How Much Trouble

[Darrickp]

Hey Guys I was just wondering I have never fished legally I know that I would need to get a lic. if I joined a Club, but I was wondering what kind of trouble could you get into if you didn't have a lic. Would it be worse to get caught by the wild life game and fish or a cop.

[Guest avid]

what difference does it make?

You are a 27 year old man who lives in one of the finest bass regions in the entire world. It is a privledge for a bass angler to live in Orlando Florida, USA>

A 12 month resident freshwater fishing license in Florida is $13.50

Let me spell that out for you. Thirteen Dollars and fifty cents

for one entire year of bass fishing.

It's time to grow up. Get the license.

[paparock]

Like Avid said just get the license and then you don't have to worry about it.

[mgmoore7]

If you can afford a pole, lures, line, etc., you can afford a license.  I will even give you a link so you can start being legal immediately.

http://myfwc.com/license.html

[airborne_angler]

In some states fishing w/out a license is equal to poaching. Thats a big time NO-NO . If your wrong say your wrong and do the right thing. Get a license. Proceeds from the license goes toward maintaining the waters and keeping them stocked.The fish arent free ya know.The Game and Fish here in Arizona goes out of state and purchases alot of the fish they stock,although there are hatcheries in the state  They actually pay people to go out and pick up the trash that anglers and such leave behind. Think about how nice your fishing "spot" is and think about the people doing the work to keep it that way...They sure aint doin it for thier health,they have families too.. So if noone bought a license eventually the game and fish commission wouldnt have funds to keep the waters up and then where would you fish? Think about it!!!

[KYbass1276]

What the hell, What avid said.  There is absoulutly no reason why anyone should fish without a license

[BD]

I took a buddy fishing the other day, and he didn't get a license that morning (just turned him on to fishing)

I HARPED and harped on him.......game warden came, and LUCKILY he even had the OPTION to get a temp license (apparently in OK. they just came up with that option.)

Yeah a ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIVE DOLLAR ticket, had he not had the option to buy a 30 day license.

The life-time license costs 225$ lol

Get the license. period.

[Madhouse27]

Darrick, do the right thing and go buy yourself a license. This more than just the fact that it's against the law to fish without one. It's not about avoiding fines or even the fact that the money goes to the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. To me it is about respect. Respecting your quarry enough to keep your end of the bargain if you are going to pursue them. Respecting your fellow fisherman enough to play by the same rules that we all do. I'm sure you are a fine person, but when I pay and you don't I can only assume that you consider yourself deserving of some special treatment. On here we're all just guys that love to bass fish. We're all the same. Now, if it's a money thing my brother we'll pass the hat right now and fix you up.

[reelon]

Please just get the license, it will help the wild life deparment and you will fish without worries of wardens and tickets.

[New Bass Man]

Yeah, man--get the license.  Avid said it best.

[senile1]

DarrickP,

The money from your license provides a benefit to the quarry, future fishermen, and current fishermen alike.  If you respect your quarry, the great and mighty bass, get your license.  If you respect the future of bass fishing for those who come after you, get your license.  If you respect other fishermen and all of us on this forum, get your license.  And finally, if you want to respect yourself, give something back to this great sport, and GET YOUR LICENSE!!!!!!!!!

[Lunkers0]

Get the license!  Here in Minnesota a lic cost around $18.  So I would consider $13.50 pretty cheap.  How much did you spend on your last trip the the tackle shop?  I think our fine for fishing without a license is around $200.  They also can take your boat, truck, tackle, whatever you brought to the lake that day.  It is not worth the risk.

[Darrickp]

ITS JUST A QUESTION!!!!!! let me say it again... it just a question. Never really need it. Always Fished in lakes behind my house or friends. Sorry I asked.

[KYbass1276]

ITS JUST A QUESTION!!!!!! let me say it again... it just a question. Never really need it. Always Fished in lakes behind my house or friends. Sorry I asked.

In florida if you fish a private pond 20acres or less and is not connected to public waters in any way you do not need a license so you are legal if you fall under that catagory. I guess laws from state to state differ here in ky If you own the the pond you don't need one regardless of its size, but if you fish anywhere other than your own property you are required to have a license.   But I would still get one anyway it does help the DNR. If your going to fish in club events You will need one because more than likely they will be fishing public waters and one is required for that. In the event you do get caught without one on public waters I let you read it here it is http://www.floridafisheries.com/faqs/index.html#penalty-ans

[K_Mac]

Derrickp

I don't understand your response. You asked a question and it was answered thoughtfully by several members. Lighten up.

[Matt Fly]

Derrikp said he never fished legally, also didn't say he fished illegally.

His question was: was it worse to get caught by warden or a cop?

In Tx, a cop doesn't have the authority to ask you for a fishing license, so the game warden is definitley the worst.

