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Is there such a thing as...."a friends license". ?

6176 Views 34 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  richinnc
Another total noob question.

I have some friends that I hope I can convince to go fishing with me and I know none of them have any kind of license.

Is there a license i can purchase and keep on the boat and let friends use to fish with?


Also, how many fishing poles can be in use at one time under a single license? (by the person with the license)
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They can get a temp license for five bucks all they need is to provide Thier address. You can fish as many rods as you want as long as it's allowed by local laws.
Crappie and catfishermen frequently fish as many as a dozen rods at one time.
Be aware, if you have multiple rods in the water. Saying they are yours and so n so isn't fishing doesn't work. I've paid the tickets to prove it. Doesn't matter if the officer saw them touch it or not. Lost that fight too.
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Does that apply to surf fishing? I've done that dozens of times with my girlfriend. I might have to invest on a license for her now lol
Does that apply to surf fishing? I've done that dozens of times with my girlfriend. I might have to invest on a license for her now lol
I don't think so, with a caveat. What a WRC officer told me once was that it was a judgement call and it depends on whether or not that was the only activity (or at the beach inactivity :) ) going on. I was told this at Gaston. I was at the end of a buddy's pier with a bait rod in the water casting a lure on a second rod, my buddy was messing around with his boat (a ski boat; he didn't fish) and our wives sitting on the dock chatting. The officer only checked me, but advised me that in that situation I would be well advised to only fish one rod. Anyway, if your GF is sunning on a nice day I don't think you will have any trouble. If you are both bundled up sitting next to a few rods that are out on a cool/cold day it could be trouble.

EDIT - BTW, the rest of this story is in the "one that got away" thread. About 5 minutes later I lost the bait road off the end of the pier.
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If you are going fishing, buy a license.
Fish and game tickets are hard to beat in court on a good day. It aint like a traffic ticket.
License are cheap.
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Another thing to note that is a related tangent...

Kids under 16 don't need a license if they are accompanied by a licensed adult. I have never seen that enforced first hand but I hear that it sometimes is.
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I still have my first hunting license. Alot different now than then. Resident state hunt was 11.50.
Resident state fish. 11.50.
Big game, 8 bucks.

So for nineteen dollars and fifty cents, you could go deer hunting.
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quick answer to the original poster...

No, there's no such thing as a "boat license" or a "Buddy License" in NC. Licenses are issued to individuals. A temp license, as suggested, is available.

I would be very cautious also about having more than one line in the water in a situation like that.
There is a boat license and a pier license for saltwater. Available for recreation boat owners as well as charter boats.
10 blocks of 10 coastal licenses is 150 bucks. Time starts when you first use the license.

So yes it exists in coastal waters. Practical for a recreational angler? I wouldn't think so.
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quick answer to the original poster...

No, there's no such thing as a "boat license" or a "Buddy License" in NC. Licenses are issued to individuals. A temp license, as suggested, is available.

I would be very cautious also about having more than one line in the water in a situation like that.
There is a boat license (blanket for hire) and a block of 10 for recreational use for Coastal waters, just not inland waters.

ETA: Drum Runner beat me to the punch...
most states alow kids to fish as long as they are under 16 with or with out adult ,
most states alow kids to fish as long as they are under 16 with or with out adult ,
As written, NC does not. I have never seen this enforced first hand, but I have heard of people being warned and asked to stop fishing.

EDIT - I was just looking close at the regs for something else (related to Scott Hobbs) post and found that they do have something that says for fishing, the requirement is waived. It is listed as a requirement under "general".

http://www.ncwildlife.org/Licensing...gLicenses/ExceptionsforObtainingaLicense.aspx

I am pretty sure it was not always this way; I have heard of kids without a licensed adult being asked to stop fishing at Jordan. Some other campers warned us about that when I was on a Y camping weekend with a bunch of other dads and kids.
Any help from a non fisher i.e. toting gear, prop for poles, driving the boat, netting fish, are all associated with fishing. So buy a license and not worry with the judge.
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thanks for looking up the regs an as I said most states if not all , don't require a licence for under 16 for fishing with or with out an adult, if required an adult all the kids in the country that kills time fishing would be in deep DODO SID
PS

I have lived in 6 different states [ in the military ] an only got a licence when my kids got to 16 years
thanks again for looking up the regs HUNTING IS a lot different this was not a hunting question I think
Any help from a non fisher i.e. toting gear, prop for poles, driving the boat, netting fish, are all associated with fishing. So buy a license and not worry with the judge.
Moot point for me, sort of, because I have a lifetime license but I would fight that if I were driving a boat and allowed a guest to bring a rod and fish when we were stopped. The reason I say "sort of" is that I have been that guest on a few occasions. I throw a breakdown rod and a little tackle in a bag when I go sailing or water skiing with someone. Netting or in any way handling the gear while on the water is a definite no no. I could sort of see it for trolling. If you go with water skiers you get your best opportunities while they are drifting and cursing at the motor... :D
If you can afford to go fishing, you can afford a license in this state, even if you use it just one time.
Back in the day when I ran a boat 150 days a year it was an up front and understood thing with guests. Don't show up without a license. A pittance to pay for a day of fishing and it goes towards fish and game enforcement as well as projects that benefit the hunters and fishermen.

We are fortunate in that our state has kept licenses very affordable..
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There is a boat license (blanket for hire) and a block of 10 for recreational use for Coastal waters, just not inland waters.

ETA: Drum Runner beat me to the punch...
The blanket license is only for USCG licensed captains.
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The blanket license is only for USCG licensed captains.
I'm aware....That's why I said it was for hire......

I also mention the block of 10. It is not for USCG Licensed Captains.

Blocks of 10 Ten-Day Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses
Beginning January 1, 2009, vessel owners or operators may purchase a block of 10, Ten-Day Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses to cover anglers fishing aboard their boat. Each block contains ten licenses that are each valid for 10 consecutive days from the date first used. This block of licenses costs $150 and is available to owners of private vessels, or the responsible party of a business owned vessel. The boat must be 23 feet or more in length and either registered in North Carolina or documented with the U.S. Coast Guard. These licenses cannot be used aboard a vessel licensed for, or engaged in, for hire (charter) fishing. There is no limit on how many blocks of licenses an individual can purchase. The licenses are not transferable or assignable – they must be used on the vessel for which they were issued. Each license, once issued and expired, must be returned to the Division in a postage paid envelope provided with each license. Each block of licenses is valid for two years from date of purchase. Blocks of 10 Ten-Day Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses are only available from the Division of Marine Fisheries license offices or by mail.
10/Ten Application
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