What is the rationalle for fishing licenses?

Question

As I understand it, at least in NC, you must have a fishing license if you are using artificial bait but you don't have to have one if you use live bait. I can't understand the reasoning. People have been feeding themselves and their families for all time by fishing. Being that there are more blue collar and lower-income people fishing for food to feed their families, how is this not the same as a tax on the poor?

Answer 1

You have a good question here and good points

Natural resources such as fish are a publicly owned resource. As everyone has a stake in the resource people are licenced to use it. The licencing fees go back and are used to manage the resource so that it will be sustainable. Some of the fees are used at government owned Fish Hatcheries to fund the work that they do to sustain our fishing. Some of the fees are used for developing or fixing fish habitat. The fees are also used to fund Gamewardens as they protect the fishery from misuse.

Now you make a good point that people feed themselves with these fish all the time, and thats a valid point. But we all use the resource as it is common property and by having licencing fees it helps to sustain our fishery in the long run, as if we didn't have them it would be depleted as we tend to over harvest it anyway. The fish hatcheries are what really keep it going.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

I understand your frustration with the system but I think I can offer one up on the NC system. Here in TX you have to have a fishing license to fish but you must also but a freshwater stamp and a saltwater stamp depending on the water you wish to fish or both to have a valid fishing license. Is that not forcing you to buy a 2 licenses in order to fish?
I know the proceeds for the stamps go to fund fish and wildlife projects but it does seem odd.

Answer 3

it seems to me that those with more money would be the ones able to buy artificial lures. there really aren't that many people who rely on the fish they catch for food. the vast majority of people who fish for a living sell it. it doesn't make sense to not make everyone have a license though. if you have evidence that there are actually people who catch just the food they need, and that they are being hurt by this license fee, then you can come back and ask again, but until then this is a stupid, silly little "problem" that you've just blown way out of proportion

Answer 4

It would be others with money to buy artificial bait, not the poor & blue collar workers, they can dig worms and fish for free!

Answer 5

They use the cash from licenses to do biological studies , stock and rear fry at hatchery's,pay the game wardens,its not a total waste but i agree some is,they also want to know who is doing the fishing ,another way for the "man"to keep tabs on you

Answer 6

License fees go back to the state governmanet to help with wildlife/fish rescources. These fees help you in the long-run.

Answer 7

Don´t need a license for live bait, that´s great, I wouldn´t be bitching about anything.

Answer 8

The reason for every license in the country is revenue.

Answer 9

DNR helps so much with the conservation of our resources, it is just a small fee to help them help us. If there was no fees, then there would be no conservation, and the poachers and other idiots would soon ruin it.

Answer 10

It's a way to get money for fines out of people by having two different standards. Typical government trick to bilk you, the taxpayer, out of additional money by collecting a fine.