When one WRITES IN CAPS or large bold letters, I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT, IT WAS LIKE YELLING AT SOMEONE OR DISPLAYING EMOTIONS.

Whats up with the responses towards Derrickp?

IMO, you guys assumed he fished illegally? You guys are wrong, and in Tx, a private pond doesn't need a fishing license. And as indicated by all the pond fishermen on this forum, theres alot of people who fish ponds all year that probably doesn't need one either.l

Its time to grow up and get a license. Nice response.  

hookem

Matt.

[senile1]

Matt, guilty as charged.  But if he says he has never fished legally, then the only other way to fish is illegally.  There are only two choices, legal and illegal.  

In his later post, he says he was fishing private lakes without a license and if it is legal to do this in his state, then he would be fishing legally.  Since his original post stated that he had never fished legally, then the only logical conclusion from this is that he fishes illegally.  Hence, the emotions that some of us exhibited.  

DarrickP, thanks for clarifying that you fish private ponds and lakes.  Alot of us here take the issue of illegal fishing very seriously.  Tight lines.

[grove83]

Here's my take.....Derrikp said that he never fished legally....so therefore he WAS fishing illegally. If he was fishing "private" ponds and did not need a license...then he should have said that he never "needed" to purchase a license. So by him not wording the question correctly he let us assume that he was doing it illegally and also put us under the assumption that he "knew" that what he was doing was wrong. Hence the responses. IF Derrikp did mean that he never "needed" to purchase a license, then I can see your point MF. Is the law the same in TX as it is in FL? Whatever the case may be....get the license and save yourself some trouble....just my 2 cents.

Is the lake behind his house public or private....he never said?  

[Muddpuppy]

Derrikp said he never fished legally, also didn't say he fished illegally.

His question was: was it worse to get caught by warden or a cop?

In Tx, a cop doesn't have the authority to ask you for a fishing license, so the game warden is definitley the worst.

hookem

Matt.

 It really isn't going to make much difference as far as a game warden from any other officer of the law, if you are detained by a cop here in Texas, and there is reason to suspect that you might have committed a crime of any nature they can hold you until the gamewarden arrives, if they have enough evidence to show that you could have been fishing or hunting illegally, then it can give them reason to stop and detain you until he gets there. The warden can also search the vehicle ect. once he arrives and it gives them a reason to hold you.

[Deuceu72]

IMO, I thought all the reply's to the question were answered just fine. What was expected? For everyone just to say "aw, dont worry about it, you dont need a license"....This is a bass forum and you had to expect some pretty tough answers to that question. I dont think anyone ever felt any ill-will to Darrick himself, but just letting him know that it would be much easier to just buy a license.

[Matt Fly]

For one thing, ya'll assumed he had been fishing illegally.  Which wasn't the case after all.      No one answered his original questions really.    And since when does some one need to be told to grow up for asking a question.  

Muddpuppy-   A cop can't ask for your hunting and fishing license.    So again, who do you want to  be stopped by? cop or warden

A game warden is the only one that can check you.    Yes we can assume they can hold you until a game warden arrives.     But again, a cop has no juristdiction on the game laws.

[langs15]

HE said in his original post that he never fished legally, therefor, the only other way to fish is illegally. If you mean something else than you posted, change it, you knew what your question was. THE END.

[senile1]

Fortunately, DarrickP clarified that he is actually fishing legally in his state.  Now that we understand him, let's show some understanding for those who responded to him.  

One last time . . . .  No one assumed DarrickP was fishing illegally.  His statements logically lead to this conclusion.  

He stated he doesn't fish legally (1st Post.)  

This only leaves two other options:  fishing illegally, or he doesn't fish, period.  

Logically, if a person doesn't fish they would make the following statement:

"I haven't fished."

Darrick's statement was, "I haven't fished legally."

So the only option left is fishing illegally.  Simple logic.  

[jbass]

Awhile back I was fishing in on of my clubs tourneys. I had inavertantly left my wallet in my car and didn't have my fishing license or drivers license which was my ID. The game wardens just happened by to check on how things were going and then ask both of us for ID and fishing licenses. I was fined $340 for not having either one. Since the game warden didn't know me or I couldn't prove who I was he said he could confiscate my rods and me, but my partner vouched for me and all was well. I was able to continue to fish but it was a lesson well learned. My wallet never leaves my pocket.

[Matt Fly]

his orginal question was cops or warden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where does telling the man to get a license and grow up answer his questions.

Well, can anybody answer that or appologize.

There are certain waters, public or waters the TP&W may help manage that requires a license in my state.

You can fish in my state without a license, just not public waters, so to say you fish, just not legally doesn't mean illegally.

It was assumed that you either fish legal or illegal, yet you can fish private waters and still be above the law, just not legal to fish publically.

mr langs15, he wrote the question.

Did you answer the cop or the warden?     Or did you think he needs to clarify the question?