Caught without a License

[Raul]

Down here if you fish from the bank you don 't need a license, from a boat the fee is 45 dollars per year and your license is valid in all the mexican territory, it doesn 't matter in which state you paid the fee.

[Deuceu72]

Here in Colorado, we have 2 free fishing days per year..........

[deadeye32.]

I too am from indianapolis and I had two buddies go out with me one afternoon that were from out of town. My buddies both got tickets and I felt really bad because they never go fishing.  The funny thing was that the C.O. went to the same high school and college as all of us and he still wrote them up.  One of my friends actually plays for the Dallas Cowboys and he was in town for just the weekend.  This C.O. knew him and still gave him the ticket.  I guess they can be brutal here in Indy.

[Skidder]

I hope the penalty is nice and stiff!

I don't know how much the fine is but I bet the license is a Hell of a lot less! ;D ;D

How stupid is this guy?

"Only goes fishing once a year and shouldn't have to buy a license"

Try telling the officer, I only go driving once a year, I didn't think I needed a license."

And as far as walking in the woods with a gun for "protection", You can't be serious? :-?

[Minuteman]

One of my friends actually plays for the Dallas Cowboys and he was in town for just the weekend.  This C.O. knew him and still gave him the ticket.  I guess they can be brutal here in Indy.

Good thing he didn't get caught fishing w/o license in Philly. We would never have heard from the guy again ;D

[bgbfflochp]

I don't understand them not letting you get a license for a year if you're caught without one.  Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose?  I know if I want to fish, I'm going to fish.  If you won't sell me a license...then I just won't have a license then.  As rarely as they check, I'm willing to pay the 50 dollar fine (might happen once a year if I fish A LOT).  I'm perfectly fine with the confiscation of items...you deserve it IMO.  That's like suspending kids from school for skipping school.  I don't get the idea behind the punishment at all?  They should have in-school suspension.  I think they should include the price of a license in the fine.  

I don't know, just doesn't make sense to me

[Madhouse27]

The Wardens up here in Maine are courteous but take their job protecting the resource very seriously. Often times they work with a partner. It's not unusual to have them board your boat during a routine license check. The first thing they want to look in is your livewell. Unfortunately, illegal stocking has taken it's toll on many waters that were once exclusively brook trout and salmon fisheries. While pike and musky are the front page news problems, there have been plenty of illegal stocking situations involving bass. In some ways it has tainted the bass fisherman's image up here. Another thing they are looking for are people operating boats under the influence of alcohol and drugs. On one lake in particular I only allow three beers apiece for me and my fishing partner because I know we are going to get a visit.

[bassmasta7]

I have this belief that if a person thinks a fine is "Stupid", regardless of the clearly written and legally ordained ordinance that imposes it, said person will, himself, show up on the police/warden blotter sooner than later.

So, Bassmasta, how do ya' look in stripes ?

FlyTheLawAndOrderLovin'Rod

First off, I obeyed the law and got my fishing license as soon as I turned 16, so I would not be breaking the law. I just think the fine for fishing when you do it 1 time a year is stupid. At this lake, you cannot buy a fishing license here. You have to drive 20 minutes the other way to go to walmart.

I look good in anything I wear.

[bassmasta7]

Also, I doubt the kid would have cared if they took all of his equipment. I would bet he probly had about one hook, a slice of bread, and a $10 Zebco (Barbie edition ;D).

[senile1]

I too am from indianapolis and I had two buddies go out with me one afternoon that were from out of town. My buddies both got tickets and I felt really bad because they never go fishing. The funny thing was that the C.O. went to the same high school and college as all of us and he still wrote them up. One of my friends actually plays for the Dallas Cowboys and he was in town for just the weekend. This C.O. knew him and still gave him the ticket. I guess they can be brutal here in Indy.

The money from our licenses benefits fisheries and everyone who fishes.  If these people are getting a benefit from the lakes of that state, they should be willing to pay for the license, or a temporary licence in this case.  As for the guy who plays for the Cowboys, Big Deal.  He puts his pants on one leg at a time just like the rest of us.  IMO, his fine should have been larger, because he should have no problems paying for a license.  

[darcy tucker]

I got caught without a license the morning of bass opener in Ontario a few years back at 7am (last saturday in June).  I just did not buy it yet and planned to buy one after I went fishing that day.  The conservation officer was a ***** though.

[Valascus]

I got caught without a license the morning of bass opener in Ontario a few years back at 7am (last saturday in June). I just did not buy it yet and planned to buy one after I went fishing that day. The conservation officer was a ***** though.

How was the officer being a *****? He was doing his job. You were the one who made the mistake of going out without the license. How long would it have taken you to buy a license before your fishing trip that day? probably just a few minutes. I say good job to that officer for doing his job.

Here in Missouri our licenses can be purchased on the 1st of March and are good all the way until Feb. 28th (or 29th). First of March every year the first thing I go do is plop down my $11 on the counter at Walmart for my 1 yr. license.

[bassmasta7]

$9 in GA

[darcy tucker]

I got caught without a license the morning of bass opener in Ontario a few years back at 7am (last saturday in June).  I just did not buy it yet and planned to buy one after I went fishing that day.  The conservation officer was a ***** though.

How was the officer being a *****? He was doing his job. You were the one who made the mistake of going out without the license. How long would it have taken you to buy a license before your fishing trip that day? probably just a few minutes. I say good job to that officer for doing his job.

