Captain John. a saltwater fishing license is inevitable, either from the state or the feds, as you have said.
The problem I have with it is the fact that the fees for this license will be of absolutely no benefit to the fisherman/woman. The money would simply be put into the general fund and spent on foolish thing that the government all too well knows how to spend on. I do not believe that it would be put into a dedicated fishing fund. If that were the case, that would be fantastic and I think all fishermen/women would agree to a license, me included.
It is my understanding that the feds only need a list of boat owners/fishermen from each coastal bordering state so they have a better data base of who they would call for their 'surveys', which, in my opinion, is the most idiotic way of gathering information needed to direct them in a useful management of our resources. This list of fishermen/boat owners would dictate no need for a 'saltwater' license, only information passed onto the federal agency. Most of this information is readily available to the state government by checking Motor Vehicle Commission files under boat registrations.
As I recall from previous releases from the feds, compliance in providing this 'list' would amount to pennies for each individual registered and not the $20-25 that would probably be the fee for a license.
The only reason this license is wanted by the great state of New Jersey is for added revenue to their over burdened budget.
