Unifying Saltwater and Freshwater Fishing Licenses Creates Challenges

[NCangler]

RALEIGH, N.C. (April 5, 2005) — The N.C. General Assembly last year approved the creation of a saltwater fishing license, but legislators left the details to be worked out this spring. Among them are resident and nonresident fees, the time period of licenses and potential enforcement problems.

Richard Hamilton, executive director of the Wildlife Commission, is concerned that 100,000 lifetime license holders may have an understanding that their lifetime fishing licenses would cover all fishing — freshwater and saltwater — in North Carolina.

“The pledge was made in good faith, and we are committed to representing their interests,” Hamilton said. “The Commission favors grandfathering in the lifetime license program to include saltwater fishing privileges in North Carolina.”

Discussions continue between the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. Read more here .

You can also see the latest Senate Bill regarding the saltwater license from the N.C. General Assembly here.