Seems to be the same thing for MD. You just need to do these if you do not have a saltwater license. from the MD site"

You do not need to use this site if you already possess an individual MD or PRFC saltwater' license, are under 16 years of age, are fishing on a commercial fishing pier; fishing on a licensed charter or head boat; fishing on a free fishing day or possess a valid commercial fishing license"

[mudkart]

As above, I don't see the need to register unless you fish the Potomac or other waters that may fall into the category below (taken from the site):

"Q.) Do those of us who fish in freshwater need to register too?

A.) No, you do not except if you fish in freshwater for anadromous species, such as striped bass (rockfish), shad or other tidal species that live in saltwater but spawn in freshwater. If that is the case, you need to register with the Fisherman Identification Program every year.  Think of it this way: If you're fishing for, or may catch, a saltwater fish such as a striper anywhere in Virginia's tidal waters, you'll need either a Virginia saltwater fishing license or to register with the FIP."

[intheweeds]

This seems pretty confusing to me. I tried to call MD and DC agencies and I could not get through. I see what NitroMan is talking about for registration, that seems easy enough. My question is if I have a Virgina freshwater license, DC freshwater license and I register on the links listed above then am I legal to fish the Potomac? Am I legal for the Potomac in DC also? The reason I ask is because I see there is a Potomac River sport fishing license also. Is this the same as a DC license? I just want to be legal but it is hard to figure out. Thanks for bringing this to my attention Sam.

[Sam]

Thanks to all who replied.

And special thanks to Nitro Man for his input which clarified the issue.

I don't want to get a ticket.

And thanks for the heads up about the mouth of Aquia Creek. I had not idea that work was being done.

Now to go out and catch five over 15-inches!!!! 

[rondef]

Joe, thanks for the link, I just registered.

[intheweeds]

All registered and ready to fish tomorrow. Thanks guys.

[JShrock07]

This seems pretty confusing to me. I tried to call MD and DC agencies and I could not get through. I see what NitroMan is talking about for registration, that seems easy enough. My question is if I have a Virgina freshwater license, DC freshwater license and I register on the links listed above then am I legal to fish the Potomac? Am I legal for the Potomac in DC also? The reason I ask is because I see there is a Potomac River sport fishing license also. Is this the same as a DC license? I just want to be legal but it is hard to figure out. Thanks for bringing this to my attention Sam.

If you fish the Potomac, since it is a barrier between MD and Va, you will need to register with MD as well. As for DC I don't know.

[Dan:]

So I have a VA registration, a MD registration, a NOAA registration, a VA freshwater license, a DC license, and a MD saltwater license that I have to keep in my wallet...awesome.  :

[JShrock07]

So I have a VA registration, a MD registration, a NOAA registration, a VA freshwater license, a DC license, and a MD saltwater license that I have to keep in my wallet...awesome. :

Gotta love the new rules right,

Well if it were me,(which it is) I would put all the numbers on 1 small peice of paper and carry it on that. 

[Bigs]

so I registered with MD but didnt have a printer handy. I did write down the number tho. Am I gonna get in trouble if I get stopped and only have the number written down ?

[coke]

I thought you were selling all your stuff and getting out of fishing for a while?  :-?

[Bigs]

I thought you were selling all your stuff and getting out of fishing for a while? :-?

yup , but have a chance to fish with someone on the river tommorow whom I respect and enjoy fishing with so Im gonna head out. Still have enough gear to do what I gotta do out there. And Im only selling my expensive stuff. Keeping my BPS stuff since I can catch as many fish on it as I can with pricey stuff. Fish sure as heck dont know the difference

[Bigs]

curious as to why you been on here a few weeks yet you chose to make this your first post, seems strange

[JShrock07]

so I registered with MD but didnt have a printer handy. I did write down the number tho. Am I gonna get in trouble if I get stopped and only have the number written down ?

When I registered with MD it never gave me a number or an option to print... So I just figured that is how MD worked. I know I registered and that should be good enough, as long as you have the VA and your regular license you should be fine. I highly doubt the game warden is out to bust fishermen anyways. I know from experience they mainly are looking for dumb people that shouldn't be driving a boat on the water and looking out for drunk boaters. Game Wardens have a lot of respect for the tournament anglers and they usually never mess with them.

The reason I say this, two years ago me and my partner were prefishing for a tournament out of Aquia. We saw the GW and we went over to them and asked them to inspect the boat so we wouldn't be bothered during the tournament and they told us if they can tell we are fishing a tournament they will leave us alone unless they see something that could potentially be dangerous. He also said he wouldn't want to be bothered while he was in the middle of a tournament especially if he paid a good chunk of money to be fishing.

[Dave from VA]

My understanding of the rules are......If you are a tournament angler, fishing in Bass tournaments, you DO NOT need to register....Those who take their buddies striper fishing and fishing in the bay....Need to register.......Am I correct here.....? People that normally fish the freshwater parts of the tidal river are not included in the registration....only those that hit the saltwater.......??? True...???

[Bigbarge50]

Call me stupid..... why could VA, MD, and DC not all make one universal license you could buy that would cover you. Call it a potomac license or something? Encouraging anglers to use all the areas resources would seem like a good thing.