Passingbye Loc: Reidsville NC

On Lake Arrowhead where I lived for 20 wonderful year's I have fished every cove, bank and river's that feed this lake. I caught about 20 guy's with shocking devices laid out across the river, harvesting every kind of edible fish. Crappie, catfish, all species of bass, perch that's considered fit for man to eat, they had a big barge with people scooping stunned fish into baskets for people to clean assembly line style. Obviously to sell to restaurants who served fish to customers. Don't ever think the fish. You're eating out on was legally purchased. I was an 8 mile boat ride from my houses boat docks, I was looking for any lake house with a light on at 4 in the morning. I got lucky, saw a man fishing on his pier, with Crappie lights on, I pulled up and asked him to call the Sheriff office and Game warden to the illegal poaching operation in the river. The game officials came to my house and thanked me and asked me sign a deposition as a witness to the crime and to appear in court as an eye witness. Gladly I did! Some were repeat offenders and sentenced up to twenty years in prison and fines through the roof! People don't realize, it can take year's for some fish to reach maturity from an egg to legal sized or even fit to keep for eating size. I'm sorry if I'm ranting here, but I care about doing the right thing for future fishermen. God put us humans in charge of His creation, to tend to and manage it, to take what we need and protecting it.

Graywulff Loc: Cortez,Co.

Colorado is kind to both as far as license fees are concerned.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I was checked for a license at Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho last week. It was the first time in about 15 years (charter boat excluded). The warden, a very nice guy on a very fast boat. He asked us to hold up our licenses. I was not sure how he could confirm we were even holding licenses given the distance. I know he could not see if it was a license with the bare eye. He held up his binoculars on a bouncing boat and thanked me by the name he saw on the license. I wonder how long he had been watching us unobserved from a distance. I was truly impressed. I expect he knew how many hooks we had and what lures we were using, as well as how many fish we caught, if we had caught any, before he even approached us. I truly wish there were more wardens out there. I hope this post makes even one person think twice about poaching.

JohnG Loc: Long Island NY.

H**e to say it but my 40 year old step son does that every year on our summer Lake George vacation. He kyaks out, drops his line and gets high. I’m hoping he gets caught but in all the years we’ve been going I haven’t even seen a game warden. I’m very glad he lives out of state, the putz.

Redwhiteskirtfan Loc: N C

One time Many years ago I was much younger. I was fishing in the sand hole. I saw a game warden coming along the shore checking licenses. One fellow with a plug lure, Picked up his gear and start walking away from the warden. The warden stopped checking licenses and started following the fellow around the pond. The warden didn’t say anything and the fellow kept walking. After he had got back to about where he started the fellow stopped and the warden caught up to him. The warden stopped and asked to see his fishing license. The fellow showed his license to the warden and and went on fishing.
Jus saying…

captjim Loc: Antioch Ca

In California if you are fishing from a charter boat (like I ran) and a customer is fishing without a license the customer AND the Captain get a citation. I am not about to pay a fine for some one else's f*** up. I checked licenses every morning. Made me an unpaid game warden. You would not believe the number of people I would send back to the bait shop for a one day license .Eventually F&W made it so you could call in from a charter boat and buy a one day license with a credit card over the phone.
We also had a striped bass stamp requirement for a number of years. Any one in possession of striped bass had to have the stamp on their license. Of course a warden checks us and one of the customers that caught a striper does not have the stamp. I know that normally he would lose the rod and reel but that one is mine not his. Warden says the policy is not to take charter owned rods and reels. Also because he had a license but was missing the stamp I would not be cited as well.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

As you may have noticed, I put "except charter" on my post. My charter boat was checked regularly even though I often had coffee with the fish and wild life officer on shore. In Alaska, the captain could be cited for all client violations, including catching other clients fish. It was an occasional practice of wardens to come aboard as clients on head boats early in the season. I liked that as a lot of the unscrupulous day guides were fine tuned right up front. This was not practiced on lodge boats, as all the captains knew the wardens. In the smaller towns and lodges, the F&G officer checked all the paperwork pre season as to not hold up the clients except for license check and log book check. Most wardens are outstanding. Like in every occupation, a few need a bit of an attitude adjustment

Frankie 5 Angels

Obviously that game warden was acting only as an extortion agent, trying to generate revenue to justify his bloated salary. PAPERS PLEASE!
Whenever the topic of fishing licenses come up, there are three types of people: The ones who justify it saying that the monies go to “conservation efforts”, or fisheries, etc. (but the fact is, unfortunately, only a very small fraction of those monies actually goes towards those things. Most of it goes to the funding of salaries and equipment to these armed enforcement agents). These guys have the easiest job in the world. Out in nature all day every day unsupervised breaking balls.
It’s not like they are going up against elephant and rhino poaching cartels, not in NJ anyway.
The second type of person is the hardcore Statist Karen/Darren. they will simply do wh**ever is told of them without question. They will happily pay wh**ever permit or fee, for anything in the world, because (it’s the law) or they pay for the permit (permission) just to avoid the fine, and will snitch on you in a heartbeat.
The third type of person is in the vast minority. They believe that fellow fishermen can educate each other and through friendly dialogue can have faith in one another to do the right things. (pick up our trash, not harvest endangered or juvenile fish, or far too many fish) etc. Otherwise, fishermen tend to mind their own business for the most part, and are friendly with lots of great advise tips and stories to share.
These people recognize that state fishing licenses are one of the biggest racquets going. So the next time you see an old homeless guy reeling in a catfish for lunch, don’t ask him for his papers or call the authorities, give him a high-five and hear what he has to say. You both might learn something and have a laugh.

padrebino Loc: BROWNSVILLE, TX / SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX

I agree with you and if you're a senior, you get a discount for that privilege.
So, there's no excuse for seniors to fish without a license.
The fees go to protect and support our fisheries, so do your part!

Langer Loc: Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Hey Rhyno, I like fishing Arizona but live in Palm Springs so make the 165 mile drive every 10 days. And a nonresident license costs $55 plus they're good for 12 months after the purchase.
I think CA changes to that 12 month license next year. Maybe then I'll fish California.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Frankie you sound like a Class A Poacher to me. Do you think that the millions of stocked fish around the country fall from the sky? That's only one of the examples of what license fees pay for. If you don't like the laws that were passed to protect the resources, then try and get them changed. If I ever have the opportunity to catch you violating any fish and game laws, I would report you in a heartbeat....

Jeremy Loc: America

Were you ever in Law Enforcement? Family in Law Enforcement? Are you possibly jealous of other’s that decided to uphold the law? Law Enforcement has to wonder if someone will shoot them on a regular basis. They will even protect you if needed. If you show them respect you may be quite amazed what they would do for you. If you show them the disrespect like is previously typed then don’t be surprised why they are always stalking you. We all have the ability in this great country to have a Career. Many people have negative opinions due to jealousy or a bad experience but it’s the law of the land to have a Fishing License. The fines and the hassle that any criminals deserve are their own doing. I don’t have sympathy for them and I will never be jealous of someone else’s salary that have paid the price to earn it.


Keep on fishing and don’t do dumb things because you will earn dumb prizes.

Jeremy Loc: America

Me too. Fred as always you hit the mail on the head sir.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Thanks Jeremy, some people just don't get it, or belong here.

Placerville Loc: Northern California

Sounds like Frankie should put a badge on for a day maybe he would have some respect for those who put their lives on the line everyday. Most their days are easy until the encounter a Frankie.