What would happen?

[Other.]

Alright I am 15 now and in Maryland you must have a fishing license at age 16. Now the warden comes down to me and mistakes me for a person that is 16+. Now I do not have a license on me since I do not legally need one but I have no way to prove that I am 15. Now I bet every one that gets caught without a license has their little story to tell why they do not have one so the warden would assume I am just lying. Does he have the right to assume I am 16 and confiscate my fishing equipment and fine me or is there a way that he can prove I am not 16?

[Gatorbassman]

No. He has to have proof that you are 16 as much, or more than you have to prove you are 15.

[luckyinkentucky]

Tell him to call your parents.  My nephew has called me three times while fishing the strip pits on Peabody land.  The wardens there circle like vultures.  

[5bass]

No. He has to have proof that you are 16 as much, or more than you have to prove you are 15.

yep

[Sam]

A game warden has more power than a law enforcement officer and can take measures that a law enforcement officer may not be able to take, such as search your car or ice chest without your permission.

A professional game warden will take your name and phone your parents for confirmation of your age.

If you give the warden any "lip"or any negative behavior he can then do as he pleases within his scope of authority, which includes taking your equipment, issuing a ticket, and making you and your parents go to court to prove your age is 15.

Usually game wardens are very nice guys and gals and if you are nice to them they will be more than nice to you.

You may want to carry a note from your parents stating your birth date and giving a phone number to call in case of an emergency.

Game wardens are our friends and are there to help us as necessary and to make sure we can fish and enjoy our waters without any interferrence from others.

If you work with them they will work with you and believe me, they don't forget good people who stay within the laws and do not cause trouble on the waters they patrol.

[Sam]

One more thought.

If you are concerned that you look older than 15 or that you will be stopped while fishing, please consider calling your Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and ask for the name of the warden(s) who is in the areas where you fish.

Then call or write a letter to the warden telling him who you are and that you are 15.

Keep a copy of the letter in your tackle box or pocket if you are concerned about being stopped.

And by the way, the wardens may know of some good spots to fish and baits/techniques to use.

And if you meet a warden ask him what school he went to and how he got into the business. Show an interest in him and he/she will watch out for you.

[RobbyZ5001]

Posted by: Sam Posted on: Today at 10:19pm

Usually game wardens are very nice guys and gals and if you are nice to them they will be more than nice to you.

Game wardens are our friends and are there to help us as necessary and to make sure we can fish and enjoy our waters without any interferrence from others.

I have had CONSTANT problems with game wardens, and frankly I am sick of it. I am tempted to go to the higher authorities on these jokes around my area. I have been spied on for 30-40 minutes while catfishing at 3 a.m.. I have been followed stream to stream in the same day. I am takling he drives right behind me and follows me. They have fined my handicapped cousin for .5 inch on a bass. I have gotten fined ice fishing for bogus regulations took it to court and won. I know all wardens are different but boy oh boy do I have problems with the local ones. In my eyes these guys here dont try to promote the sport they like to push their authority around. >

[Big T]

On the matter of game wardens powers. Here along the Coast we have people who set up along the road selling their Shrimp. I have seen officers from the NC Dept. of Marine Fisheries checking coolers of these people for illegal catches more than 5-10 miles from the beach or the waterway. The best way to combat your problem is to go to the DMV and get a picture ID. That way you can save yourself and your parents alot of trouble.

Big T

[Bassnajr]

If this is a constant problem, have your Mom or Dad get a copy of your birth certificate. That should do it.

And BE POLITE!! Even if the warden isn't.

Good luck!!!

bassn ajr

[Sam]

Robby,

Yes there are some people who let their position of power go to their heads and do dumb things.

I have found that the young law enforcement and game wardens sometimes go overboard while the older, more experienced individuals act more civil and intelligent.

Wardens do spy on fishermen by using their binoculars.  This is the standar method of watching what the fisherman is doing, i.e., catch and release, damaging property, smoking pot, using other drugs, etc.  Normal technique for game wardens.

I would suggest letting the management team at the equlivant of the Penna. Game and Inland Fisheries know of your concerns.  They need to know what is going on.

Following you in your vehicle too close to your rear bumper is usually not done unless the warden is trying to spook you into doing something.  I would have called the cops on my cell phone.

Sorry you have problems with the wardens in your area.  I would think they are the exception and not the rule.

[Bassn Blvd]

Aside from the game warden, You should not leave home w/out Identification.  Go to your state driver license bureau and get a photo identification card that you can provide to any law enforcement officer.  God forbid you get hurt and are unresponsive, atleast you will have I.D that can lead whom ever to your parents.

[bassboy1]

I was fishing with my dad, at a nice Park in NC, near Blowing Rock in July 2006.  The Moses Cone Manor, for those local to there.  The warden there was asking everybody for their license.  Apparently, my dad was the first that whole day, who did have one.  He started to ask me, and I just flipped out my ID, showing that I was 13.  (I was 6'1" at the time, so I coulda  been older)  I am sure though, we woulda been fine, cause he was a real nice feller.  