Here in Missouri our licenses can be purchased on the 1st of March and are good all the way until Feb. 28th (or 29th). First of March every year the first thing I go do is plop down my $11 on the counter at Walmart for my 1 yr. license.

There was no place open at 6am. Obviously I should have bought it the day before but I was not sure if I was going.  He was a ***** because instead of just giving me the ticket he felt he had the right to judge me.  

[mike90]

bassmasta if they just let everyone off noone would buy a license and just say oh oficer i only fish one day a year  ;D ;D

[GeneinTX]

I grew up on Long Island and had my rod and tackle box taken by a Consevation Officer for fishing with live bait in an artificial only pond.

If this fellow gets a license and takes it to court they probobly dismiss the charge. I had a young soldier that worked for me in TX do that and all charges were dismissed.

It could work and provides all of the money for the year back to the resource. Win-Win

[cart7t]

The law is the law.  As for the fine, I've never been caught but someone I know has. His fine was around $60 or so.  As stated,  fishing licenses are relatively cheap, under $15 in most states and most of those states have a free fishing weekend.  If the guy only fishes once a year, why not just wait until the free fishing weekend?

Sorry, I have no sympathy for him.

[Skidder]

I too am from indianapolis and I had two buddies go out with me one afternoon that were from out of town. My buddies both got tickets and I felt really bad because they never go fishing. The funny thing was that the C.O. went to the same high school and college as all of us and he still wrote them up. One of my friends actually plays for the Dallas Cowboys and he was in town for just the weekend. This C.O. knew him and still gave him the ticket. I guess they can be brutal here in Indy.

I was wondering, If the officer would have let him off with a warning, until he found out he played for Dallas. If I was the judge that would get him the max! ;D

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

They can take your freakin' gear??? That seems a bit excessive to me..

That's nothing!  Here in RI, if you get caught fishing the Scituate Reservoir,our main water supply for the entire state,they not only take your gear, but THE VEHICLE YOU USED TO ASSIST IN BREAKING THE LAW.  Yes,your car,truck,or whatever.  Just like a drug dealer.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I don't understand them not letting you get a license for a year if you're caught without one. Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose? I know if I want to fish, I'm going to fish. If you won't sell me a license...then I just won't have a license then. As rarely as they check, I'm willing to pay the 50 dollar fine (might happen once a year if I fish A LOT). I'm perfectly fine with the confiscation of items...you deserve it IMO. That's like suspending kids from school for skipping school. I don't get the idea behind the punishment at all? They should have in-school suspension. I think they should include the price of a license in the fine.

I don't know, just doesn't make sense to me

You may be fine with the $50 fine but it is a deterrent and merely a way to document a "first offense".  Many times, the guilty angler plans on getting a license but either it's the first time out and they havn't gotten it yet or maybe a whim of the moment, getting out earlier than planned but didn't get it yet.  They are not "criminals" persay but now it is documented.  When you get caught again that year, you lose $500 and risk 30 days in jail.  Still don't care?  Still gonna go risk fishing the rest of that season?  Not me!

[telecaster]

I always buy a license. When I have a license I never see a GameWarden.The day I try to fish without one I'm sure I'll get caught.

[mgmoore7]

They can take your freakin' gear??? That seems a bit excessive to me..

That's nothing! Here in RI, if you get caught fishing the Scituate Reservoir,our main water supply for the entire state,they not only take your gear, but THE VEHICLE YOU USED TO ASSIST IN BREAKING THE LAW. Yes,your car,truck,or whatever. Just like a drug dealer.

I know "the law is the law" but who made these laws?  Where is the common sense?  If I go fishing without a license and get caught with a line and hook in the water, my car and gear will be taken?  That is rediculous.  Isn't it more appropriate to take the car of someone who is doing 40mph in a 25 zone in a neighborhood where kids play.  Let't take their drivers license away for a year as well while we are at it.  We are talking about fish not people's lives.  

Now if someone gets caught with 100 bass (or whatever fish) and the limit is 5, then by all means the full extent of the law should be enforced.  This is why there are judges to sentence people so that there can be some variability in the sentence to fit the crime.  

Don't get me wrong.  I am for the licenses but some of the penalties that are being described here seem outragous.

[Guest avid]

Bassmasta7.   I know your only 16 but please stop saying that it is "stupid" to fine someone for breaking the law because they only do it once a year.

[Tucson]

Let's see...if you know you need a license and fail to get one somehow it's society's fault that you behaved inappropriately.  Man, does anyone accept responsibility for their actions anymore?  On the other hand seizing your vehicle seems completely out of line, more fallout from the war on drugs policies.  Why not seize your home and savings also, justify it with the RICO rulings.  

[KYbass1276]

Look at it this way, it is the one thing that the goverment requires us to pay that actually gives us a little enjoyment.  Traffic tickets don't speeding tickets don't, paying taxes definatly does not.  If they let one person slide because they don't have there license then when that guy tells everyone they let him slide by then there going to expected the same treatment and the molehill just gets bigger from there on.  It's not fair to the ones who did purchase there licences even if the guy only goes once a year it dosen't matter. Imagine a world without the game warden where would our fisheries be then or how our hunting seasons would be without them.  It's a good thing and thats great he got nailed should have gotten a license.  The $15 dollars a year that I pay for my licences provides me with alot of enjoyment and no worry's about being legal.  In todays world you can't get that kind of entertainment that cheap anywhere and the best part is I don't have to pay it everytime I want to go out and have fun.