Fishing license prices out of hand?

[Fisher of Men]

In Texas we are now up to $28 for a resident fishing liscense.  That's the regular $23 + $5 for a freshwater stamp that's supposed to be used for fish hatchery renovations (I heard that would only be charged for five years, yeah right).  Like your going to buy a license without a stamp.   Our licenses run from Sep. 1 to Aug. 31.  This year you can by a summer only licence (July-Aug) for $25.  How kind of them to save you $3.  It seems that ours have progressively went up over the past 6-8 years.  Is this just TX or is this the trend everywhere? ???  

I was just interested.  FOM

[BassinCnR]

Here in Massachusetts it is also 28 for a resident fishing license. Ours go from Jan1-Dec31. I do feel that its worth it especially because if you are caught without one you can face a $500 first time charge and they will take all of your equipment including your boat.

[Fisher of Men]

Heck, yeah, I'd say that $28 is worth it.  I've never faced a ticket here, but several years back it was around $100 (my brother had to pay one), but I don't know if they'd take your stuff or not.  

[Orabbit]

Illinois resident licenses are cheap - last year only $13.00 as I recall (haven't checked this year yet).  Since I fish many states regularly (Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, and this year Texas and Ontario, Canada) my annual license fees run me about $200.00.  I really don't mind though.  As often as I go it is relatively cheap entertainment (if I don't count lost tackle!) per trip and much of the cost goes to support improved fisheries so it is money well spent!

[Chris]

Kentucky non resident is $35 Illinois resident is $13 I think your paying the Florida strain bass tax lol

[Fisher of Men]

I guess when you consider that green fees for a golfer are around 25-50 dollars, its pretty cheap to pay that for your yearly license.  I corresponded with a fellow from Ireland one time and he said they had to buy a permit for each "loch".  He said a permit for one lake was about $200 U.S.  

[BassinCnR]

A friend of mine knew a guy in Maine who was caught with no license and they took his tackle,boat and summer house in Maine( he was a non-resident) and told him if he wanted it back he had to go to the auction. He was charged with poaching. So I will never go without a license.

[jimr]

here in Oklahoma its 20 for a license plus 5 bucks for a mandatory "legacy" permit(pays for the land the wildlife department bought) 5-15 for a trout permit and then more for a lake texoma license. I'm getting a liftime fishing license for my birthday for 225 + I think its 25 one time charge for the legacy permit. Prices have gone up every year for the last 4 I have lived here, so it will pay for itself eventually.

[gamblerOH]

our license fees go up each year too. now they are beginning to charge a fee to launch your boat.$3.00 per day or 50$ for the year. Thats really getting out of hand. I wonder what the license fees pay for.(not boat ramps apparently)

[Aaron_S]

Here in Indiana all license prices almost doubled I think it is a little expensive but like it was stated before it is going to a good cause.

[VTbasskid16]

Here in Vermont its $8 for junior and $20 for adult.

I think it is really worth it. The amount of stocking that the state does is incredible. I have even helped stock 1100 rainbow trout into a river. The state provides boat ramps, fish, and maintains lakes.

[L.D.]

Here in Pa. a resident is $22.00, they just went up from $17.00 and juniors are still free up to age 16. For all they do, it's a pretty good deal for a years worth of enjoyment.

L.D.

[Marty]

Fishing licenses, regardless of what state is the most expensive, are ridiculously cheap relative to the value they provide, at least in my case. I'm retired and fish almost every day for six months. If licenses were $200, $300, or more, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, even though I wouldn't like it. I don't know how much it would have to be for me to give it up.

[D.Taylor]

I dont mind as long as it goes back into the Fisheries. I think in Illinois they only put it back in Lake Michigan some stockings and into other non fishing resources

[ernel]

Here in NC I can get my sportsman license for $40.00. This includes small game, fishing, trout stamp, big game tickets and gameland permits. The only thing that I can't do is hunt duck with the sportsman license. Still have to buy the federal duck stamp to do that. If you but the fishing seperate it is $20.00 per year from the date you bought it.

[crankbait]

In New Jersey it's $22.50. I would gladly pay more money if they could tell me the Bass fishing would be like Texas.... A lunker in New Jersey is 6 pounds......This is probally an average fish in Texas.....!

[Snag]

Since I fish in 2 bass clubs (3 this year) I have to buy an Ohio $16, Indiana $24, Michigan $25 and Canada $44, every year. Add those up each year and it's still cheaper than replacing $5,000+ in rods, reels and tackle and $24,000 or more for a boat lol.....

Hook 'em hard,

Snag

[hipster_dufus]

in ga its 9$ a year now,add in your trout stamp for 5 and a wma stamp for 19, a non resident is 24 or 7 for a week, still pretty cheap

[dn]

In Ontario, it is pretty cheap in comparison to some other places. We can get a conservation license for $19.50 a year. This limits you to keep a very low number of fish. But to go to tournaments, we need a Sport license which is $28.50 a year.

The penalty of not having a license is pretty severe here. I hear they will go as far as towing your car away.