Mussel Sticker for all California boats: Time for me to vent. Had a really bad experience this morning. My wife and I get up early to go fishing at Lake Perris. Beautiful day and she...

OldBassGuy Loc: Temecula, CA

Time for me to vent. Had a really bad experience this morning. My wife and I get up early to go fishing at Lake Perris. Beautiful day and she really likes this lake. Get to the gate at 6:40am only to be told I cannot launch because I do not have a mussel sticker on my boat. I say, "What mussel sticker"? Told that you have to go through the DMV to get one and it is separate from your normal boat registration. I ask, "Why did the DMV not inform boaters of this"?
They don't know. Can I buy one here? No, you must go online. They tell me they have turned away over 40 boats in the past few weeks. Needless to say, I am really ticked off. I tell him that I have been to 5-6 other SoCal lakes in the last couple of months and no one has asked for this sticker.

My question to all of you Cal boaters, have you heard of this law?

D Tong Loc: San Francisco,Ca

This law has been in place for about ten years now all my boats have them each time you re register your boat the process includes the mussel stamp at least all my boats had it included the local lakes in my area insist that you have them also if you go to launch your boat at it’s wet they won’t let you launch
Sorry to hear that you were turned away

Slimshady Loc: Central Pennsylvania

Forgive me for being ignorant of that but what is a mussel sticker?

OldBassGuy Loc: Temecula, CA

D Tong wrote:

This law has been in place for about ten years now all my boats have them each time you re register your boat the process includes the mussel stamp at least all my boats had it included the local lakes in my area insist that you have them also if you go to launch your boat at it’s wet they won’t let you launch
Sorry to hear that you were turned away

Thanks Tong. I was told this is new this year and that you have to purchase them separately. The normal process of registering your boat does not include it. Might want to check it out if you have some lakes that are sticklers on it.
Like I mentioned, no other lakes have turned me away or even mentioned that you need it.

OldBassGuy Loc: Temecula, CA

Slimshady wrote:

Forgive me for being ignorant of that but what is a mussel sticker?

Only in California! There are about 3-4 lakes that have a mussel in them, and the worry is you will take them to another lake somewhere by having water in your boat. Thus, the requirement for the sticker, and it is a royal pain in the arse. So our beloved state requires them to be put on your boat and pay the extra $16 to the state.

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

OldBassGuy wrote:

Time for me to vent. Had a really bad experience t... (show quote)

My Son who lives in Cal, told me about this years ago. They don't want you to bring the invasive species to a lake and contaminate it. Doesn't make sense doing it on line because the boat has to be inspected and can't do that on line. I think once you get it for a particular lake then could come back to same lake with out further inspections. If you have gone to a different lake then have to be inspected again. I am sure someone has the correct info to tell us. I know last year WA state fisheries nabbed several boats that were infected. They even have dogs trained to smell out the invasive muscles species just like drug dogs are trained. All for our good. Some of these species brought over from other countries do harm to pumps and kill off our good species.

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

OldBassGuy wrote:

Only in California! There are about 3-4 lakes that have a mussel in them, and the worry is you will take them to another lake somewhere by having water in your boat. Thus, the requirement for the sticker, and it is a royal pain in the arse. So our beloved state requires them to be put on your boat and pay the extra $16 to the state.

So, by having a mussel sticker on your boat, for $16 will keep the mussels away. Sign me up…😜😂🤣🐟on

OldBassGuy Loc: Temecula, CA

DozerDave wrote:

So, by having a mussel sticker on your boat, for $16 will keep the mussels away. Sign me up…😜😂🤣🐟on

Ya think!! Pretty funny huh?

FourchonLa. Loc: Fourchon Louisiana, South Louisiana

DozerDave wrote:

So, by having a mussel sticker on your boat, for $16 will keep the mussels away. Sign me up…😜😂🤣🐟on

I guess the DWF better get busy making sure all the waterfowl have their stickers. Need extra hands to inspect bird feathers and legs for mussel larvae. SMH.

OldBassGuy Loc: Temecula, CA

FourchonLa. wrote:

I guess the DWF better get busy making sure all the waterfowl have their stickers. Need extra hands to inspect bird feathers and legs for mussel larvae. SMH.

Another perfect answer, wish I would have thought of these when I was talking (arguing) with the guy at the gate.

Bassmatter Loc: Rohnert Park Ca.

OldBassGuy wrote:

Time for me to vent. Had a really bad experience t... (show quote)

I no at Sonoma lake every time I go with a friend on there boat, they inspect the boat at the entrance, the funny thing is, it’s not open all the time, but the boat ramp is, go figure. So sorry OBG, I would not be a happy camper if that happened to me, especially after driving all the way to the lake, they could of inspected your boat and told you the next time you come to the lake you need the sticker.

OldBassGuy Loc: Temecula, CA

Bassmatter wrote:

I no at Sonoma lake every time I go with a friend on there boat, they inspect the boat at the entrance, the funny thing is, it’s not open all the time, but the boat ramp is, go figure. So sorry OBG, I would not be a happy camper if that happened to me, especially after driving all the way to the lake, they could of inspected your boat and told you the next time you come to the lake you need the sticker.

That was my point exactly. Or, why don't they sell the sticker right there?

Bassmatter Loc: Rohnert Park Ca.

OldBassGuy wrote:

That was my point exactly. Or, why don't they sell the sticker right there?

Never heard anything about needing a sticker! I’m sure a lot of boater in Ca. Are scrambling to get one. Hopefully you can find out how and when you can get it on your boat, please keep us posted. As you no I’m not a boat owner, but I have a lot of friends who are.

OldBassGuy Loc: Temecula, CA

Bassmatter wrote:

Never heard anything about needing a sticker! I’m sure a lot of boater in Ca. Are scrambling to get one. Hopefully you can find out how and when you can get it on your boat, please keep us posted. As you no I’m not a boat owner, but I have a lot of friends who are.

O.K. here you go. You must go online at dmv.gov.ca and register on their site. You may already have an account for your car or boat. If not you need to create an account. Then you have to find the mussel sticker portion and follow the prompts and pay your fee. You then print out the receipt and put it in your boat until your actual sticker is mailed to you. Stickers have to be on both sides of your boat. Like I said, I was told this is new this year, and you have to do it separately from your normal boat registration. Lake Perris is the only lake that I have been to that required it. All others there was no problem. Hope this helps some of you so you don't have to go through what I did.

Justoldjim Loc: JUNCTION CITY, OR.

OldBassGuy wrote:

O.K. here you go. You must go online at dmv.gov.ca... (show quote)

What about boats coming in from another state