Now, I was there earlier this year.  I had caught a 2 1/2 pounder, and was walking down the trail and this female warden (not the ugly type either ) came up behind me, and asked how I was doing.  I commented on the 2 1/2 pounder I had pulled, plus the 14 incher I got right before it.  Apparently this wasn't the answer she usually hears.  She stopped and asked what I was using.  I showed her my senko (get your mind out of the gutter folks - I am talking a lure here).  She was quite surprised, as apparently nobody ever catches anything.  Before, when it had no bait limitations, all people pulled out were small bream.  Then, this year, when it was deemed natural trout waters, which are artificial, single hook, nobody was getting anything.  She went on to tell me, that this lake hadn't been stocked, since Moses cone had created it (which makes me wonder why it is natural trout, in a man made lake, that Mr. Cone stocked with bass and trout, in the end of the 1800s).  Now, this time, I was 6'3" and everybody I meet has thought I was either 16, or 17, even though I was 14, but she didn't bother checking for a license.  

The DNR people on my local lake are real nice too.  They are way underbudgeted, and a little on the "slow" side (they forgot to tie off their boat a time or two, having it float off - stuff like that) but they are real nice, and do their best to help fisherman, as much as possible.  

Point is, they are not out to eat you.  For the most part, they are real nice people, and often fellow sportsmen.  Plus, the pay is real horrible in some senses, so the only ones doing it, are the ones that really like to do it, and just love to be outside, and help others.  They don't do it, just to write tickets, so for the most part, they will be real cooperative.

[Tokyo Tony]

My one encounter with a warden was Jan 7th 2007, the day I caught my PB.  It totally slipped my mind that it was 2007, so I hadn't bought a license yet, and as I was leaving one spot, I was gonna throw a few casts at another spot.  I pulled right up behind a cop car (I thought it was strange that a cop was hanging out there), took my rod out, and threw a few casts.  In the cop car was the warden, a nice woman who chatted for a while about the lake, then she asked for my license.  I handed it to her, and she asked if I had a 2007 license.  I said "holy crap I totally forgot to get one this year!" and it was pretty obvious that it was an innocent mistake, so she let me go with a warning.  She said if I had realized that my license wasn't current, I probably would not have pulled up right behind her and started fishing, which is definitely true  ;D.  But she was a nice lady, and right after I left I bought my 2007 license.

[Guest avid]

What HAS happened?

Has any game warden made a big deal about it?

In most states license fees go directly into the states fish and game coffers.

Maybe buying a license is an act of gratitude that would make you feel good?

[Oscar O.]

I swear that the wardens are non-existent on the lake i fish. The only time i have seen one was the first day i ever fished the lake (and they were REALLY helpful in telling me where a good spot to fish was), now its like where did they go? Maybe they are super spies now!  

I have no identification to show that i am 15, but i am almost always fishing with my dad, or my mom will feel like a nice person and take me (but refuses to fish) so i don't think there is anything to worry about.

I get my permit pretty soon!!!

Just be careful when i get my license if you decide to drive around sonoma county!  :

[Jake P]

Never in my life have i seen or had an encounter with a game warden. From what i hear they would give there own mother a ticket. Time to get my new license anyways, i didnt even think about it until i read this post, thanks for the heads up.

[Cajun1977]

How did we go from what should he do as a minor(get an i.d card like suggested) when encountered by a warden?  To he disrespects wardens and should volunteer to buy a when he isnt required to :-/

[LCpointerKILLA]

Inshore on the intracoastal waterway, my uncle and I have been fined. I forgot why they initially stopped us, but we didn't have the right amount of flotation devices. The police (or whatever they are) out there I think are just angry because all they do all day is fine people on PWC's because those people never seem have licenses. Watch out for those guys. They seem to love writing tickets.

[grimlin]

I have one game warden who knows me now.I like to chit chat with them if they have the time. ;D

You can learn a thing or two from them.

I always found talking to them respectful and being honest they won't give you a hard time.A copy of your birth will solve the problem though as well.

[FD.]

I'm with avid.  Just buy a license, it can't be more than 10 dollars then you have nothing to worry about.

On the subject of wardens..I have been stopped and checked 3 times this year.  Once on Harris, once on Kissimmee, and once on Istokpoga.  All 3 times they were very professional.  All I had to do was produce the required coast guard gear and a license and I was on my way again.

[crazy4bass1]

Tell him to call your parents. My nephew has called me three times while fishing the strip pits on Peabody land. The wardens there circle like vultures.

you are rite

thats the onyl reason i dotn fish ther as much now   becus of the dam wardens all ova the place

[luger306]

first get a ID second always respect the badge not the man third get a copy of the game laws read them and follow the laws and make sure anyone you fish with does the same you are who you run with when they see that you are stright up with them they will cut you some slack